How do I talk to Google Assistant on Android TV?

Google Assistant is artificial intelligence-powered assistant developed by Google and integrated into devices running the Android TV platform. It is similar to the Google Assistant available on Android smartphones and uses natural language processing to recognize voice and text commands.

Enabling Google Assistant on an Android TV grants users the ability to control certain functions and features through voice commands. For example, you can search for movies or shows, launch apps, adjust volume, control smart home devices, ask general questions, and more. The capabilities are continuously expanding as Google adds new features to Assistant.

Prerequisites

To use Google Assistant on your Android TV, your device must meet a few requirements. First, it must be running Android 8.0 Oreo or newer (https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/7541014?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid). The Android version matters because some versions have Google Assistant built-in, while older versions do not. Second, your TV or set-top box must have a microphone, either built-in or in the remote control (https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00186878). This microphone is necessary for Google Assistant to detect and respond to your voice commands. Finally, to set up voice match (personalization for accurate speech recognition), you’ll also need an Android phone or tablet running Android 5.0 or newer.

Set up your Android TV

In order to enable Google Assistant on your Android TV, you need to make sure your device is properly set up and connected to the internet. Here are the steps:

During the Android TV setup process, make sure to connect to a WiFi network. Go to the Settings menu, select Network & Internet and choose your WiFi network.

Sign in to your Google account on the Android TV by going to Settings > Accounts & Sign In and selecting Add account. Sign in with your Google (Gmail) credentials.

Once your Android TV is connected to the internet and logged into your Google account, Google Assistant is ready to be enabled and set up.

Enable Google Assistant

To enable Google Assistant on your Android TV, you first need to find the setting in your TV’s menu. Open the Settings app on your Android TV and select “Preferences” or a similarly named option for app settings. There should be a setting or option to enable Google Assistant; this may be labeled “Ok Google” or “Voice Assistant” [1]. Select this option and make sure it is toggled on to activate Google Assistant.

If you do not see an option to enable Google Assistant, your Android TV model may not support it natively. You may need to install the Google Assistant app from the Play Store or connect an external device like a Google Nest speaker to use the Assistant.

Set up voice match

To improve accuracy and allow Google Assistant to better recognize your voice commands and requests, it’s important to set up voice match. According to Google’s support article, turning on Voice Match enables your Assistant-enabled device to distinguish your voice from others. Here are the steps to enable voice match on Android TV:

Open the Google Home app on your Android TV. You’ll find it preinstalled on your device or in the app store.
In the top right, tap on your profile picture or initials.
Tap Voice Match or Teach your Assistant your voice.

Follow the on-screen instructions – say “Ok Google” and several phrases so Google Assistant can learn to recognize your voice patterns.

Once complete, your Android TV’s Google Assistant will be better tuned to your voice. Note this may take some time and improvement will be gradual. You can repeat the Voice Match process to continue training the recognition. Now when you say “Ok Google” only you will be able to access personal results, playlists and more.

Using your voice

You can use your voice to do a wide range of tasks on your Android TV using Google Assistant. Here are some examples of things you can do by voice command:

Launch apps: “Ok Google, open Netflix”
Play media: “Ok Google, play The Crown on Netflix”
Control playback: “Ok Google, pause” or “Ok Google, rewind 2 minutes”

Adjust volume: “Ok Google, turn the volume up to 50%”
Get recommendations: “Ok Google, show me some comedy movies”
Search for content: “Ok Google, search for documentaries about space”

Get answers: “Ok Google, what is the weather today?” or “Ok Google, how tall is the Empire State Building?”
Control smart home devices: “Ok Google, turn on the kitchen lights”

You can ask Google Assistant questions or give voice commands at any time by pressing the Google Assistant button on your Android TV remote and speaking.

Text input

While you can control your Android TV with voice commands through the Google Assistant, you may sometimes need to type a text query into the Assistant instead. This is typically achieved through the remote that comes with your Android TV.

To enter text with your remote, navigate to an Assistant interface where you are prompted for text input on screen. You will then be able to use the directional pad on your remote to type your query. The directional pad will move a cursor around for you to select letters from the onscreen keyboard. Once you have entered your query, press the center OK button on your remote to submit the text.

According to one Reddit user, there is no API currently available in Android TV to allow text input directly from a Google Assistant device like Google Home. So for now, you will need to rely on the remote and onscreen keyboard that comes with your Android TV.

Troubleshooting tips

If you find that Google Assistant is not responding or working properly on your Android TV, there are some common troubleshooting solutions to try.

One common issue is that the Google app has become outdated due to automatic updates being enabled. To fix this, go to Settings > Device Settings > About and turn off Automatic Updates for the Google app (Source: https://support.google.com/assistant/thread/126874287/google-assistant-not-working-on-android-tv-2021-fix-google-app-update-bug?hl=en). This will prevent the app from updating and potentially breaking the Google Assistant functionality.

Another tip is to check if Google Assistant is enabled in your Android TV settings. Using your remote, navigate to the settings icon and select Device Preferences. Confirm there is a toggle enabled for Google Assistant (Source: https://www.ytechb.com/how-to-fix-google-assistant-not-working-on-android-tv/).

As a last resort, you can try rebooting the Android TV or perform a factory reset if Google Assistant is still not responding. This will clear any software bugs that may be interfering with the assistant functionality.

Privacy considerations

When using Google Assistant on your Android TV, it’s important to understand what data is collected and how it’s used. According to Google, personal information like your name, recordings of your voice, and specific location data is not shared with third-party Actions or skills developers. However, other usage data may be collected to improve the service.

You can view and control privacy settings for Google Assistant by going to your Google Account. There you can see an overview of data associated with your account, turn various activity controls on or off, and manage which apps have access to data. For more information, see Google’s guide on data security and privacy for Assistant-enabled devices.

Overall, be mindful of what requests you make to Google Assistant and how often you use it. Specific or frequent requests can provide more insight into your personal interests and habits. Adjust privacy settings as needed and consider alternative options when privacy is a concern.

Conclusion

In summary, talking to Google Assistant through Android TV is straightforward with some basic setup. Here are the key steps covered:

Enable Google Assistant on your Android TV device in the settings menu

Set up voice match to recognize your voice
Use voice commands or text input to give Assistant requests and control your TV
Adjust privacy settings and mic usage as desired

With Google Assistant fully enabled, you can get recommendations, control playback, and access other features hands-free on Android TV. Assistant provides a helpful way to search for content, manage tasks, and more on your TV.

For further help getting started, refer to Google’s Android TV support site. You can also visit the Google Assistant help center for additional tips, troubleshooting, and guides.