‘OK Google’ not working? Here’s how to get it back on track in 2023

August 21, 2023

If you are complaining about OK Google not working on your phone, believe me it’s quite uncommon and hard to accept as true. Although it is pretty possible that Google Assistant might fail on certain occasion. But, even if does, you don’t have to worry much as getting it back on track is not a complex task.

This blog article will guide you through the rare problem of OK Google not working and let you understand the causes for occurrence of this issue and help you fix it with ease. So, let’s dive into the topic and learn more about OK Google not working.

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Why OK Google not working?

If you are wondering why does it happen? Why OK Google is not working on your mobile? Well to respond these queries, there are a few reasonable, valid and probable factors that may lead to such unusual event.

In all possibilities, you do not have Google Assistant turned on. Or else it is likely that maybe your phone is unable to recognize or pick up your voice. Whatever be the reason, we have covered the steps to fix the issues of OK Google not working on your Android as well as iOS devices.

Fixing “OK Google” not working on your mobile

If your Assistant doesn’t respond on your device, follow these steps to help fix the issue. Learn how to fix the OK Google not working issue. But before getting started with it, you must try some basic fixes.

Try basic troubleshooting

As per the basic troubleshooting, you need to restart/reboot your device. Doing so will take care of most of the minor glitches on your device. Another thing you must check for is whether you are getting strong internet signal on your device or not. If that is not the case then refresh the network or contact your ISP for help.

Once everything is set in order and seems good at its place, move to the steps mentioned in the section below to fix “OK Google” not working issue.

How to fix “OK Google” not working on Android

Here are the steps to help you fix “OK Google” not working on Android devices:

Step 1: Check if your Google app needs an update

To begin with, you must check for updates (if any). This can be done by following these instructions:

Navigate to the Google app page on your Android mobile phone or tablet.
Then tap on Update. If it says “Installed,” that means your device already have the latest version and you can proceed to step#2 below.

Step 2: Check if “OK Google”/“Hey Google” is turned on

Next step is to verify whether OK Google is turned on. Here’s how to do this:

Open Assistant settings on your device.
Here underneath “Popular settings,” locate and tap Voice Match.
Turn on Hey Google and set up Voice Match.

Step 3: Check for the language settings on Assistant

After ensuring that Hey Google command is enabled, you must also try to check and change the language on your Assistant app. This can be done as provided under:

Open Assistant settings on your device.
Here, under “All settings” option tap on Languages.
You will be provided with the option to change your Assistant’s language.
Just tap on your current language and then pick a new language from the list to use with your Assistant.

Step 4: Turn off Battery Saver Mode

You should also make sure to turn off the power saving mode on your device. Here’s how to do so:

Head to the Settings app on your Android mobile or tablet.
Then tap on the Battery options. Here locate “Battery Saver” and “Adaptive Battery” options. Tap them one by one and turn them off.
- Tap on Battery Saver followed by tapping Turn off now.
- Tap on Adaptive Battery followed by tapping Turn off Adaptive Battery.

Step 5: Say “Hey Google”

To wrap up the process and find if you fixed the issue, say “Hey Google.” Ensure the Google Assistant picks up your voice properly. If it still doesn’t work, turn off background noise or move to some quiet place.

How to fix “OK Google” not working on iOS

Here are the steps to help you fix “OK Google” not working on iOS devices (iPhones & iPads)

Step 1: Turn on “OK Google”

The first step is to turn on OK Google using the following instructions:

Launch the Google app on your device.
Then tap your Profile picture or initial located at the top right corner.
Head to Settings and here tap on Voice.
Now, turn on “Ok Google” using the toggle button.

Step 2: Check the language settings of your Google Assistant

Once you have turned on the OK Google the next step is to check language on Assistant as provided below:

Open the Assistant app on your device.
Then tap your Profile picture or initial located at the top right corner.
Go to Assistant and then to Languages.
Here you are provided with the option to change your Assistant’s language.
Finally, tap your current language and then simply pick a new language from the list to use with your Assistant.

Step 3: Check for a Google app update

You must now check if there is any update available for Google app. To do this:

Navigate to the Google app page on your iPhone/iPad.
Tap on Update to proceed. However, in case where your device already has the latest version, it will say “Open” instead of going for update.

Step 4: Say “OK Google”/”Hey Google”

To wrap up the process and verify if the issue is fixed, say “OK Google” or “Hey Google.” If it still doesn’t pick your voice ensure to turn off background noise or try moving to some quieter place. Also make sure that you say it like you would during any other normal conversation.

Report the issue to Google:

If the above steps fail to resolve the “OK Google” not working issue for you, try to report it to Google by sending feedback. Here’s how to send feedback:

Launch the Google app on your device.
Then tap your Profile picture or initial located at the top right corner.
Next, head to Send feedback and from here you can tell about the issue.
Finally tap on the Send option to report it.

This will help you to get the issue resolved. Hope you will practice the steps mentioned above and successfully fix the OK Google not working issue on your mobile phone.