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How to use "Ok Google" voice activation.

I've got my Nexus 5, and I can't get the home screen voice activation to work for the life of me.
Any ideas? Is there something that I need to activate?
Edit: Found the solution:
1) Voice search language must be set to English (US)". Doesn't work on "English (UK)". You can leave your system language as "English (UK)", you only need to change the voice search language.
2) "Ok Google" only works in three places: a) the homescreen, b) the Google Now page on the Google Experience Launcher (the extreme left page), c) the Google Now app/search window itself.
3) The phone must be AWAKE and UNLOCKED. Does not work from the lockscreen, even if the phone is set to the "Slide" lock. If the lockscreen is set to "None", the phone wakes to the homescreen immediately, so clearly it works, but is irrelevant.

icedicicle said:
I've got my Nexus 5, and I can't get the home screen voice activation to work for the life of me.
Any ideas? Is there something that I need to activate?
Edit: NVM, found the answer. You need to set the language for voice search to "English (US)". Doesn't work on English (UK).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi icedicicle,
Just to double check, this will wake up the phone even when the screen is off, right?
I just want to confirm the feature as this is what tips the scale in favour of Nexus (against G2) for me.

rokfor2000 said:
Hi icedicicle,
Just to double check, this will wake up the phone even when the screen is off, right?
I just want to confirm the feature as this is what tips the scale in favour of Nexus (against G2) for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its been reported (poorly) via a number of Tech sites and a Google Employee (on G+) that infact the Nexus 5 is unfortunately NOT touchless in the same way that the Moto X is. "Ok Google" does not wake the device, it can only be used on the Home Screen or within Google Now - can you confirm OP?
All I know is you have to have a NON-Secure Lockscreen or Slide.

elite_gamer04 said:
Its been reported (poorly) via a number of Tech sites and a Google Employee (on G+) that infact the Nexus 5 is unfortunately NOT touchless in the same way that the Moto X is. "Ok Google" does not wake the device, it can only be used on the Home Screen or within Google Now - can you confirm OP?
All I know is you have to have a NON-Secure Lockscreen or Slide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use it on the lockscreen.

rokfor2000 said:
Hi icedicicle,
Just to double check, this will wake up the phone even when the screen is off, right?
I just want to confirm the feature as this is what tips the scale in favour of Nexus (against G2) for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
elite_gamer04 said:
Its been reported (poorly) via a number of Tech sites and a Google Employee (on G+) that infact the Nexus 5 is unfortunately NOT touchless in the same way that the Moto X is. "Ok Google" does not wake the device, it can only be used on the Home Screen or within Google Now - can you confirm OP?
All I know is you have to have a NON-Secure Lockscreen or Slide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hotleadsingerguy said:
You can use it on the lockscreen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does NOT work on the lockscreen. I've tried both non-secure "Slide" and secure "Pattern".
It does not wake the phone from sleep either. It only works within Google Now and on the Homescreen after the phone has been waken and unlocked.

icedicicle said:
It does NOT work on the lockscreen. I've tried both non-secure "Slide" and secure "Pattern".
It does not wake the phone from sleep either. It only works within Google Now and on the Homescreen after the phone has been waken and unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't get it to work at all, even when on the home screen. Is there a setting that i need to enable? I don't have any security setup either.

icedicicle said:
It does NOT work on the lockscreen. I've tried both non-secure "Slide" and secure "Pattern".
It does not wake the phone from sleep either. It only works within Google Now and on the Homescreen after the phone has been waken and unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I was dreading - really hoping this can be hacked :S
alexktz said:
I can't get it to work at all, even when on the home screen. Is there a setting that i need to enable? I don't have any security setup either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I'm seeing on Reddit/Around the net, you need to ensure your language is set to US (en-US) unlike some people in UK its not working, must set to US locale.

elite_gamer04 said:
What I was dreading - really hoping this can be hacked :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not likely. The Moto X has a dedicated always on low-power core for listening out for the keyword. Doubt the Nexus 5 has the requisite hardware.

icedicicle said:
Not likely. The Moto X has a dedicated always on low-power core for listening out for the keyword. Doubt the Nexus 5 has the requisite hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the Snapdragon 800 APPARENTLY is meant to have 'Snapdragon Voice Activation' which is identical to Moto X 'always listening' - as found here:
http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-s...tion-revealed-with-always-on-action-20270300/
Fingers crossed!

elite_gamer04 said:
Well the Snapdragon 800 APPARENTLY is meant to have 'Snapdragon Voice Activation' which is identical to Moto X 'always listening' - as found here:
http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-s...tion-revealed-with-always-on-action-20270300/
Fingers crossed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea i have read that the snapdragon 800 has an always listening feature too. maybe google decided to not enable it for moto x to remain appealing? i hope someone will be able to port it over too.

icedicicle said:
I've got my Nexus 5, and I can't get the home screen voice activation to work for the life of me.
Any ideas? Is there something that I need to activate?
Edit: Found the solution:
1) Voice search language must be set to English (US)". Doesn't work on "English (UK)". You can leave your system language as "English (UK)", you only need to change the voice search language.
2) "Ok Google" only works in three places: a) the homescreen, b) the Google Now page on the Google Experience Launcher (the extreme left page), c) the Google Now app/search window itself.
3) The phone must be AWAKE and UNLOCKED. The Nexus 5 does not have the dedicated low-power core for detecting voice commands that the Moto X does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well that is silly, prepare for an onslaught of forum posts. maybe this should be stickied at the top for non-US users...
it worked for me too. thanks ice.

I am asking myself when google now will have the full support for other languages than US english.

Lownita said:
I am asking myself when google now will have the full support for other languages than US english.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unbelievable they still can't support UK English.
And the voice activation via "Ok, Google" was available from the Google Now screen since 4.1 if you set your voice lang to US English, so this is a real non feature.

Pretty sure the phone having to be screenon and unlocked is a software limitation because just being able to say "OK Google" at the homescreen is not just a 4.4 feature but a Nexus 5 feature. It says on the 4.4 site that this feature won't work on other nexus devices.
So im guessing the hardware capability is there, they just didn't want to copy motox.

sishgupta said:
Pretty sure the phone having to be screenon and unlocked is a software limitation because just being able to say "OK Google" at the homescreen is not just a 4.4 feature but a Nexus 5 feature. It says on the 4.4 site that this feature won't work on other nexus devices.
So im guessing the hardware capability is there, they just didn't want to copy motox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as the MotoX isn't available in the UK I sure as hell wish they'd copy it!!
Further to that I wouldn't mind a knock-on feature out the box as per the G2. I know that's what mods / roms and for but still, OTB would be nice.

Ah crap. The thing that excited me more of this new Nexus was the Ok Google thingy but I guess it won't work on Italian language. Shoulda kept the N4 for some things, but oh well

alexktz said:
as the MotoX isn't available in the UK I sure as hell wish they'd copy it!!
Further to that I wouldn't mind a knock-on feature out the box as per the G2. I know that's what mods / roms and for but still, OTB would be nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure the custom rom devs will work on this. That is the spirit of the nexus after all. Provide the hardware support and the software foundation and let the community build the rest.

Thank you for this!! Was driving me crazy
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

So in the US what happens if you have no lock screen will the OK Google work ?

AndreaCristiano said:
So in the US what happens if you have no lock screen will the OK Google work ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently there are rumors that with a non-secure lockscreen (no lockscreen) or Slide, you will be able to use it from the Lockscreen too. But the OP has confirmed, or atleast during his tests, haven't been able to get this to work.
Since the Snapdragon 800 apparently has Snapdragon Voice Activation, its my hopes that the Dev/ROM gurus will be able to hack/port over 'waking' the device. It is something I hoped would be available day one as the Moto X is not available in my country either...

OK Google!

Whenever I swipe up from the home button to open Google now should I be able to just say "OK Google" to activate voice commands?
I ask because that's how it works on my nexus 7 (2012) running 4.3. Is it just a setting I have turned off or is that for nexus devices only?
BTW I don't mean the always listening of the moto x.
Thanks
Sent from my XT1032 using xda app-developers app

sgorveatt said:
Whenever I swipe up from the home button to open Google now should I be able to just say "OK Google" to activate voice commands?
I ask because that's how it works on my nexus 7 (2012) running 4.3. Is it just a setting I have turned off or is that for nexus devices only?
BTW I don't mean the always listening of the moto x.
Thanks
Sent from my XT1032 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works for me. In Google Now, go into settings and change language to English (US). Hot word should now be available.

jpxdude said:
Works for me. In Google Now, go into settings and change language to English (US). Hot word should now be available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks that was it. I had my language set to English Canada. Switched it to English USA and ask is working.

Weird.. on mine, its "Search, or say "Google" and not "Ok Google", and its working...
btw: language is set to English(US)

deadpunk said:
Weird.. on mine, its "Search, or say "Google" and not "Ok Google", and its working...
btw: language is set to English(US)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The old version had "Google" as the hotword, but they changed it to "Ok Google" to get less false positives in an update.
http://www.talkandroid.com/177020-g...ok-google-now-enabled-through-search-results/

dannyfritz said:
The old version had "Google" as the hotword, but they changed it to "Ok Google" to get less false positives in an update.
http://www.talkandroid.com/177020-g...ok-google-now-enabled-through-search-results/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.. updated google search to latest and now its "Ok Google".

[Q] "OK Google" permanently listening ...

Does anyone know a cheat, fix or app that allows Google search to be permanently active and listening for the "OK Google" command, regardless of whatever else is open or foremost on screen? "OK Google" is a phenomenon, but it's a shame that it only works after bringing Google Search or Google Now to the fore; it would be wonderful if it could be permanently listening out for the "OK Google" audio command.

AidanBell said:
Does anyone know a cheat, fix or app that allows Google search to be permanently active and listening for the "OK Google" command, regardless of whatever else is open or foremost on screen? "OK Google" is a phenomenon, but it's a shame that it only works after bringing Google Search or Google Now to the fore; it would be wonderful if it could be permanently listening out for the "OK Google" audio command.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think kit kat roms (at the homescreen) always are listening for that command.(i want to say also that the GEL launcher does too)

Trozzul said:
i think kit kat roms (at the homescreen) always are listening for that command.(i want to say also that the GEL launcher does too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks. I've installed GEL launcher (KK Launcher), and Google Search is indeed always present. However, "OK Google" still only works after first pressing the microphone icon…? I'm looking for a solution whereby if the phone is on, then "OK Google" responds, without having to press anything first.
(I'm on a Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, running 4.2.2, rooted but on factory ROM.)

AidanBell said:
Many thanks. I've installed GEL launcher (KK Launcher), and Google Search is indeed always present. However, "OK Google" still only works after first pressing the microphone icon…? I'm looking for a solution whereby if the phone is on, then "OK Google" responds, without having to press anything first.
(I'm on a Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, running 4.2.2, rooted but on factory ROM.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you might have to toggle it, im pretty sure that it has it the option in settings, try this one instead http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-4/themes-apps/apps-google-experience-launcher-gel-app-t2529594 its the real deal pulled from the nexus 5 , i imagine that it always listening will pull some ram away so note that.

Trozzul said:
you might have to toggle it, im pretty sure that it has it the option in settings, try this one instead http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-4/themes-apps/apps-google-experience-launcher-gel-app-t2529594 its the real deal pulled from the nexus 5 , i imagine that it always listening will pull some ram away so note that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, first up my grateful thanks, the basic Google Now launcher you recommended does the trick and I have permanently-on "Go Google". BINGO!
However... ! That launcher is of course extremely basic; only one home page and almost no options. So here's where I get greedy! Is there a way of maintaining the permanently-on Go Google feature of Google Now Launcher, but with the better options and functionality of GEL Launcher?

AidanBell said:
OK, first up my grateful thanks, the basic Google Now launcher you recommended does the trick and I have permanently-on "Go Google". BINGO!
However... ! That launcher is of course extremely basic; only one home page and almost no options. So here's where I get greedy! Is there a way of maintaining the permanently-on Go Google feature of Google Now Launcher, but with the better options and functionality of GEL Launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im sure there is that sort of thing that someone has made already, as for the one homepage there should be more than one? to the left is the google now posts and might have to drag apps to the right to make one. the menu is very disapointing i feel like its a step down, i always got to the settings from there but you only go to the launchers settings.

Trozzul said:
im sure there is that sort of thing that someone has made already, as for the one homepage there should be more than one? to the left is the google now posts and might have to drag apps to the right to make one. the menu is very disapointing i feel like its a step down, i always got to the settings from there but you only go to the launchers settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. But I've found the solution; I've found an app that does it! "Open Mic+" keeps the Go Google mic open all the time, even when the screen is off. It's working fine under my current launcher, Apex, and I'm just testing now to see if it works with GEL too.

AidanBell said:
Agreed. But I've found the solution; I've found an app that does it! "Open Mic+" keeps the Go Google mic open all the time, even when the screen is off. It's working fine under my current launcher, Apex, and I'm just testing now to see if it works with GEL too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
awesome find! i might have to try it out as well!

I thought I'd post a quick update:
"Open Mic+" is doing a great job, giving me permanently-on "OK Google". BUT ...I've found that it's hogging the voice engine and so I can't use voice dictation anywhere else. The only way round that I've found is to have to switch off Open Mic+ whenever I want to dictate anything elsewhere, which is something of a pain.
It looks like I'm not going to be able to have my cake and eat it after all!

[Q] some questions

Just recently bought n5.
Is quick settings really like this? Normal wifi press takes me to listed wifi, and long press turns it normally. same goes for bluetooth etc. Been on a cm11 and its the other way around.
How do i get that "say ok google" back on homescreen google bar? - its lost now leaving with old jb mic look. Turning speech in settings off makes it kitkat look mic but no ok google.
Ive not rooted yet. Any ideas?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

Yes, it's normal behavior of stock rom(quick settings).
If you're using the stock google now launcher then the search box should be placed on every homescreen.. Unfortunately, you can't use "OK Google" command with other launchers..

vin4yak said:
Yes, it's normal behavior of stock rom(quick settings).
If you're using the stock google now launcher then the search box should be placed on every homescreen.. Unfortunately, you can't use "OK Google" command with other launchers..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i mean i dont so "say ok google" on search bar anymore and it has the old mic icon.. Not the new one :0
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

If your using Google now launcher long press screen settings OK Google hotword detection.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

dlsygaco said:
Yeah i mean i dont so "say ok google" on search bar anymore and it has the old mic icon.. Not the new one :0
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it doesnt say "say ok google" on the search bar anymore, that is normal, it eventually goes away. as long as you saying ok google still works.

OK Google

Is there a way to get ok google to work on the edge?
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk

It works just fine on my t-mobile edge. Just scroll to whatever home screen your Google search bar is on and say, Okay Google.

I was playing with the settings the other day to try to save battery power. I must have shut something off, because it doesn't work on mine.
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk

Ok ran google setup and now it works. But it just made the search bar useless. Didn't like the looks of it anyway.
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk

Have you tried this?
Settings -->language and input --> turn on voice search --> turn on, "ok Google" detection --> record your own, "ok Google "
When done, try it and works even when screens off....

That is a different way of getting there, but that is how I got it to work again. (You can also get there by using google setup in the app drawer) of course the OK Google is gone from the widget, but I guess it's better this way.
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk

Oditius said:
That is a different way of getting there, but that is how I got it to work again. (You can also get there by using google setup in the app drawer) of course the OK Google is gone from the widget, but I guess it's better this way.
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are using Nova launcher, it has the capability to work from any screen of the launcher. (homescreen/alt screens/dashboard)
Been using Nova for a few years and they've done a great job integrating things like this, while adding a little extra capabilities.

If you follow the directions in google setup, you can access OK Google from any screen and also if the lock screen is on if you choose to do so.
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk

Oditius said:
If you follow the directions in google setup, you can access OK Google from any screen and also if the lock screen is on if you choose to do so.
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this but tons of other dont.
No one ever cares to read the manual.
Plus alot of stuff is disable by the carrier if they let them setup the phone.
That's why I always setup my own phone and then later go through all the settings.
I had my Note 3 able to send text messages by voice while the screen was off. And it's nice to be able to tell it to play a song while it's in your pocket.
Voice controls are cool to me. Just suck that's it's always listening so if you say something similar it will wake up.

Someone please help me out here. S voice is giving me some serious pain in the ass right now.
I want to disable S voice completely and only use Google Now but that seems to be impossible.
The Issue:
I can only OK Google from my home page where the Google search widget is. On my G3 I could OK Google from any app any screen and even lockscreen without a hiccup.
S Voice is causing issues pretty much everywhere I want OK Google
What I've tried:
Tried freezing S Voice in which case I lost the ability to OK Google from Anywhere and the lockscreen.
So tried using the S switcher app which was very buggy and had to simply uninstall it...
What I want:
Just plain OK Google and nothing else. All I want to be able to do is OK google from any screen and any app like I did so many times before on all other devices I've owned.
Ideally I would want to be able to activate it from lock screen too but that's not a priority.
Can anyone help me out here.
My friends S4 can do this all seamlessly too but the Edge seems to bug out everywhere because of S Voice

If you go to your Google settings in the app drawer, you'll find the options for ok Google to activate from any screen. I have a t-mobile Edge.
Google Settings->Search and Now

If you're rooted you can install xposed and install the ok Google module which works for any launcher

Oditius said:
That is a different way of getting there, but that is how I got it to work again. (You can also get there by using google setup in the app drawer) of course the OK Google is gone from the widget, but I guess it's better this way.
Sent from my Samsung Note Edge using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can use OK Google from any screen and it's still available from the widget. I am using the stock launcher & have an AT&T Edge. My friend has a T-Mobile Edge and he couldn't get OK Google to work from any screen other than the home screen, even though his OK Google detection settings are the same as mine. He gave up and started using Nova launcher lol.. could be that some devices have an issue with this.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using XDA Free mobile app

knlgSeeker said:
I can use OK Google from any screen and it's still available from the widget. I am using the stock launcher & have an AT&T Edge. My friend has a T-Mobile Edge and he couldn't get OK Google to work from any screen other than the home screen, even though his OK Google detection settings are the same as mine. He gave up and started using Nova launcher lol.. could be that some devices have an issue with this.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This pretty much sums it up. Like I have said I'm no noob when it comes to using Google Now and know every detail of it's settings. Yes, all my settings are set to activate from any screen yet it fails to activate.
The issue is if I freeze or uninstall S Voice I am no longer able to check mark the Activate from any screen box and if I have S Voice activated it just seems to cause issues with ok google and just a clumsy software overall.
I was just wondering if anyone had a workaround.

You have to freeze S-Voice, then clear data for the Google Search app and then set Google up again. Trust me.

tospace2006 said:
The issue is if I freeze or uninstall S Voice I am no longer able to check mark the Activate from any screen box and if I have S Voice activated it just seems to cause issues with ok google and just a clumsy software overall.
I was just wondering if anyone had a workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do have to freeze S voice. Then while in application manager go to Google search and clear data. Then get out of settings because you are correct the option to activate from any screen is gone. Now go to your app drawer and choose Google settings. Click on Search & Now. Click on Voice and set it up from there. The option is available in these settings.

audri5 said:
You do have to freeze S voice. Then while in application manager go to Google search and clear data. Then get out of settings because you are correct the option to activate from any screen is gone. Now go to your app drawer and choose Google settings. Click on Search & Now. Click on Voice and set it up from there. The option is available in these settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES! you da best. Now for the sake of it could I do the exact reverse to only use S Voice if I ever feel like using it exclusively?

tospace2006 said:
YES! you da best. Now for the sake of it could I do the exact reverse to only use S Voice if I ever feel like using it exclusively?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm no expert but I don't see why it wouldn't work the same for S voice.

The issue I'm having is Google now won't work when connected to bluetooth. I have mine connected to my Gear S and when I say ok Google the bar stays frozen instead of jumping around showing you it's listening. Soon as I disconnect my watch it works fine. It's annoying!
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Free mobile app