A few years ago, Google introduced its own voice assistant to match Apple’s Siri. Dubbed “OK Google” after the voice command it responds to, the Google Assistant has since become very popular among Android users.
The main idea behind “OK Google” is to simplify some key functions as much as possible and allow for a more convenient, hassle-free use of your smartphone. You can ask “OK Google” to show you the local weather forecast, to find you an article on a subject you find fascinating, or to play you the latest song by your favorite artist.
In this article, you will learn how to enable and use “OK Google” on your Samsung Galaxy J5/J5 Prime.
Enabling “OK Google”
“OK Google” was still in beta until very recently, which is why it isn’t automatically enabled on most smartphones. If you want to use it, you will have to enable it manually. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Update Your Google App
From your Home screen, go to the Google Play Store and search for the Google app. Tap on it to go to its official Play Store page and then tap on the Update button to download the latest version of the app. If you don’t see the Update button, it means that you already have the latest version of the Google app installed. You can thus proceed to the next step.
2. Go to the Google App Settings
Open the Google app and tap on the three horizontal bars on the left-hand side of the search bar to access the menu. Once the menu appears, scroll down and tap on Settings.
3. Enable Voice Detection
Inside the Settings menu, select Voice and then tap on “OK Google” Detection.
4. Configure “OK Google” Detection
When the “OK Google” Detection menu opens, you will see three options at the top of the page:
- From Google Search App – Allows you to use the “OK Google” function only when the Google app is open on your phone.
- From Any Screen – Lets you activate “OK Google” from any app or screen while your phone is unlocked and in use.
- When Locked – Allows you to activate “OK Google” even while your phone is locked.
To get the most out of this feature, you should enable the top two options by switching the toggles next to them on. Depending on your preferences, you may also choose to turn the third option on. Keep in mind that your phone will automatically unlock every time you activate “OK Google”, but you can’t lock it with a simple voice command. As such, take steps to prevent pocket dialing and/or messaging.
5. Set Your Language
Go back to the Voice menu and set your language to English (US). Exit the Google app and go back to your Home screen.
Using “OK Google”
After you’ve successfully enabled “OK Google”, you need to press the Power button and hold it for a few seconds. This will reopen the Google app, where you’ll be prompted to repeat the phrase “OK Google” three times into your microphone so that the Google Assistant can memorize your voice.
And that’s it! From now on, whenever you say “OK Google”, your voice assistant will execute your voice commands to the best of its ability. You can now ask it to search the web for you, set reminders and alarms, or take notes and save them to your Gmail account.
Final Thought
To ensure you have the best possible experience using “OK Google”, you need to regularly update your Google app. Keep in mind that some features may be unavailable on older versions of Android, so make sure that you’re running Android 4.4 or higher before enabling the Google Assistant.
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