Where is the voice app in settings?

Voice assistants are software programs that allow users to interact with devices through voice commands and natural language. They provide a hands-free way for people to get information, complete tasks, and access services just by speaking. Some of the most popular voice assistants include Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana.

These voice assistants are integrated into smartphones, speakers, cars, and other devices. To manage the settings for voice assistants, users typically access the settings app on their device. This is where options can be found to customize the wake word, adjust permissions, enable/disable the assistant, and more.

What are Voice Assistants?

Voice assistants are software programs that can interpret human speech and respond through audio feedback. They allow users to ask questions, get information, and complete tasks by using natural language voice commands (BotPenguin, 2023).

Some of the most popular voice assistants include:

• Siri – Apple’s virtual assistant that comes built into iOS devices.
• Alexa – Amazon’s voice service that powers Echo smart speakers.
• Google Assistant – Google’s AI assistant available on Android phones and Google Home devices.
• Cortana – Microsoft’s digital agent for Windows 10 computers and Xbox consoles.

These voice assistants use natural language processing and speech recognition to understand spoken requests, then access information or services to carry out the requested task. Users can ask for weather forecasts, play music, get directions, control smart home devices, set reminders, and more just by speaking out loud.

Why Use a Voice Assistant?

Voice assistants provide a convenient hands-free way to get information, manage tasks, and control devices using only your voice. Some key benefits of using a voice assistant include:

• Hands-free convenience – You can access information and issue voice commands without having to type or touch a screen. This is especially useful when driving or when your hands are occupied.
• Multitasking – Voice control allows you to multitask more easily since you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to operate a device.
• Time savings – Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant can help you quickly get weather reports, set timers and alarms, schedule calendar events, and more, saving you time.
• Accessibility – Voice control provides accessibility for those who have difficulty seeing screens or operating devices due to visual impairments, motor disabilities, or other limitations.
• Personalization – Voice assistants can learn your preferences over time and provide customized experiences and recommendations.

With the convenience of voice control and hands-free access, voice assistants are becoming increasingly common in homes, cars, phones, watches, speakers and other devices. They help optimize daily tasks and provide quick access to information (WebbyLab, 2023).

Accessing Settings

The settings app allows you to configure various options and preferences on your mobile device. Here’s how to find the settings app on the major mobile platforms:

On an iPhone running iOS, you can access settings by tapping the Settings icon on the home screen, which looks like gray gears. The Settings app is usually found on the home screen dock, but if not, you can also find it by swiping right from the first home screen to access the App Library, then scrolling down to the S section (Source).

On an Android phone, swipe down from the top of the screen to access the notification shade. You’ll see a settings cog icon in the upper right corner. Tap this to open the Settings app. If the settings icon is missing from your Android home screen, you may need to drag it back from the app library (Source).

For Android users who installed a customized launcher, the process may differ. You’ll need to consult your launcher’s instructions for how to find the settings. Some common methods are tapping and holding an empty space on a home screen, tapping a menu icon, or swiping up to access the app drawer.

On both iOS and Android, you can also search for “settings” to quickly pull up the settings app.

Locating the Voice Assistant

The voice assistant settings on Android devices can be found within the Settings app. Here are the general steps to locate the voice assistant settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device. This is typically accessed by pulling down the notification shade and tapping the gear icon for Settings.

2. Scroll down and select Apps & notifications or App info depending on your Android version.

3. Tap Advanced or See all ### apps to expand the list.

4. Scroll down and find the listing for your device’s voice assistant app, such as Google or Bixby. Tap the app.

5. This will open the app info page for your voice assistant. Here you can find options and settings related to the voice assistant.

6. Look for sections titled Voice, Voice Match, Hey Google, or something similar. This is likely where the main voice assistant settings will be located.

7. You may also want to check the Permissions section on the app info page to control what access your voice assistant has.

For more details, consult your device manufacturer’s support site or user manual. Steps may vary across different brands, models, and Android versions.

Voice Assistant Settings

The Voice Assistant on Samsung phones, called Bixby, has a variety of settings that can be customized. Some of the key settings include:

Language: You can set the language for Bixby under Language and speaking style in the Bixby settings. English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Korean language options are available (Samsung).

Voice: There are different voice options for Bixby that can be selected under Voice in settings. Options include female, male, upbeat, and calm voices (Samsung Accessibility).

Speech Rate: The speed at which Bixby talks can be adjusted under Speech rate in settings. You can slow down or speed up Bixby’s voice.

Volume: The volume level of Bixby’s voice can be changed under Volume in the Bixby settings menu.

Wake-Up Phrase: You can customize the phrase used to activate Bixby under Wake-up command in settings. The default is “Hi Bixby” but this can be changed.

Other Bixby settings allow you to manage permissions, privacy, customize voice feedback, and more. The settings provide flexibility in customizing Bixby to meet your preferences.

Changing the Activation Phrase

You can customize the activation phrase to launch your voice assistant on many devices. This allows you to change the default “OK Google” or “Hey Google” wake words to a unique phrase of your choice.

On Android devices, open the Google app and go to Settings > Voice > Voice Match. Tap “Ok Google” detection, then turn off the toggle. Now you can tap “Retrain voice model” to set up a new activation phrase ¹.

For Google Home and Nest speakers and displays, use the Google Home app. Go to Account > Your devices > Select device > Assistant > Assistant tab > Wake Word. Choose “Hey Google” or “OK Google” to change it to a custom phrase ².

On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Listen for “Hey Siri”. Toggle this off, then back on to set up a new phrase. You can also retrain Siri’s voice model under Siri & Search to recognize your voice for activation.

Changing the activation phrase helps avoid accidental activations. Just make sure to pick a unique phrase you won’t commonly say in conversation.

Managing Permissions

Voice assistants need certain permissions to function properly on your device. Key permissions to manage include access to your microphone, contacts, and calendar.

Microphone access allows the voice assistant to listen to your voice commands and queries. Without microphone access, the assistant would not be able to understand your speech input. As noted in the IEEE paper Security and Privacy on Voice Assistants, microphone access is essential for voice assistants to operate, but also raises privacy concerns if the data is misused.

Access to contacts and calendar allows the assistant to look up information from your address book and schedule when completing tasks like calling contacts or scheduling meetings. As the IEEE paper discusses, users should be aware of the tradeoff between convenience and privacy when enabling these permissions.

Most voice assistants allow you to toggle these permissions on or off. Disabling microphone access will prevent the assistant from responding to voice commands. Disabling contacts and calendar access limits the assistant’s access to personal data but retains core functionalities.

Disabling the Voice Assistant

If you find the voice assistant to be distracting or no longer need its functionality, you can disable it through your device’s settings. There are a couple ways to disable the voice assistant depending on if you want to temporarily or permanently turn it off.

To temporarily disable the voice assistant, open your device’s Settings app and go to Apps. Find the app for your voice assistant, such as Google App for the Google Assistant. Tap on the app and select “Force Stop.” This will prevent the app from running and activating the voice assistant until you manually reopen it.

For a more permanent disable, go back into the voice assistant app’s settings in Apps. Toggle the switch next to “Disable” or “Turn off” which will completely disable the app and prevent the voice assistant from activating at all. You can always re-enable it later by toggling this switch back on.

On some Android devices like OnePlus, you may also find a dedicated toggle switch for enabling/disabling the voice assistant in the Settings app under “System” or “Utilities.” Flip this switch off to disable the voice assistant.

Disabling the voice assistant app completely can help free up system resources and storage space if you no longer need to use it. Just keep in mind you won’t be able to access any voice assistant features until you re-enable it. But if you just need a temporary break from the voice intrusions, forcing the app to stop is a quick way to turn it off.

Sources:

https://cellularnews.com/mobile-phone/how-to-turn-off-voice-assistant-on-android/

https://cellularnews.com/mobile-phone/how-to-turn-off-voice-talk-on-my-android-phone/

Conclusion

Voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, and Bixby are incredibly useful tools that allow you to complete tasks, get information, and control devices just by using your voice. While they may seem complex, accessing and customizing your device’s voice assistant is straightforward once you know where to look.

The voice assistant settings are typically found within the main Settings app of your smartphone, tablet, smart speaker, or other device. Here you can change options like the activation phrase, permissions, linked services, and more. With the ability to disable the voice assistant entirely, you have full control over this convenient feature.

Voice commands have become an integral part of the modern digital experience. As the technology continues to advance, voice assistants promise to become even more capable and intuitive. For now, be sure to explore your device’s settings to get the most out of this handy tool.