Hey Google, Where's My Phone

x x on 18/08/2023 - 19:35

I use this command when I'm home and can't find my phone (S20). When I say this this command, it's picked up by my google nest and it makes my phone ring so I can locate it within my home. However if I'm outside of the house and give the command, it will respond by saying "ok but first you need to unlock your phone".

Does anyone know how to make it ring? I can't unlock the phone because I don't know where it is. Actually I do know because it responds by saying I have to unlock my phone, but you have to listen very carefully for it and it's obcvioulsy not as loud as if the phone was to ring itself.

I tested this recently when I was overseas and someone stole my phone at a massage parlour. Once the girls heard me saying it, they panicked and spoke in their language and one of the girls went outside and put the phone on my motorbike. I know they stole it and I'm lucky to get it back but I thought it's a stupid setup if it won't ring when I give the command.

Does anyone know if there's a setting I have to change within Google Assistant to make it ring instead of saying "first you have to unlock your phone"?

Mobile

Comments

  • Steven135 on 18/08/2023 - 19:44
    +55

    I was overseas and someone stole my phone at a massage parlour.
    I'm lucky to get it back.

    I'm happy to hear you had a happy ending.

    • MrFrugalSpend on 18/08/2023 - 23:09
      +1

      comment of the year, well done

    • x x on 18/08/2023 - 20:10

      That works but it's not practical if you're out in the wild as you'd have to log into your google account from a PC/laptop to set it off. I thought there might be a setting in google assistant to make your phone ring if you ask it to. I've looked through the settings but don't think it's possible..

      • Chandler on 21/08/2023 - 15:36

        If you're out in the wild, what are you asking to make your phone ring…?

        • x x on 21/08/2023 - 16:49

          Normally you'd say "hey google, where's my phone" and it will ring, but for some strange reason it doesn't work if you're not connected at home to your Nest. So you can say "hey google , what time is it.. what's the weather forecast" etc etc and it will reply in speech but it's not very loud. I want it to ring like it does at home.

          Have you stepped outside and said "hey google, where's my phone" while the screen is off and it's locked? I'd be interested to know if it makes your phone ring, or if it tells you to first unlock your device.

  • dcep on 18/08/2023 - 21:37
    +5

    https://support.google.com/wearos/answer/6166506?hl=en

    but I thought it's a stupid setup if it won't ring when I give the command.

    It would be stupidly fun to shout where is my phone, making everyones' phones ringing nearby.

    • x x on 19/08/2023 - 12:18
      +2

      True, but google has voice matching so it doesn't work like that

  • pcolby78 on 18/08/2023 - 21:44
    +2

    However if I'm outside of the house and give the command, it will respond by saying "ok but first you need to unlock your phone".

    There's two different settings (thanks, Google) that control this at least on my Pixel 6.

    1. Settings -> Google Assistant -> Access Your Assistant -> Lock Screen -> Assistant responses on lock screen

    The setting reads "Allow Assistant to respond when your phone is locked". But, also…

    1. Settings -> Google Assistant -> Access Your Assistant -> "Hey Google" and Voice Match -> This Device -> Hey Google

    This setting reads "Access your Assistant any time that you say 'Hey Google', even if your screen is off."

    I guess the difference is screen "locked" vs "off"? Anyway, try enabling both of those, and see if it does what you want.

    Personally, I leave that second one off, because I hate my phone trying to handle my Nest commands when I'm home, but hopefully it works for what you want.

    Cheers.

    • x x on 19/08/2023 - 12:08

      Thanks for the effort, I went through the same settings and both are turned on. When I say "hey goggle, where's my phone", I still get the reposnse saying "sure, but first you'll have to unlock your device". Sometimes it will ask if I want to locate my tablet or a 2nd phone I have connected to the same account, but annoyingly, it never makes my main phone ring.

      Have you stepped outside and said "hey google, where's my phone" while the screen is off and it's locked? I'd be interested to know if it makes your phone ring, or if it tells you to first unlock your device.

      Regarding how you turn off the 2nd option on your phone, I've found that Nest will handle it if it picks up your command on the microphone, i.e. you're in the same room and it can hear you. However if you say it quietly so the Nest mic doesn't pick it up, then it will revert to the phone.

  • Flyufools on 19/08/2023 - 03:30
    +1

    Understand you may not have had access to another device in that circumstance, but you can also go here… https://www.google.com/android/find/

    • x x on 19/08/2023 - 12:14

      Thanks, yes that's possible but I'd need to be logged into my google account from a laptop/PC in order to do that. I'm looking for a solution to find my phone by having it ring when I give the command "hey google, where's my phone"

  • playswithfire on 19/08/2023 - 08:21
    +1

    I usually just ask one of the commands it can answer without unlocking - eg "hey google, what's the weather going to be today?" or "hey google, what time is it in New York" and it responds allowing me to find it.

    • x x on 19/08/2023 - 12:15

      Yes, this works but it's response is not very loud. It would be much better if the phone rang itself

  • JIMB0 on 19/08/2023 - 08:49
    +2

    Have you tried calling it?

    • MS Paint on 19/08/2023 - 09:32

      We've found the boomer amongst us 😉

    • x x on 19/08/2023 - 12:17

      That's an option if I had my SIM card in it, however in this case I was traveling solo overseas with a foreign data SIM card inserted so I wasn't able to call it

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 19/08/2023 - 08:53
    +4

    If we can't trust 'masseuses' in seedy overseas back alley massage parlours, who can we trust??

  • [Deactivated] on 19/08/2023 - 12:28

    ^yawn^ yet another massage parlour post

    • x x on 21/08/2023 - 16:45

      You don't comprehend well? It's nothing to do with a massage, I want to know if there's any tech savvy people on here who can resolve my problem

      • [Deactivated] on 21/08/2023 - 16:56

        lol

        I aced comprehension at school, thank-you very much!

        Also, it has everything to do with the setting you were in. Choose your massage parlours better to avoid pick-pockets. Or don't take your mobile with you when you go to a massage parlour.

        • x x on 21/08/2023 - 22:35

          Bzzzt wrong. I want to know how to make my phone ring if it's not within sight.

          • [Deactivated] on 21/08/2023 - 22:45

            @x x: Good luck!

            • x x on 22/08/2023 - 14:00

              @[Deactivated]: Thanks, let me know if you're tech savvy and can help

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