Fix: Android 12 Google Assistant Not Working or Broken

It seems that Google still has some work to do on Android 12 in terms of stability or compatibility because plenty of Pixel device owners have started reporting that after updating to Android 12, they’re facing multiple issues since October 2021. It also includes the Google Assistant issues that basically do not activate the Assistant or voice commands not executed. If so, you can follow this guide to Fix Android 12 Google Assistant Not Working or Broken.

According to some reports that surfaced on Reddit, Google Assistant does not respond while the screen is off or only responds on the home screen. In some scenarios, the Google Assistant feature doesn’t work at all and it’s unable to execute commands in daily usage which is really bad. It’s also worth mentioning that Google didn’t mention anything on it officially yet. So, we may have to wait further to get a software update to fix it out.

1. Check Google Assistant Status

You should check out whether the Google Assistant app service is down or not at the server level. Some users may find issues with the Assistant app service because it’s down in some regions or there is a maintenance service going in the background. So, you should visit this link to check the real-time status for all Google apps along with Google Assistant.

If you find that there is a service downtime or outage happening in the background then make sure to wait for a couple of hours and then check the status again. There is nothing you can do in that scenario. However, if the service is running well then head over to the next method below.

2. Manually Enable Google Assistant

If your Android 12 device isn’t launching Google Assistant automatically then make sure to turn on the service manually to check whether it’s working from the next attempt or not. To do so:

Open the Settings app on the device > Go to Google.
Select Settings for Google apps > Tap on Search, Assistant & Voice.
Tap on Google Assistant > Go to Hey Google & Voice Match.
Turn ON the Hey Google toggle > If required, retrain the voice model.
You’re good to go.

3. Update the Google Assistant app

The Google Assistant app not working issue may appear on Android 12 running device if the Assistant app becomes outdated enough. So, make sure to update the app first. To do this:

Open the Google Play Store app > Tap on the three-dots icon at the top-right corner. [profile icon]
Go to My apps & games > Here you’ll find out the Google Assistant app if there is an update available.
Tap on Update next to Assistant app > It’ll automatically install the update.
Once updated to the latest version, launch the Assistant app, and check for the issue again.

4. Clear App Cache and Data

If you’re using any of the specific Assistant applications on your Android 12 device and somehow the Assistant isn’t working then make sure to clear the app cache and data of the app to check for the issue again. It basically removes any kind of potential glitch or temporary data from the device.

Open the Settings app on your Android 12 device.
Go to Apps & Notifications > Tap on See all apps.
Scroll down the list of installed apps and search for Google Assistant.
Tap on Google Assistant and go to options (App Info).
Select Storage & cache > Hit Clear cache and Clear storage.
Finally, check if the Google Assistant app works well or not.

5. Check your Internet Connection

Make sure to check your internet connection properly whether you’re using mobile data or Wi-Fi to ensure everything works fine. Sometimes without an internet connection, you may find it difficult to use or trigger Google Assistant on your handset.

6. Retrain Voice Model Properly

Try retraining your saved voice model of the Google Assistant feature properly again to ensure that there is no mismatch happening with the voice commands or voice recognition. To do so:

Open the Settings app on your device > Go to Google.
Select Settings for Google apps > Tap on Search, Assistant & Voice.
Hit on Google Assistant > Go to Hey Google & Voice Match.
Tap on Voice model > Hit Retrain voice model.
Read the on-screen commands to say loudly and clearly when asked so that Google Assistant can save the voice model.
Once done, tap on Finish to apply changes.
Finally, reboot your device to change effects immediately.

7. Try Disabling Other Assistants

If you’re using any other voice assistants on your handset then make sure to turn them off and try again with Google Assistant.

Open the Alexa app on the handset > Tap on the More button.
Select Settings > Go to Device Settings.
Tap on Alexa on this phone > Turn off the Enable Alexa Hands-Free toggle.

8. Turn Off Battery Saver

It seems that the Battery Saver option is somehow affecting the Google Assistant feature to work seamlessly on your device when it’s turned on. So, it’s better to turn off the Battery Saver option and then try again. To do this:

Go to the device Settings menu > Tap on Battery.
Make sure to Turn off the Battery saver toggle.
Reboot the device to apply changes.

That’s it, guys. We assume you’ve found this guide useful. For further queries, you can comment below.

Fix: Android 12 Google Assistant Not Working or Broken