Virtual assistants on our phones have become more intelligent than ever, thanks to AI. Google’s AI tool Gemini has taken over our beloved Google Assistant and replaced it with a new virtual assistant. While it is still evoked using the same voice command – Hey Google or Ok Google, and alternatively by long pressing the power button, the user interface has completely changed, and so are the responses. You get an intelligent and sophisticated virtual assistant that offers more of a human digital assistant experience.

However, lately, this functionality is giving a hard time for some Pixel users as holding the power button or saying Hey Google to evoke the Gemini Assistant is not working on Google Pixel. Users say that holding the power button doesn’t bring Gemini anymore and neither does the voice command – Hey Google or Ok Google. Also in the Gemini app, when users press the mic button, the assistant refuses to respond, something the old Google Assistant wouldn’t do, I believe.

Workarounds to fix Gemini Assistant not working on Pixel

Now, the only way users are left to communicate with their assistants is through typing, which is obnoxious. One of the main reasons for using the voice assistant is when you want to avoid typing for certain tasks. However, this bug isn’t letting users do so. Fortunately, some workarounds can help you fix this issue.

Use slide to invoke assistant

Apart from the two ways to invoke the voice assistant that currently isn’t working, there’s another way to bring it up. You can also swipe up from either the left or right corner of your screen which will invoke the Gemini Assistant. But first, you need to enable this functionality from Settings. Here’s how to do it.

• Open Settings and head to System.
• Now, go to Navigation Mode and tap the cog wheel next to ‘Gesture navigation’.

• Finally, toggle on ‘Swipe to invoke assistant’.

Reboot or Force-stop stop Google app

Sometimes, a simple reboot can do the trick. Therefore, try restarting your device before trying other workarounds and see if it works. If not, another no-brainer workaround would be to force-stop the Google app. For this, you just need to press and hold the Google app and then press the ‘i‘ button. Now, click on Force stop.

Reset app preferences in Settings

Resetting app preferences in Settings seems to have resolved this issue for one of those affected. However, the problem comes back after a while. But it’s still worth giving a shot. In case, it works for you. To do so:

• Open Settings and head to Apps.
• Now, click on All apps and then on the top right, click on three dots.

• You’ll see Reset app preference, go ahead and click on Reset apps.

Unfortunately, Google hasn’t acknowledged this bug. That said, until it gets permanently resolved, those affected can try out the aforementioned workarounds and see if they work. Let us know if you have any solutions to this problem in the comments box below.

This isn’t the only problem bothering Pixel users, there are issues such as fingerprint not working after the Android 15 update, random quick phrases (Say Snooze/Stop) appearing on screen annoying users, and for old Pixels, WhatsApp video quality has deteriorated or showing just a green screen.