"Ok Google" not working? Here's how to fix it

Jump to:

• Rule out all the simple fixes
  • Turn Google Assistant on
  • Check internet connectivity
  • Check if it's not just you
  • Check your language settings
• Check the microphone on your device
• Turn off Battery saving mode
• Update Google app
• Retrain "Ok Google" voice model

Simple steps to identify the problem

Sometimes you do not need to perform long-drawn, complex troubleshooting steps to fix a nagging issue. The solution could be something very basic. And that is exactly what we want to do here. Before we try out some of the more difficult steps, let us try a few basic ones to solve your 'OK Google not working' issue.

Make sure Google Assistant is turned on

As elementary it may sound, you will be surprised to know how many people may have simply turned the Google Assistant feature off and then wonder why it isn't working. In case you often hand over your phone to kids, they might, on some occasions, fiddle with the phone and turn off Google Assistant (and, therefore, the OK Google command). Before you even start doing the major troubleshooting steps, make sure Google Assistant is enabled in the first place. 

Here's how you can do it.

1. Open the Google app on your phone
2. Tap the More option on the bottom right corner
3. Tap on Settings
4. Tap Google Assistant
5. Scroll down to General
6. Make sure the Google Assistant toggle is set to on.

As an additional step, you may also want to check the following

1. Follow steps 1 to 3 as above
2. Tap on Voice and then tap Voice Match
3. Make sure the 'Hey Google' toggle is on.

Make sure you're connected to the internet

This may be stating the obvious, but for most uses, Google Assistant does need Wi-Fi or mobile data to operate, so make sure your device is connected before you try a search. Also, and this is probably the oldest advice in the book, it never hurts to do a quick reboot – sometimes magic really does happen. 

 Check if you're not alone

It's always good to know if the problem you're facing is affecting just you. There have been occasions when people have noticed that the problem is on Google's side rather than yours. Check Twitter, Reddit, and Google's support forums to see if other users are complaining about 'OK Google' not working or 'Google Voice' not working. You can also try searching for a solution using the term 'Google assistant not working.' 

Check your language settings

One fix that has worked for many users when faced with the dreaded 'Ok google not working' issue is to check the language settings on your phone. What if it turns out that the reason Google Assistant isn't responding to you is that you're speaking the wrong language to it?

Note that US English will be the default language for many users, but it's still worth checking in the Settings menu and altering as required. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Open the Google app on your phone.
2. Tap the More option on the bottom right corner
3. Tap on Settings
4. Tap on Voice
5. Check what language options are checked and make sure that the selected language is the one applicable to you.

This same menu will also show you dozens of language options, each one with a checkbox, so you can set primary and secondary languages if desired. Google will automatically detect which language you're speaking and switch between them automatically. If you're multilingual, be warned that voice recognition for languages other than English can sometimes be subpar.

Updating your language pack may also solve your problem. From the same Voice menu, go to the section that says Offline speech recognition and download or update your English (US) language pack.

Check the microphone on your device

As a voice-based system, Google Assistant relies on uninterrupted access to your smartphone's microphone. When you open the Google app, the microphone icon on the right-hand side of the search bar should appear bold, with fully-formed lines. If it has a dotted line, you may have a problem with your microphone.

This may be caused by debris in the small microphone hole often found next to the charging port – have a careful poke around with a safety pin or similar to clear it out, and you'll often fix the problem. If that doesn't work, check the microphone settings within the Google app.

Occasionally, apps running in the background make noises that may interfere with the microphone picking up your voice, so check these too – and close any that you think may be making noises.

Turn off battery saver mode 

Android smartphones of today feature a dedicated battery-saving mode that kills background processes to make sure you manage to eke as much juice from the battery as possible. An unintended consequence of this is that your Google Assistant (and the OK Google command) stops working because of this. It is a good idea to check if the battery-saving mode on your phone is on before you blame anything else for OK Google not working.

On stock Android, you can check if the Battery saver option is on by taking these steps.

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Battery
3. Tap the Battery saver option and make sure it is off

On other Android skins, the same option may appear under the name Adaptive battery. 

Update the Google app to the latest version

One possible fix to your OK Google not working problem is to ensure that your phone is running the latest version of the Google App. Here's how you can make sure you're on the newest version of the app.

1. On your smartphone, open the Play Store.
2. Search for the Google app.
3. On the Google app page, check if you see the option to update instead of Uninstall.
4. Update the app by clicking 'Update' and try if the issue is resolved

6. Retrain "Ok Google" voice model

Sometimes, for reasons unknown, Google Assistant doesn't retain the commands you have given it. If all else fails, it might be time to retrain your digital companion. Here's how you can do it.

1. Open the Google app.
2. Tap the More option on the bottom right corner.
3. Tap on Settings and then tap on Voice.
4. Tap Voice Match and then select the option that says 'Teach your Assistant your voice again.'
5. Follow the on-screen steps.

Now that you have reached the end of this article do let us know if these steps helped you fix the issue. Additionally, do let us know if we have missed any useful fixes.

This article was last updated in June 2021. Older comments have been retained.