Google Pixel @lemmy.ml otp @sh.itjust.works 3 mo. ago

How can I start a timer from my home screen by voice without saying "Hey Google"?

I used to be able to press the microphone button on my home screen and say "Start 5-minute timer" and it would start the timer.

Now, when I do that, it does a Google search for "Start 5-minute timer".

How do I get that functionality back?

I don't want to open an app, and I don't want to use a number pad or anything to enter the number.

EDIT: Thank you! I went into the Gestures section of Settings, and now I can long-press the power button to get the desired behaviour. This might even be more convenient than tapping the mic icon!

14 comments

You don't. In their infinite wisdom they deemed it an unnecessary feature that people like you and I are oddballs for using in that way and removed it for our own betterment.
- That's pretty shitty.
  
  Next thing you'll tell me is that I have to open an app if I want to use call screening on the current incoming call.
  
  Well, now they're getting even less voice data from me.
  
  I forgot I set up tapping the back of the phone to trigger assistant when I found out about this. Obviously it's super instinctual. You can set this in settings -> system -> gestures -> quick tap to start actions
You can enable assistant via swiping the corner. Should be under "swipe to invoke assistant".

I'm pretty sure it's a part of them trying to uncouple the search widget from the assistant widget, since they're getting a lot of scrutiny for having the phone functionality too tied to them without options.

https://9to5google.com/2024/03/16/google-pixel-launcher-search-eu/

Willing to bet it's related to that.
- Thank you. I can't seem to get it to work, though. I've scrolled down to the bottom of every app trying every possible angle, starting position, and side to get it to work with the sensitivity at all notches...but I couldn't get it to activate once.
  
  Thanks for pointing out that setting. Maybe I'll find something that works.
- I think I have gesture settings turned off, lol
  
  But now I've set it to long-pressing the power button, so thank you!
I thought I was crazy! I was trying this yesterday, and my phone decided "oh, he probably wanted to search the web for 'set an alarm' "

I swear I'm one of the only people who loved the squeeze function on the old pixels for this.
- I went into the Gestures section of Settings and set long-pressing the power button to open the Assistant. You could also have double tapping the back of your phone do that.
  
  Hope this helps you, too!
  
  Just did the same, thanks! I'm very grateful that you decided to make this post today.
Google has been futzing with Google Assistant for a little while now, discontinuing features that they unilaterally decided were "unsafe" or for other random reasons.

For example for the past few months I can't turn my A/C off in the middle of the night with a voice command. I can turn it off RIGHT NOW, but not at 3am.

I did notice that using the command for a timer did bring up the search as you said, but the search page showed a timer counting down.

I have no sound, so I don't know if it alerts you at the end of the countdown.

Google also removed "remind me to XYZ in an hour".

It's all getting very authoritarian.
- I was able to access it by changing it from the mic button to long pressing my power button. Thankfully, I don't use any of the more advanced features, lol

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