(Solved) Google What’s on My Screen Missing

Yoodley is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Google Assistant has gained a reputation for having erratic features over time. Something will work one day and not the next. “What’s on my screen?” is a good example of this, as it has disappeared and reappeared so many times that we’ve almost lost track of how many times it has happened. Despite the fact that it had been gone since May of 2020, it has made a surprise reappearance nine months after that.

Previously known as “Now on Tap,” this suggestion chip appears when you activate Assistant (the old interface, not the new interface on the Pixel 4) in any app on your phone. It was previously known as “What’s on my screen.”

While on the homescreen, it does not appear because it requires something to be displayed on the screen in order to function properly. It usually detects names, companies, items, people, places, dates, and other information that has been mentioned and offers activities that you might perform as a result.

It was May when users first began reporting the chip’s absence, and the reports continued to come in until just a few days ago. Attempting to get around the chip by directly asking Assistant “What’s on my screen” did not work either, resulting in the feature is completely missing out.

Fortunately, the chip and feature are once again available – at least for some users, as seen in the screenshot shared by a Redittor:

This is most likely due to a Google app or Play Services update, though we are unable to trace the source of the problem with certainty. The Redditor claims to be using Play Services version 20.1.04

 

FIXED – “Ok, Google” Not Working On Phone

Here are a few ways you can fix your Google Assistant if it does not respond to “Ok, Google”:

1. Make Sure Your Android Device Is Compatible

You can’t use Google Assistant just because you have an Android phone or tablet. Only a few versions of Android are compatible with the Assistant, and there are a few other prerequisites as well.

To utilize Google Assistant, your device must meet the following requirements:

  • At least 1GB of accessible memory, or at least 1.5GB of available memory, for Android 5.0 or Android 6.0
  • Version 6.13 or later of the Google app
  • Apps that run on Google Play
  • 720p or greater resolution

You also need to be using a device that supports a language that Google Assistant recognizes. All of these languages are spoken in the United States. For a complete list of supported languages, check out the Google Assistant requirements page.

In the event that you’re having problems because your program is out of date, you may easily remedy the situation by downloading and installing the most recent version. Before continuing, make sure you understand how to utilize Google Assistant.

2. Ensure You’re Connected to the Internet

To get information for you, Google Assistant needs your internet connection. In order to function properly, you must be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or cell phone data.

Using your phone’s browser, open Google or another search engine and type in your query to see if your connection is working. If it won’t open, your internet connection is bad. Switching to a different location with a better connection may help, as can restarting your device and making sure you’re connected via the network settings under Settings > Network and Internet.

3. Enable the “Hey Google” Option

With the “Hey Google” voice command, a large number of people use Google Assistant without having to touch a keyboard or mouse. The “Hey Google” option in the Assistant’s settings menu may have been accidentally disabled, so if the Assistant doesn’t open even after saying this, you may have accidentally disabled it.

If the problem persists, try re-enabling the option. This is how you can accomplish it:

  • Open the Google app on your phone or tablet.
  • Select Settings from the drop-down menu at the bottom of your screen.
  • To access the Assistant’s voice settings, select Voice, then Voice Match.
  • Select the option that says Hey Google on the resulting screen.
  • Google Assistant will launch once you say “Hey Google” in front of your phone.

4. Retrain the Voice Model

Google Assistant can have trouble recognizing your voice on occasion. The Assistant will be unavailable from your lock screen because your phone is unable to determine who is speaking.

Thanks to Assistant’s voice-recognition feature, you can retrain it. As a result, your phone will be able to recognize your voice more accurately. To retrain the voice model, follow these steps:

  • Open the Google app and select More, then Settings.
  • On the next screen, select Voice and then tap Voice Match.
  • A voice model option can be found in the Voice Match section. Please select this option.
  • You should now be able to select “Retrain voice model” from the drop-down menu. To begin the retraining process, simply tap on it.

The Google app will ask you to pronounce the words on your screen. Use these guidelines to help the Assistant understand what you’re saying.

5. Make Sure Your Device’s Microphone Is Working

Although this is a simple fix, you should try it if you’re still having issues using Google Assistant. It is well-known that Google Assistant listens for commands through your microphone. As a result, the Assistant will not respond to your requests if you don’t have a functioning microphone.

Please check the microphone on your device if you haven’t already. If you don’t already have a voice recorder app on your phone, you can download Google’s free Recorder and start recording. You can tell if your microphone is working if you can hear yourself talking when the recording is paused.

6. Grant Required Permissions to Google Assistant

On your device, you must grant Google Assistant specific permissions in order to use the assistant’s features. You’ll need to grant the Assistant the necessary permissions if it doesn’t already have them. To do so, follow these steps:

  • Click on Apps & notifications in Settings.
  • On the following screen, choose the Google app. The app should appear if you select See all apps at the bottom of the screen.
  • To view and manage Google app permissions, select the Permissions option.
  • On your screen, you’ll see a number of toggles. To ensure that the Assistant has access to everything it needs, turn on all of these toggles.

7. Remove Other Voice Assistants

Samsung’s Bixby, for example, is a voice assistant built into some Android phones. The Google Assistant may not work properly if you have one of these apps installed.

In order to see if this works, turn off all other voice assistants but Google Assistant. To stop the other assistant from running, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all X apps and tap Disable or Uninstall.

It’s possible that the other voice assistant is to blame if this fix fixes the problem. It should either be permanently disabled or removed.

 

8. Disable VPN Services

VPNs may not always prevent Google Assistant from working, but they may cause problems. Using a virtual private network (VPN) could prevent your Google Assistant from properly accessing data because VPN services reroute your network connections.

Disable any VPN apps while using Google Assistant to see if that helps unless you have a specific need for them.

  • If you have an app for your VPN, tap on the icon.
  • Next, toggle off the option that says ‘VPN Enabled’.

 

9. Enable Google Assistant Notifications

To enable Google Assistant Notifications, go to Settings > Notifications and select the option.

After that, we’ll take a look at another, equally infuriating issue. Disabling notifications for Google Assistant on your phone is the most likely cause of not receiving notifications from the service. You can fix the problem by enabling notifications again:

  • Tap on Apps & notifications in Settings, then Google.
  • Navigate through the Apps menu until you find the Notifications option.

  • Changing the types of notifications you receive is as simple as checking the box next to Show notification and using the categories below. Toggle on Notifications.

 

Read More
  1. Looks Like Another App Is Blocking Access To Google Play
  2. How do you give Google Assistant access to your screen?
  3. Can You Delete Google Play Services Data?
  4. How to Stop Google Play Store From Opening When You Are on Other Apps?
  5. Can You Change Google Translate Voice to Male?
  6. Can Google Translate Images on PC?
  7. How To Disable Edit Suggestions From Users in Google Docs (PC/Laptop)?