topic Re: Google Assistant timers in Speakers and Displays

Google Assistant timers

ThatMatMik — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:46:25 GMT

I have eight Google devices in my home. When my children attempt to use any of the speakers, which are a variety of shapes and sizes, to set timers, google assistant will say "sorry, im not sure what you mean". There are four users in this household. Myself, my wife and my two children. Both my wife and I can successfully set and stop timers. My children cannot. It's only the timer setting that doesn't work for them. They can start and stop music & ask questions, etc successfully.

Really REALLY annoying

Re: Google Assistant timers

Alex_S — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 17:49:10 GMT

Hi ThatMatMik,

That’s odd. Can they set up a timer before? When did you notice this behavior? How old are your children? Is it also happening to a regular timer or all kinds of timers (named timers)?

Regards,
Alex

Re: Google Assistant timers

ThatMatMik — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 18:11:59 GMT

began about a month ago

They are 12 and 8

Every other command still works. Routines still work.

When they say "hey Google set a timer" the assistant responds with " okay for how long?"

They say x number of minutes. Assistant responds with "I'm sorry I don't understand"

My wife and I can request the same action and get the correct results. We've tried retraining voice models, unlinking the accounts from home, and relinking, rebooting all of the devices in the house. Nothing works.

Re: Google Assistant timers

jcmiller — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 20:30:44 GMT

We are having the same problem with children not being able to set timers on our Google homes, and also one adult. I can see the Google home is correctly understanding us based on the text on the screen, but it still says it's can't help. This problem is only for timers while all other commands work. This started in the last week or two.

Re: Google Assistant timers

angieschmitt — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:50:06 GMT

Currently having the same issue, though also extending to third party light control. Wonder if they messed up permissions for child accounts.

Re: Google Assistant timers

Muz1 — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:56:43 GMT

We're also having this problem. My kids (5 and 9) can play music and ask questions but when they try to set a timer it doesn't work for them. My wife and I can set timers though.

Re: Google Assistant timers

asalerno162 — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:22:10 GMT

Same problem. Kids 7 and 10 who have been using timers for a year or more, suddenly can't set them any more. Started about a month ago. They can say, "set a timer for X minutes" and Google says, "sorry, I don't understand." And I can come say the same thing and it works every time. Seems like a glitch in their permissions.

Re: Google Assistant timers

Twohenleys — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:26:39 GMT

Another parent wondering what has changed recently to affect behaviour that that have been using with no problems for ages. These are chuldnaccounts with voice matching enabled. Google understands what they are saying but restricts access. Where as two parent accounts with voice match works no problem.

Really annoying where they have bought into the world of assistants but cannotnuse them for daily tasks.

Re: Google Assistant timers

ThatMatMik — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 17:00:31 GMT

@Alex_S

Do posts to the community, where there is an obvious defect, get to the Google product development team? Or are we simply shouting in to the void?

Re: Google Assistant timers

Phaelin — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:54:21 GMT

This has been going on for weeks. Started early December.

8yo can't set any timers, regular or named. "I'm sorry, I don't understand." is all we get back.

Re: Google Assistant timers

Tenkely — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:52:01 GMT

Same here. Been going on for weeks...

Re: Google Assistant timers

Alex41 — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 01:59:47 GMT

Same here

Re: Google Assistant timers

Bryanvlo — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 03:17:53 GMT

Hope this fix this soon my kids use the timer a lot.

Re: Google Assistant timers

SCheng — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 19:47:30 GMT

We have the same problem, just noticed it within the last few weeks. We found a workaround that can help until Google fixes the problem. Have the kids say, "Hey Google, set an ALARM for _____", which still seems to work. But you get the alarm ringtone instead of the traditional timer up chime instead.

Re: Google Assistant timers

NTS15 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 01:46:39 GMT

I'm facing the same , kids can't start timers anymore, the current work around as other people set is setting an alarm, but that doesn't work as timer screen at all!

Re: Google Assistant timers

GoodierD — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 20:56:54 GMT

I'm having the same issues. However one child can set timers and the other one can't.

Re: Google Assistant timers

VitaliyK — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 23:14:01 GMT

Same for me.

Re: Google Assistant timers

Nemi5150 — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 01:54:54 GMT

Same for me. They also cannot turn on any smart home devices that go through SmartLife

Re: Google Assistant timers

Ase117aherc — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 01:57:07 GMT

Same issue

Re: Google Assistant timers

RamRod78 — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 18:24:15 GMT

Same here...

We get "sorry I don't understand" for the timers and "sorry, tuya smart is not available right now" for light commands when the kids try.

If they ask the Nest Hub, the light control for that light shows (so it obviously understands them) and they touch the screen to turn the light on and it works fine.

Me as master account have no problems.

My wife has 50% success.