Android phones are very popular these days, but sometimes the relentless voice notifications can be a bit overwhelming. Be it while you’re driving, sleeping, or in a meeting, these voice notifications can create an awkward moment and disturb you. In this article, we’ll guide you through some easy methods to switch off voice notifications so you can use your phone without any interruptions.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Turning off Voice Notifications on Android:
The Google Assistant app and other voice-enabled Android devices can be exceedingly noisy, frequently reading out notification alerts in an possibly inappropriate setting. Messenger, WhatsApp, and email applications are some of the apps that produce voice-enabled alerts. These notifications may be disturbing, causing you to miss important phone calls, text message announces, and alarms, as well as the phone announcing incoming phone calls and message notifications while your phone is in your pocket while out on the field or in your purse. Nonetheless, easily turning off voice notifications on an Android smartphone can be daunting.
Things You Should Prepare for:
Before proceeding with the methods, make sure that you have a fully charged phone and that you have closed any additional applications that you may have been using. You’ll need to understand the basic concept of Android settings to successfully turn off the voice notifications.
Method 1: Using the Settings:
If you want to keep visual alerts on but without the audio notification, follow these easy steps to shut off voice notifications on Android:
1. First, go to the ‘Settings’ using your phone’s main menu.
2. Scroll down the list of settings and click on the ‘Sound & notification’ section.
3. Find ‘App notifications’ and select the app which voice notification you want to turn off.
4. Once you’ve clicked on the app, you’ll be taken to a new screen where you’ll see a lot of toggles.
5. Switch off the toggle with "voice." option
6. The changes will be saved automatically, and you won’t hear any more audio notifications from this specific app.
Pros:
– It’s a simple and easy to understand process.
– It allows you to keep visual notifications without audio alerts.
Cons:
– Unfortunately, this will not cease every notification from reading out loud. There will be still some notifications like calls, alarms, and system-related alerts that still come through.
Method 2: Use Do Not Disturb Mode:
Do Not Disturb (DND) mode disables all notifications on your phone, including voice notifications. Follow these steps to turn on Do Not Disturb mode:
1. Open ‘Settings’ and enter the ‘Sound & notification’ section.
2. Click ‘Do Not Disturb,’ and then switch on your desired schedule.
3. Once activated, a moon sign icon will appear in your smartphone’s status bar.
Pros:
– It provides you with a comprehensive way to prevent notifications at important times.
– All of your notifications are blocked, not just voice notifications.
Cons:
– There is no way to adjust the settings to only turn off voice notifications.
Method 3: Using Google Assistant:
Google Assistant is known for making it simple to manage your digital devices. However, the voice notifications issued by Google Home, Google Nest, and other smart assistants can be annoying. Here’s how to temporarily turn off Google Assistant’s voice notifications:
1. Open the Google Home app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. From the primary menu, choose any name of the paired home device, and click the gear symbol.
3. Scroll down to the "News" section and press it.
4. Within News, turn off the switch for "News briefings."
5. Finally, exit the settings, and you won’t hear a sound when Google Assistant is spitting out its newsfeeds.
Pros:
– It offers a quick fix to stop Google Assistant notifications.
Cons:
– It doesn’t work with all devices, primarily with paired Google Home equipment.
Why Can’t I Turn Off Voice Notifications:
There are several reasons why voice notifications cannot be turned off on your Android phone, such as:
1. Outdated software
2. An app that needs permission to access your device’s mic.
3. System update error.
To fix these problems, here are some solutions:
– Update the device software.
– Open the offending app and go to "Details," click on "Permissions," and then disable "microphone" access.
– Assess your device for any pending software updates and rectify the issue.
Additional Tips:
As simple as it may seem, silencing the unwanted voice notifications on your Android device can significantly enhance your user experience. Although these voice notifications might remind you of any work progress or remind you of an important event on your calendar, there are moments when silence might be considered best. To stop all the unnecessary and undesirable noise, you can use the "Do Not Disturb" feature for moments when you require quiet. Android phones also enable you to change detailed alert rules, such as altering how sound plays via application alerts and muting sensors or touch tones. Get creative and customize your sound profile to best suit you and your surroundings.
5 FAQs About Turning Off Voice Notifications On Android:
Q1: How do I disable Google assistant voice notifications?
A: To turn off voice notifications from Google Assistant, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Home and select the device.
2. Click the Settings button.
3. Scroll down to "News," and then click on it.
4. Toggle off the switch for "News briefings."
Q2: How do I mute notifications on my Android device?
A: Follow these steps to mute notifications on your Android device:
1. Go to "Settings."
2. Scroll down to "Notifications" and click it.
3. Choose which App you want to mute notifications from.
4. Hit the toggle next to "Block all notifications."
Q3: Can I still receive notification alerts with audio jingles when my phone is on silent mode?
A: No, all notifications get suppressed in silent mode.
Q4: How can I mute the tone that plays when I take a screenshot?
A: To turn off this sound:
1. Go to "Settings."
2. Under "Search settings" type "Screenshot sound."
3. Turn its switch option to "off."
Q5: How can I stop my phone from ringing during calls?
A: Follow these steps to put your phone on vibrate mode:
1. In the primary menu, go to "Settings."
2. Scroll down to "Sound and Notification."
3. Click on "Vibrate on ring" and "Vibrate on notification" to switch it on.
In Conclusion:
Voice-enabled notifications can sound alarming and interrupt your day, but thankfully, Android phones provide various solutions to get rid of them. In this article, we’ve shared three unique ways to switch off voice notifications on your Android phone: Disabling app-specific notifications via the Settings menu, turning on Do Not Disturb mode to block all alerts, and turning off voice notifications by blacklisting Google Assistant from reading out loud. Furthermore, we have shared tips on how to overcome common mistakes and how to modify your sound profile to best suit your settings. By following these straightforward techniques, you should have a phone that’s alerted without interruption, providing you with an increased and effective user experience.