A quiet but impactful update from Google is giving Samsung Galaxy Watch owners a reason to smile. The Google Assistant feature on Wear OS now comes with the “Hey Google” hotword detection switched off by default. It is a subtle change, but one that stops the watch’s microphone from constantly listening in the background, which in turn helps conserve battery. For users of the Galaxy Watch 4, 5, and 6 series, the difference in daily endurance has already been noticeable.
Key Takeaways
- Google has disabled “Hey Google” wake-word detection on Wear OS watches by default.
- The change directly affects Samsung Galaxy Watch models in the Watch 4, 5, and 6 families.
- Users are seeing longer battery life now that the microphone is not always active.
- Google Assistant is still accessible with a long-press of a physical button, usually the Home key.
- The hands-free “Hey Google” feature can still be re-enabled in settings if preferred.
The “Hey Google” command has always been handy for quick, hands-free interactions with the Assistant. The trade-off, however, is that it requires the device’s microphone to stay awake all day, listening for that phrase. This constant hotword detection may not seem like much, but on something as small as a smartwatch, even small background processes can add up, quietly draining the battery.
In fact, many users first noticed the shift not from an announcement but from personal experience. Discussions on forums like Reddit highlighted that Galaxy Watches were suddenly lasting longer on a single charge. Digging deeper revealed the reason: Google had pushed a server-side update to the Wear OS Google app. No manual installation, no big system upgrade, just a behind-the-scenes tweak that took effect automatically.
Battery life has always been one of the biggest sticking points with smartwatches. While they pack impressive features into a tiny device, the trade-off has often been frequent charging, sometimes daily and sometimes every other day. By cutting out the always-on microphone for hotword detection, Google has managed to address one of the most persistent frustrations users have had for years. Some are reporting several extra hours of usage, which can make a huge difference in day-to-day wear.
That does not mean Google Assistant itself is going away. It is still fully present and works the same way once activated. The only shift is in how you trigger it. Instead of a spoken “Hey Google,” most people now access the Assistant by long pressing the Home button on the side of the watch. This has quietly become the new default.
Of course, if you find yourself missing the ease of voice activation and are willing to accept a bit less battery life, you can turn it back on. Just head into Settings on your Galaxy Watch, go to Google, select Assistant, and you will see the toggle for “Hey Google.” It is still your choice, only now the balance between convenience and battery life is clearer than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Which Galaxy Watch models are affected by this update?
A. This change affects Samsung Galaxy Watch models that run on the Wear OS platform, which includes the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
Q. Why did Google make this change?
A. Google likely made this change to improve the user experience by extending the battery life of Wear OS smartwatches, which has been a persistent concern for many users.
Q. Can I still talk to Google Assistant on my watch?
A. Yes. You can activate Google Assistant by programming a long-press of one of your watch’s physical buttons (usually the Home key) and then speaking your command.
Q. How can I turn “Hey Google” back on?
A. On your Galaxy Watch, go to Settings > Google > Assistant. Inside this menu, you can find and enable the “Hey Google” toggle switch.
Q. Does this change affect Samsung’s Bixby assistant?
A. No, this update is specific to the Google Assistant. Samsung’s own virtual assistant, Bixby, and its hotword activation (“Hi, Bixby”) are not affected.
