Enable "OK Google" From Any Screen On Android

DroidModderX

Super Moderator
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
5,782
Reaction score
2,132

The "OK Google" feature of Google Now is a great and easy way to get answers from the web, launch apps, get directions, and much more on your Android device. By default you can only use this feature from within the Google Now screen or from the home screen. You can't enable it with the screen off or from within other apps by default, but there is a way to make the "Ok Google" recognition work from any screen.

To Enable "Ok Google" recognition from any screen.

1. Open Google Now Launcher
2. Slide out the menu from the left edge of your screen
3. Tap on Settings, Voice, "Ok Google Detection"
4. Check the "From Any Screen Option"
5. It will ask you to setup recognition by repeating "Ok Google" many times
6. Check the "When Locked" enable recognition even when the screen is off or device is locked
7. Enjoy
 

cr6

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 1, 2011
Messages
8,281
Reaction score
5,802
Location
NW Rocky Mtn region
Website
www.dronewolfmedia.com
Current Phone Model
Galaxy S7 Edge
Twitter
@dronewolfmedia
Hmmmm....I've been able activate Google Now
with the screen off since I got my S5. Is this just new on certain devices?

S5 tap'n
 
OP
DroidModderX

DroidModderX

Super Moderator
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
5,782
Reaction score
2,132
it worked on my Nexus 6
 

Ollie

Droid Does
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
3,424
Reaction score
2,068
Location
South Coast
Current Phone Model
Note Edge - iPhone 6 Plus
We just had along discussion about this in another thread. Before the recent update it would not work on the lockscreen. I could use SVOICE from the lockscreen, but not Google.

All appears to be working fine now though.
 

xeene

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
3,479
Reaction score
1,004
Location
detroit, usa
Hmmmm....I've been able activate Google Now
with the screen off since I got my S5. Is this just new on certain devices?

S5 tap'n
I got to try this on Xperia. Thought it only worked for Motorola devices with active display.

Just tried it with screen off and it doesn't work.
 

Ollie

Droid Does
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
3,424
Reaction score
2,068
Location
South Coast
Current Phone Model
Note Edge - iPhone 6 Plus
I got to try this on Xperia. Thought it only worked for Motorola devices with active display.

Just tried it with screen off and it doesn't work.

That was the problem I had recently and now it works on a locked screen as well.
 

Jonny Kansas

Administrator
Staff member
Rescue Squad
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
16,740
Reaction score
7,355
Location
Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Website
www.google.com
Current Phone Model
Pixel XL
Twitter
jonny_ks
Hmmmm....I've been able activate Google Now
with the screen off since I got my S5. Is this just new on certain devices?

S5 tap'n
Worked out of the box on my Note 4 as well, but I believe it is or just finished rolling out to other devices. Also, not sure if android version matters, but it threw me off for a second when I went into the settings on the Note 4, because the s4 definitely didn't have the option when I restored it and gave it to my gf.
 

Jonny Kansas

Administrator
Staff member
Rescue Squad
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
16,740
Reaction score
7,355
Location
Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Website
www.google.com
Current Phone Model
Pixel XL
Twitter
jonny_ks
If it works with the screen off on our older phones I bet it would just destroy battery life.
I've heard claims that it doesn't, but I don't use it. Don't like the idea of anyone bypassing the lock screen, even if all they can do is call & text people, but I imagine you could also tell it to open just about any app.

Plus, if I'm using Google now, I'm going to have the screen on anyway because I intend to read the results, so it doesn't bother me to unlock it, then say ok Google.

Sent from my Note 4
 

RyanPm40

Senior Member
Joined
May 3, 2010
Messages
931
Reaction score
111
Hm, the lock screen checkbox works if my screen is on and locked, but not if the screen is off.
 

Jonny Kansas

Administrator
Staff member
Rescue Squad
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
16,740
Reaction score
7,355
Location
Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Website
www.google.com
Current Phone Model
Pixel XL
Twitter
jonny_ks
You need the Always On option.
54db301c71021f6d9f45b29b8ee0195a.jpg


I don't think they've finished rolling it out yet & I'm not sure if there's a cutoff for android versions it'll work with.

Funny thing though, from any screen is gone & I don't have always on checked, but mine works from within every app I've tried it from so far.

Sent from my Note 4
 

leeshor

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2012
Messages
4,331
Reaction score
1,414
Location
Norcross, GA - USA
I'm trying to figure out why it has always worked on any screen on my S4 and LG Optimus Pro and I didn't set anything to get it to work. However, this does solve an issue my sister had with her S5.
 

bsweetness

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 2, 2010
Messages
3,112
Reaction score
680
Current Phone Model
Pixel 2 XL
Hmmmm....I've been able activate Google Now
with the screen off since I got my S5. Is this just new on certain devices?

I'm 99.9999% sure that it is only available on certain devices. I haven't seen a list of supported devices anywhere (or a mention of whether or not a certain version of Android is required), but I know there are a number of phones that it doesn't work on.
 

Jonny Kansas

Administrator
Staff member
Rescue Squad
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
16,740
Reaction score
7,355
Location
Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Website
www.google.com
Current Phone Model
Pixel XL
Twitter
jonny_ks
I'm 99.9999% sure that it is only available on certain devices. I haven't seen a list of supported devices anywhere (or a mention of whether or not a certain version of Android is required), but I know there are a number of phones that it doesn't work on.

Is there an echo in here...? Haha! Glad to know we're on the same page. Figured maybe I missed something, but if you don't know either, I feel better.
 
Top