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Nest answers Hey Google from far away

TommySax
Community Member

When I'm far enough away from the Nest in my kitchen that I know it can't hear me, I say "OK Google" to my smartphone to ask a question. The reply plays on my kitchen speaker instead of on the phone and I can't hear it. How can I make Google answer on the device to which I'm speaking?? Frustrating!!

11 REPLIES 11

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

@TommySax 

It seems that's how Google Nest has designed it to work if you have Google Assistant on your phone.  We have iPhones and do NOT have Google Assistant on our phones, but other customers have reported experiences like yours.  This is what Google Nest Help says:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7257763?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

TommySax
Community Member

As is typical, the menu choices mentioned in the suggested article do not appear as indicated. The solution description is totally confusing. I can't follow what to do. Thanks anyway.

Princesss
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi folks, 

 

Thanks for visiting the Community. 

 

We appreciate your help on this, @MplsCustomer .

 

@TommySax , we’re sorry to hear about this experience. Let’s make sure that the Home app is updated to its latest version as well as the app. Also, as a workaround, you can try these steps.

 

  1. Open the Google Home appGoogle Home.
  2. At the bottom, tap HomeHome.
  3. Touch and hold your speaker or Smart Display.
  4. At the top right, tap Device settingsSettingsand thenAudioand then“Hey Google” sensitivity. 
  5. Choose how sensitive you want Google Assistant to be when it responds to you.
  • To change this setting on another device, tap Adjust more devices.

Hope these steps work.

 

Best,

Princess

Princesss
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey there,

 

We just want to check if you have seen our response posted above. Let us know if you have additional questions, otherwise we'll be locking the thread.
 

Best,

Princess

Yes I've seen the response. The workaround doesn't work. First let me be clear... I'm "tech savvy" having an engineering background so, of course I have the latest versions of software and everything is on the same WIFI network. I turned the "Hey Google" sensitivity on my Kitchen Speaker to the minimum. I have a smart plug in my living room named "corner light". Sitting on the couch, in another room, at least 10 meters away, I whisper (yes whisper!) into my phone "Hey Google turn off the corner light" . The light goes out and from the kitchen speaker I hear "Turning off the corner light". On the couch I whisper " Hey Google, how many grams in a pound?" I hear the kitchen speaker answering. The phone, on some rare occasions, with no perceivable pattern, answers.

So WHAT DEVICE is actually interpreting the request? Does the smart plug have a microphone? Does the phone listen, send the question through the network, but then the kitchen answers? 

Truly a frustrating mystery!

The light control isn't so important but when I ask questions I am too far away to hear the answers.

Thanks.

Princesss
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi TommySax,

 

Thanks for the additional info. Could you please provide the cast firmware version of your Google Nest speakers?

 

To check which firmware version you're on, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Touch and hold your device's tile.
  4. At the top right, tap Settings and then Device information.
  5. Under "Technical information," find Cast firmware: X.XXX.XXXXX.

Looking forward to your response.

 

Best,

Princess

Thanks for the reply. 
Cast firmware: 1.56.348702
 

Princesss
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi TommySax,

 

We appreciate all your efforts. We'd be happy to take a look into this for you. Please fill out this form with all the needed information then let me know once done.

 

Best,

Princess

Juni
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi there,

 

I wanted to follow up if you are still in need of any help. If so, please fill out the form above.
 

Thanks,

Juni

TommySax
Community Member

I already submitted a form. You want me to do it again?

It seems to me that, even when set to the lowest "Hey Google" sensitivity, my Nest picks me up speaking at a normal volume from 30 feet away.

Juni
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi there,

 

We got your form — thanks for filling it out. Our team will reach out to you via email anytime soon. Please continue the conversation there, as this thread will be locked after 24 hours.
 

Best,

Juni