Galaxy SIII Owners: Make Google Voice Actions (and now Google Now) the Default Instead of S-Voice
August 14, 2012*** UPDATE 12/20/12 ***
While I’m still recommending Home2 Shortcut (easier on the eyes and more functionality), reports are coming in that Bluetooth Launcher will still work with 4.1.1. Apparently you just need to select a different activity. Process is updated in the post, but I was unable to get it to work on either my or my wife’s S3.
*** UPDATE 12/18/12 ***
Based on the comments and questions below, it appears that Blootooth Launcher does not work this way anymore with Android 4.1.1. If someone figures out a way to make it work again, leave a comment and I’ll update this page.
I now am recommending Home2 Shortcut for this getting direct access to Voice Search (which contains most of the original Voice Actions).
I found it over on XDA Developers and it can be found on the Play Store. It allows you to set Home Double Press as well as other key combinations. I found “Voice Search” under “Activities->Google”, but YMMV.
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Some of the more popular posts on this blog have had nothing to do with Event Technology per se, but rather have been tips and tricks that I myself found hard to find and decided to repost when I found the answer.
This is one of those posts!
I searched for a really long time to find a way to make Google Voice Actions, instead of S-Voice, the default action when double pressing the Home key on my fancy new Samsung Galaxy SIII. I just couldn’t get S-Voice to do what I wanted it to do, and it was basically useless in the car. Turns out there’s a clever little workaround using a 3rd party app that isn’t actually designed for that specific purpose! The tip comes from Sorka over on Android Forums and is a great little workaround. NO ROOT REQUIRED!!
Here’s the trick:
- Download and Install “Bluetooth Launch” from the Google Play store.
- Open Bluetooth Launch and scroll down to “Voice Search”. (*See update below*)
- Tap on it to expand it out, then select:
“com.google.android.voicesearch.RecognitionActivity”
(*Update* Some are reporting that on Android 4.1.1 you need to use this:
“Google Search->com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.VoiceSearchActivity” I have been unable to verify) - Exit by hitting the back key.
- Double click the home button.
- Select “Always complete using this activity”
- Select Bluetooth Launch.
You’re Done!
Thanks again, Sorka, works like a charm, and there’s a metric crapton of other options offered by Bluetooth Launcher. Nice workaround!
Meanwhile everyone, how are you liking your S3?
Thank YOU!! I’ve been struggling with/for this since getting the Galaxy S III. S-Voice is a complete waste of time.
I’ve been looking at roms that have Google Now- I’m looking forward to getting that (rumored to be included on the upcoming JellyBean update) as it seems a vast improvement on both S-Voice and Voice Actions!
Awsome I really wanted to do this for quite some time!
Thanks for the tip! Really sucks that you have to install an app just to enable something built into Android.
Yep. In general I’ve been impressed with this latest version of TouchWiz, and have found workarounds for pretty much everything I don’t like.
This is great. Thanks for posting.
Hi. So, I did thi and it find the name but says, did you mean…. and then it does not ask or dial?
Sounds like an issue with Voice Actions, not the launcher method described. Sorry, afraid I can’t be of much help there. I’m jus zis guy, y’know?
My S3 doesn’t have Voice Search in the Bluetooth app. I looked under S Voice, but it didn’t have the com.google…. thing listed there. Can someone help???
I’d recommend Home 2 Shortcut at this point, over the Bluetooth app. It gives you a lot more options as well, such as hitting the home then menu for another app, or home then back, etc.
Hello,
I had this setting on my galaxy s3 but ever since i have updated to the jelly beam 4.1.1. this doesnt work anymore.
Any suggestions on how to get the google voice action or speaktoit back as my default voice program.
Thanks
Yeah, things shifted after the update, and Google Now replaces Voice Actions. You can use Home 2 Shortcut to get to the same functionality, shooting direct to the speech portion of Google Now. “Voice Search” is what you select in the Home 2 Shortcut setup. Let me know if that helps!
Has this changed? I open Bluetooth Launch and scroll down but “Voice Search” is not an option.
I also can’t locate “com.google.android.voicesearch.RecognitionActivity” under any of the Google nodes. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Steve,
Updated the top of the post to make it a little more clear- If you look through the comments, it appears that Bluetooth Launcher doesn’t work in this way anymore, so now I’m recommending Home2 Shortcut. Hope that helps!
I got Bluetooth launcher to work: Google Search->com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.VoiceSearchActivity
That’s good news, however I was unable to get BTL to work on either my or my wife’s S3, even using that activity. I’ll add it to the post, though!
In order to get it to work using bluetooth launcher Google Search->com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.VoiceSearchActivity you need to be sure to disable S-Voice
This worked better than s voice on Galaxy S3 but still gave me trouble with giving me the correct name. I also wasn’t really hands free because I still had to click in the selection. I removed the app and replaced it with Speaktoit virtual assistant. I love it! It works great and is free.
I disables Svoice on my Note II and the bluetooth button activates Google voice dialing by default now.
I think John nailed it. You must disable S Voice first, then this trick works perfectly.
Good to know- thanks, gang!
Thank you for this helpful article. Very useful for beginners like me.
Just installed Jelly Bean and now BTL does not work. Trying your suggestion of Home2Shortcut, but doesn’t seem to launch Voice Search. Any ideas?
Hmm, not really. I’ve been using H2S across multiple JB roms, stock and otherwise, with no problems. Maybe adjust the double tap settings? Is it set as the default Home Key App or did you select your launcher by mistake after install? That’s about the best I’ve got…
Thanks for the reply, Brandt! I got it working. Side note, have you had issues with you wi-fi disconnecting in sleep mode after JB update? See my tweet to SamsungSupport… note XDA forum discussion… Some forums talk re: *#0011#, but XDA shows it is a known issure with JB. :-/ http://bit.ly/VmVWFD #nevahold
No, but I’m one of the fortunate few to still have a Verizon unlimited data plan, so I 4G like there’s no tomorrow and avoid WiFi like the plague! Good luck!
The S voice works fine for me. I’ve had no problems with it. It’s got everything I’ve said correct.
This *does* still work on my Note 2, running 4.1.2. Just open Bluetooth Launch and look for “Google Search” (instead of Voice Search) then select “com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.VoiceSearchActivity”. Should be like the 5th item down the list. Works like a charm
Also, I had two entries called “Google Search” in the main list. You may have to check both. For me, it was the first one.
I have the nexus 4 LG and it does not have s-voice, just Google now, but I searched on the android marker for s-voice and its available to me as a download. I think Google now is exclusive to the galaxy nexus, nexus 7 and nexus 4. I have not heard of anyone flashing their phone with a ROM that comes with Google now, however it might be possible in the near future, but back to S-voice, it does not even come close to comparison with Google now so I uninstalled. My best advice is to go buy the new Nexus 4 LG, its slim,sleek and classy and fast cause it has a tri-quad processor. Get it while its still out!
The last OTA update for the S3 brought Google Now to stock users. Prior to that there were a few different ROMs that allowed it. I’m liking it more and more every day- especially if you travel. Flight times, local attractions, time “back home”. Heard good things about the 4- glad you like it!
I have a dialer enabled and rooted Asus Nexus 7 3g Andy 4.2.2 and wish to use my UCLEAR motorcycle bluetooth headset to voice dial. When I press the sequence described in the manual to voice dial, I always get a popup asking me to complete action with “Mobile Data” or “Media 5 Phone”, which is the SIP client I use for calls because the N7 3G does not support GSM calls.
I have tried Bluetooth Launch and look for “Google Search” (instead of Voice Search) then select “com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.VoiceSearchActivity
But it does not change the above popup when I try to bluetooth voice dial. Same happens when I try with the AOKP rom installed.
Can anyone help? I simply want to voice dial via the mediaphone5 sip app.
Wow, not being familiar with the N7, 4.2.2, or that particular headset, I’d hesitate to even speculate on why that would be. Maybe someone else can offer up some insight?
The “Home2 Shortcut” solution seems to only work for the home button (hitting twice). Does not catch / handle launching from the Bluetooth button on a headset the way “Bluetooth Launch” used too.
Google Now takes upwards of 30 seconds to initialize on my Galaxy S3 when launched with Home2 and then immediately goes to a screen of “did not catch that, retry”. Therefore, useless unless you are looking at the screen. Startup is quick and normal if launched by a widget from the screen. In either case, am often not in data coverage area (on a motorcycle) and so Google Now is not helpful when out of data range (even when downloading the voice recognition module for when offline).
Did find if I went into the Settings->Application Manager->All that I could “disable” S-Voice which then causes the S3 to default to the Google Dialer when the bluetooth button is hit. That has been my solution to disable GMail, Music Hub, Weather Widget and other built-in apps that sync in the background even if not used or setup. But so far, voice dialer does not seem to work with the bluetooth headset as it exits as if no voice was heard.
So no real solution yet although more items to experiment with.
Same issue as Randy H outlined.
Bluetooth launch properly sets headset to activate Google Voice Search but then it gets stuck at “initializing” for around 20 seconds. That’s a major flow to me in hands free functionality as I use my phone a lot while driving, and neither the S Voice nor Google Dialer cut it as a hand free app – frustrating
Hi, my problem in my galaxy s3 , everytime that i comment in notification make it double, i post once but after that , i saw no internet connection then the 1 that i post make it double..this happen only in notification ..