Android O is here! To be precise, Android Oreo is here. Unlike last year, Google has bestowed the update to all current (last two generations) Nexus and Pixel devices this year.

Most of the features remain closer to Nougat, with the Settings menu getting a slight design revamp. But more importantly, Google has not bundled the Google Assistant into the Developer Preview which seems to be a bummer. This may be due to early issues with compatibility between the OS and the Assistant.

In the meantime, we’ve got a solution that may just work.

Let’s get started..

How to get Google Assistant update on Android Oreo

This is the simplest way to get the Google Assistant working on your device. 

Change phone’s system language to English USA: The Google Assistant will roll out in phases, targeting its English speaking US users first, so make sure you change your phone’s system language to English USA. Below is a quick guide on how to do this:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select Language and Input.
  3. Select Languages » English (United States).

The Google Assistant should show up on your device. It may take a little time so kindly wait it out a bit. If that doesn’t work then try the following.

  1. Install latest Google Play services: Google Play Services act as the core framework for all Google functionalities. So make sure you’ve the latest version of it installed on your device to be able to get Google Assistant running on your device.
    → Download Google Play services APK: ARM and ARM64  |  x86 and x86_64
  2. Install latest Google app: The latest version (6.14.12.21 or above) of the Google App is required for Google Assistant.
    → Download Google app APK: ARM64  |  ARM  | x86
  3. You’re now ready to get the Google Assistant, just wait for it.

Tip: If you fail to get Google Assistant, Go to Settings » Apps » Google App » Clear Cache and Data. Reboot and the Assistant should be available.

Since this the latest version of Android (albeit, in preview) out there, the Google Assistant should soon be available for developers to test too. This is true for developers trying to integrate third party apps with the Google Assistant.