How do I get voice commands to work on Android Auto?
What is Android Auto?
Android Auto is a system developed by Google that allows you to integrate your Android smartphone with your vehicle’s infotainment system. It provides a simple, intuitive interface to access many of your phone’s apps and functions while driving (Android Auto).
When connected to Android Auto, your phone screen is mirrored on your car’s display. This allows you to access navigation, media playback, messaging, voice assistants and more through your car’s controls. The interface is optimized for safe, eyes-free interaction to minimize distractions while driving.
Android Auto is compatible with vehicles from many major automakers. As long as your car supports it and you have an Android phone running Android 6.0 or higher, you can use Android Auto. All you need is the Android Auto app installed on your phone, which connects to your car’s system via USB cable or wireless connection.
Why Use Voice Commands on Android Auto?
Using voice commands on Android Auto provides significant safety and convenience benefits while driving. Keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel is vital for safe driving. Voice controls allow you to interact with Android Auto hands-free, so you can keep focused on driving.
Key benefits of using voice commands include:
- Stay focused on the road by controlling apps and features without looking at your screen
- Avoid dangerous distractions like typing or tapping on your screen
- Conveniently make calls, send messages, navigate, and play music hands-free
- Access useful voice assistant features like getting news updates and weather reports
- Faster interaction in many cases compared to manually using touch controls
With voice, you can navigate, send messages, make calls, control media playback, use voice assistant features, and more while keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Voice commands transform Android Auto into a safer, more convenient in-car experience.
Enable Voice Commands in Android Auto
To enable voice commands in Android Auto, you first need to make sure voice capabilities are turned on in your device’s settings. Here are the steps:
1. On your Android device, open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Apps & Notifications > Default Apps > Assist & voice input.
3. Make sure Google Assistant is set as your default voice input. This allows Android Auto to access Assistant’s voice recognition when connected to your car.
4. Now go back to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Default apps > Assist app. Select Google to allow Assistant to handle voice commands.
5. You may also want to enable “Hey Google” detection under Settings > Google > Account services > Search, Assistant & Voice > Voice > “Hey Google” detection.
6. Finally, under Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Voice interactions, make sure Google Assistant has access enabled.
Once you have enabled voice capabilities on your Android device, Android Auto will automatically have access to voice commands when connected. Try saying “Hey Google” in your car to test it out.
If you find voice commands are still not working in Android Auto, check the Android Auto help docs for additional troubleshooting steps.
Launching Voice Commands
To use voice commands in Android Auto, you first need to launch or activate the voice recognition system. There are a few different ways to do this:
Use the Steering Wheel Button – Most cars with Android Auto support have a dedicated button on the steering wheel for launching voice commands. Pressing and holding this button for 1-2 seconds will activate Android Auto’s voice control. This is usually the most convenient way to start listening for voice commands while driving.
Speak the Activation Phrase – You can launch voice commands by saying “OK Google” or “Hey Google.” Saying the activation phrase out loud will prompt Android Auto to start listening for additional voice commands. Speak clearly and make sure Android Auto gives you visual or audio confirmation that it heard the activation phrase. Note that the activation phrase only works when Android Auto is already running on your car’s display.
According to Google’s Android Auto troubleshooting guide, some factors like vehicle speed, road noise, and speaker positioning can impact how well voice activation works. If the activation phrase is not responding, try adjusting the angle of your phone’s microphone or speaking louder.
Android Auto Voice Commands List
Android Auto supports a wide variety of voice commands to control apps and features hands-free while driving. Here are some of the key voice commands available:
- Navigation commands like “Navigate to [address]” or “Find nearby gas stations”
- Media controls such as “Play [song/artist/album]” or “Skip to next song”
- Calling and messaging commands like “Call [contact name]” or “Send a text to [contact name]”
- “Hey Google” to activate the Google Assistant for general queries
- “What’s the weather today?” to check weather forecasts
- “Read my messages” to hear recent texts and notifications
- “Play the news” to get caught up on current events
The full list of supported voice commands depends on the apps you have installed. But in general, you can use natural language like “Navigate home” or “Play some music.” Tap the mic icon in Android Auto to see examples of popular commands.
Navigating with Voice Commands
One of the most useful features of Android Auto is being able to navigate using just your voice. Here are some of the key voice commands to use for navigation in Android Auto:
To start navigation, simply say “Navigate to [destination]”. Android Auto will launch Google Maps and start providing turn-by-turn directions to your specified destination. For example, you can say “Navigate home” or “Navigate to 123 Main Street”.
You can also search for points of interest along your route by voice. Say “Find [gas stations, restaurants, etc] near me” and Android Auto will display suitable options. Select one to add it as a stop along your current route.
If you need to alter your route, say “Add a stop at [location]” to add a waypoint or “Change route” to modify the rest of the trip. You can also say “Avoid highways”, “Avoid tolls” or “Take the fastest route” to update your preferences.
Finally, ask “How far to destination?” or “What’s my ETA?” to get an update on the remaining time and distance. Android Auto will read out the info so you can keep your eyes on the road.
With these essential navigation commands for Android Auto, you can get accurate turn-by-turn directions solely through voice control. For more examples of supported voice commands, check out Google’s full list.
Controlling Media with Voice
One of the most useful voice commands in Android Auto is controlling your media playback hands-free. You can use your voice to play music, podcasts, audiobooks and more without ever taking your hands off the wheel.
To play music, simply say “Hey Google, play song or artist name” and Android Auto will begin playing it. You can also say “Hey Google, play some music genre” to start a playlist of that genre.
For podcasts, say “Hey Google, play the podcast podcast name” and it will start playing the latest episode. Or say “Hey Google, play podcast name podcast” to play from a specific podcast.
To play an audiobook, say “Hey Google, read book name” and it will start reading from that book. You can also say “Hey Google, resume book name” to pick up where you left off.
Some other useful media voice commands include:
- “Hey Google, pause”
- “Hey Google, skip to next song”
- “Hey Google, turn it up/down”
Controlling your media playback by voice makes it easy to queue up entertainment without ever taking your eyes off the road. It’s one of the most convenient features of Android Auto.
Making Calls & Texts by Voice
One of the most useful features of Android Auto is the ability to make calls and send texts using just your voice. This allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road while staying connected on the go.
To make a call in Android Auto, simply say “OK Google” or press the microphone button and say something like “Call John Smith” or “Call 555-1234.” Android Auto will confirm the contact or number and connect the call through your vehicle’s speakers and microphone.
You can also reply to incoming calls by voice. When a call comes in, you’ll hear a notification through your car speakers. Say “Answer” to accept the call or “Decline” to reject it. This allows you to handle calls completely hands-free.
Sending text messages works similarly. Say “OK Google” then “Text Jane Doe” followed by your complete message. Android Auto will confirm the contact and your message before sending the text. You’ll get voice notifications for any incoming texts as well which you can choose to view, listen to, reply to or ignore.
To enable hands-free calling and texting, make sure you allow Android Auto access to your contacts and SMS permissions. You can manage these settings in your Android phone’s Apps or Settings menu.
Overall, Android Auto’s voice calling and texting features help connect you to your contacts safely while driving. Just speak naturally as you normally would to place calls or send messages without ever needing to touch your phone’s screen. It’s one of the best ways to reduce distractions behind the wheel.
(Source: https://support.google.com/androidauto/answer/6348317?hl=en)
Using Voice Assistant Features
One of the most useful aspects of voice commands in Android Auto is the ability to access your phone’s voice assistant features hands-free while driving. The default voice assistant on Android Auto is Google Assistant, which can help you complete various tasks through voice commands alone.
With Google Assistant, you can ask for directions, control music playback, send messages, make calls, check the weather, and more. Say “Hey Google” or long press the voice command button on your steering wheel to activate it.
Some example voice commands include:
“Hey Google, navigate me home.”
“Hey Google, play my driving playlist on Spotify.”
“Hey Google, send a text to John that I’m running late.”
You can even ask Google Assistant questions and have it provide information from the web through your car speakers. Other digital assistants like Alexa and Siri can also be accessed through Android Auto if you prefer using those.
Voice assistants allow you to keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while still accessing many of your phone’s features. Just make sure not to get overly distracted by using voice commands while driving.
Troubleshooting Voice Commands
If you’re having issues getting voice commands to work properly in Android Auto, there are a few things you can try to resolve them:
Make sure your Android Auto app is up-to-date – Older versions can have bugs and problems with voice commands, so check for any available updates in the Play Store and install them (Google Support).
Check your phone’s microphone settings – Issues like a blocked microphone or incorrect language settings can prevent voice commands from working. Go into your phone’s sound settings to verify the microphone is not muted.
Adjust your car’s Bluetooth settings – Try unpairing and repairing your phone from your car’s Bluetooth system, as connection issues may disrupt voice commands. Also check for a software update for your car.
Use the voice command button properly – Press and hold the voice command button on your steering wheel until you hear a beep. Just a quick press may not activate voice input (Google Support).
Restart your phone and car stereo – Basic rebooting can help clear up underlying software glitches affecting voice commands in Android Auto. Try rebooting both devices.
Factory reset your Android Auto app – If all else fails, go into Android Auto settings on your phone and select Factory Reset. This will clear stored data and reset the app to default.
