While both Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and S8 feature Samsung’s own newly launched assistant Bixby, they also feature Google Assistant, which comes pre-installed on all Android devices running Android 6.0+.
We are pretty sure you will be using Bixby very less as compared to the Google Assistant. Because, obviously, let’s just admit that Google Assistant is more powerful than Bixby right now.
Having said that, it’s come to our notice that Google Assistant’s hotword “Ok Google” stops working when Samsung’s Power saving mode is in action. This happens because power saving mode tries to limit background services on your device, and it sometimes also puts restrictions to the Google app as well which results in Ok Google not working for you on your Galaxy Note 8 or S8.
Check out: Galaxy Note 8 battery life: How to improve it
How to fix Ok Google on your Galaxy Note 8 or S8
Method 1:
Apparently, if you have enabled battery save mode on Galaxy Note 8 or S8, OK Google does not work properly. So, all you need to do is exclude the Google app to allow background activity for it even when device is in power saving mode. Below’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings » Device Maintenance.
- Select Battery, and then select Unmonitored apps on the next page.
- Tap on Add apps and select Google app from the list.
Method 2:
Another way to run Ok Google properly is to remove it from battery optimization. All devices running on Android 6.0+ have a built-in battery optimization feature that sometimes hampers the working of apps. To turn battery optimization off for Google app, follow the steps:
- Go into Settings and tap Device maintenance.
- Select Battery and tap Battery Usage.
- Tap the three dots present at the top right corner and select Optimized apps from the menu.
- Look for Google and turn off optimizations for it.
Method 3:
If none of the above methods work for you, then you probably need to turn off power saving entirely on your Samsung device to get “Ok Google” working.
- Go to Galaxy Note 8 Settings and tap Device Maintenance.
- Select Battery.
- Tap Off under Power Saving mode.
That’s it. We hope you are now able to launch Google Assistant properly with Ok Google from any screen on your Galaxy Note 8 or S8.
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In both methods above in the final step there is no “Google” to add or subtract. This issue has thoroughly irritated me since I got my Note.
Same here, any luck?
For the heck of it, I disabled all power saving and it worked. I played around with adding bits back via customization but I can’t seem to figure out what triggers it — anytime there is power saving on, “OK Google” is not recognized.
Added your suggestion as Method 3 on the post.
Sorry I should have added that to my response… but turning off the power save is a crap solution IMO. I want to use power save and it is dumb that we are unable to use the Google Asst without turning it off.
Is this an attempt by Samsung to force us to use Bixby?
I mean, we’ve never had this problem before..
Is there a way to escalate this issue so that it can be resolved?
Is this issue an Android version issue or is it Samsung specific… I would love to know.
Okay I think I fixed the issue with the Note 8.
On the Note 8 you have to go to a different place to remove Google from the optimization process.
1. Go to Settings
2. Select Apps
3. Click on the three dot menu drop down.
4. Select “Special Access”
5. Select “Optimize Battery Usage”
6. Scroll down and deselect Google.
I also deslected all that start with “Google”
As well as “OK Google Enrollment”
It did not seem to work immediately, so I wiped system cache… That didn’t seem to have an immediate effect, however, now a few hours later it’s working just fine.
I can go into Bixby, come out and say OK Google and it works every time.
I have no idea what difference waiting a while did, but everything is working well now.
Steve did you ever figure this out, thx for any help
Thank you! Method 3 worked for me on my Galaxy Note 8
Just got note 8 Samsung and like you said there is no Google to select. Anyone figure this out? Steve?