Google Assistant Not Speaking - Any Fixes?

I’ve been having a frustrating issue with Google Assistant on my Android phone lately. It just stopped speaking to me! I can still see the responses on the screen, but there’s no voice output at all. I’ve tried a few basic troubleshooting steps, but nothing seems to work.

Here are the steps I’ve already taken:

  • Checked Volume Levels: I made sure that the volume is up and not muted. Sometimes it’s as simple as that.
  • Voice Settings: I went into the Voice settings and ensured that ‘Speech Output’ is set to ‘On’.
  • Permissions: I checked app permissions to confirm that Google Assistant has the necessary access.
  • Restarted Device: A classic move, but I rebooted my phone just in case.

What I need help with:

  • Advanced Troubleshooting: Are there other hidden settings I might be overlooking?
  • Updates: Could this be related to a recent software update? How can I check or roll back?
  • Factory Reset: Is it worth it to do a factory reset if none of the other steps work?

Other Thoughts:

  • Device Compatibility: I’ve had this phone for a while; could it be that my device is no longer fully compatible with the latest updates?
  • Community Experience: Has anyone else faced this issue? What did you do to solve it?

Looking forward to your insights! Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. This seems like a pretty common problem, so I’m hoping to find some real solutions here.

Has anyone tried checking the volume levels? Sometimes, it can be set to zero without realizing it.

That’s a great point! I also had an issue where my Google Assistant was routed to a Bluetooth speaker, which was turned off. Double-check your output devices!

I had the same problem! Make sure your device isn’t muted or in ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode. It worked for me!

I second that! Also, try restarting your device after adjusting settings. It can help reset anything stuck.

Good call! I didn’t think about ‘Do Not Disturb’. It can sometimes turn off everything.

Have any of you checked the accessibility settings? Sometimes those can override volume levels.

That’s a good tip! I almost forgot to check that. Just because it’s ‘accessible’ doesn’t mean it’s always helpful!

I know it sounds silly, but check if the device is on silent mode! I’ve missed that one so many times.

Seriously, cewing! I once spent an hour troubleshooting and it was just on silent. :man_facepalming:

I wonder if resetting Google Assistant settings might help? Though it sounds drastic, sometimes it helps fix bugs.

Resetting could fix it! But just remember to back up your settings first. You wouldn’t want to lose any customization.

Also, make sure your assistant language settings haven’t changed. Sometimes updates mess with these things.

Good point! I’ve had mine switch to a different language overnight!

I thought mine was possessed when it started speaking only in Spanish! Turns out it was just an update fault. :joy:

Haha, I feel you! Those surprises aren’t the fun kind.

This is a lot to check! I feel like I need a checklist to figure this out. :laughing: Anyone want to make one?

For real, ejones! It might be helpful to have all these tips in one place for the next time someone has this issue!

Has anyone had issues with Google Assistant on their Pixel 5? Mine won’t respond at all. Any fixes?

I had the same issue on my Pixel 5! Try resetting your settings under ‘Assistant’ in the app. It worked for me!

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