Technology

What is Ok Google? How to enable and use Google Voice Assistant on your phone.

Ok Google is simply a fast voice search tool instead of inputting keywords in the traditional way. This feature is available on Android phones and can also be used on iPhones if desired. If you're not familiar with Ok Google, then follow along with this article.

Administrator

25 December, 2023

138

Smartphones have many useful features to optimize and speed up the usage process. Among them, Ok Google is a tool that supports quick voice search, which many of you have probably heard of but don’t know what it is, right? So let’s find out more about it with FPT Shop.

What is Ok Google?

Ok Google is a voice search tool created and developed by Google. Its function is to help users interact with devices (phones, TVs, etc.) through voice. Simply put, instead of searching by traditional typing, you can now use voice search, which is not only fast but also accurate.

The most special feature of Ok Google lies in its ability to quickly search for information. You can search, lookup information on certain issues, find directions, send messages, and even control electronic devices in your home with just a short voice command.

In addition, this smart virtual assistant also has a Voice Match feature that recognizes the user’s voice and retrieves personal information such as search history and event schedules. This helps enhance security and convenience for users when using Ok Google.

To experience the Ok Google feature on devices running the Android operating system, simply activate it by saying Ok Google or touch the assistant icon on the home screen.

Requirements for using Ok Google

Before finding out how to turn on Ok Google, you need to know the configuration requirements of the device to be able to use this tool.

For iOS operating system

iOS 11 or later operating system.
Install the Google Assistant app separately, unable to use Google Home or other Google apps to call Google Assistant.

For Android operating system

Android 5.0 or later operating system.
Ram capacity of 1GB or more.
The Google app must be version 6.13 or later.
The phone screen must have a resolution of 720p or higher.
Google Play Services must be up to date.

There is a difference here for the iOS operating system. You need to install the Google Assistant app separately to call up this virtual assistant, while with the Android operating system, it is already integrated, so you don’t need to install any separate apps.

How to enable Ok Google for quick search

In fact, enabling Ok Google on Android and iPhone phones will be different because devices running the Android operating system are integrated, unlike iPhones.

How to enable Ok Google on Android

First, let’s explore how to enable Ok Google on Android phones.

Step 1: Open the Google app on your phone > Tap on the More section (the three-dot icon) at the bottom right of the screen > Select Settings.

Step 2: Select the Voice section > Select Voice Match.

Step 3: Next, in the Ok Google section, you slide the slider to the right to activate it. That’s it.

Note: On some devices, users will be asked to change the language to English in order to activate the Ok Google feature.

For iPhones

The steps to enable Ok Google on an iPhone will be slightly more complex. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Access the App Store > Enter the keyword Google Assistant to search and download the Google Assistant app to your phone.

Step 2: Go to Settings > Select Siri & Search.

Step 3: Slide the slider on the Listen for “Hey Siri” line to the right. At this point, the system will send a notification, you select Turn On Siri and choose the voice of Siri.

Step 4: Next, you launch the Google Assistant app you just downloaded to your phone > Tap the icon at the bottom left of the screen > Tap Add to Siri> Tap Add to Siri.

In some cases, if the Add to Siri button does not appear, you will see a button asking for permission for Google Assistant. In this case, you grant access to Location and Bluetooth for the phone. Then the Add to Siri button will be displayed.

13 interesting features of Ok Google you should know

If you are new to using Ok Google and don’t know many interesting features of it, the following information will help you expand your knowledge. Let’s follow along.

Set up account information and privacy

The Ok Google command will help you take advantage of the features of the Google virtual assistant, such as changing account information or privacy settings. In addition, Ok Google also allows you to easily view your search history with just a short command like “Show me my Google history”, and that’s it without having to carry out cumbersome operations.

Voice search

If you are not used to using the keyboard on your smartphone because it is too small and difficult to operate, you can activate Ok Google to quickly and accurately search by voice.

Just open Google and say “Ok Google/Hey Google” or tap the Microphone icon and then say a sentence related to the issue you want to search for. By doing so, the words you just said will appear on the search bar and access the desired results.

This feature is particularly useful for the elderly or those who are busy to press the phone (while driving, exercising, working, etc.) or simply because you want to use your voice for quickness.

Open apps

If you want to open a certain application on your phone, such as Facebook, you just need to say the command “Ok Google, open Facebook”, and the Google Assistant will immediately fulfill your request and open the Facebook app on the home screen.

Make calls, send messages, and emails

Ok Google even helps you make calls, send messages, or email. If you want to call someone saved in your phonebook as Lan, simply say the command “Call Lan”, if you want to send a message to someone saved in your phonebook as Hieu, say “Send a message to Hieu”.

Similarly, if you want to send an email to Hieu, simply say “Send an email to Hieu with the subject being Park meeting, the content is 7 am at Cau Giay”. Ok Google will help you send the email quickly without the need for manual composition. Furthermore, if you want to listen to voicemail, just say the command “Listen to voicemail” and Ok Google will assist you.

Set alarms, timers, notifications

If you are too busy with other tasks and cannot set an alarm yourself, you can use Ok Google to do this by saying the command “Set an alarm for 6 am tomorrow for me”. Thus, Google’s virtual assistant will help set the alarm. Similarly, you can set notifications, reminders for important events.

Translate text, look up in the dictionary

If you want to look up the meaning of a certain word or translate the meaning of an English word into Vietnamese, you can also use Ok Google. For example, you say the command “Ok Google, define the word ‘weather’”, “Ok Google, translate the word ‘weather’ into Vietnamese”. Immediately after that, the Google virtual assistant will provide quick results.

Create reminders and events

If you have important events to attend, and you don’t want to forget them, you usually create reminders. With Ok Google, you don’t need to do this yourself, just say the command “Remind me to do ABC” and it will automatically remember and remind you. Of course, you can also customize reminders by adding relevant information such as date, time, location, etc.

Use maps

If you are driving and want to look up directions to a specific location or simply want to measure the distance between any two points, you can command Ok Google to help you with this.

For example, you would say the command “Get directions to FPT Shop Thai Ha” or “Directions from FPT Shop Thai Ha to FPT Shop Xa Dan by the fastest motorbike route”. You can also find the nearest location like “Nearest FPT Shop”,…

See the weather forecast

To find out the weather forecast for a specific day, you can also use Ok Google. For example, you say the command “Is it sunny in Cau Giay tomorrow?”, and immediately the result will be the weather forecast from the Ok Google assistant.

Convert units, perform calculations

Ok Google supports users in performing calculations and quickly and accurately converting units. For example, you can say “30 times 30 equals what?” and Google will immediately display the result.

Turn on Wi-Fi, flash,…

Ok Google also helps you control various settings on your device, such as turning on Wi-Fi, turning on mobile data, turning on Bluetooth, turning on the flash, etc., with just a short voice command. For example, you say “Turn on Bluetooth” and Ok Google will do it right away.

Create new notes

Ok Google has the ability to create notes to help users remember important information. Notes are different from reminders; reminders are usually related to specific times, while notes are for long-term storage.

Track stocks, securities, gold prices,…

To use this feature, you also just need to say a short command like “How’s the gold price today?” and Google will quickly provide results to help you stay updated.

How to turn off Ok Google for Android phones

If you want to turn off Ok Google, do the following:

Step 1: Open the Google app > Tap the More section (the three-dot icon) at the bottom right of the screen > Select Settings > Choose Voice.

Step 2: Select Voice Match > Slide the slider to the left to turn off Ok Google.

Conclusion

The article has provided you with important information about Ok Google as well as how to enable Ok Google on iPhone and Android phones. Hopefully, the article is helpful to you.

If you want to buy a new phone for daily use, you can refer to the products available at FPT Shop.

Refer to popular iPhone models here: iPhone phones