Voice Commands do not work on my remote control.
Does the included remote support voice recognition?
IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check the Applicable Products and Categories section of this article before starting these steps.
Before you start
Prior to performing further troubleshooting steps, confirm whether the remote control has a Microphone button or mark. Remote controls that support voice recognition will have that button or mark.
- The location of the Microphone
button or mark on the remote control varies depending on the region and the model. Refer to the manual for details.
- If the Microphone
button/voice command function does not work on your Voice command remote control after updating the TV or after you replace your Voice command remote control, refer to the How to pair or re-pair your wireless or Voice command remote control to your Google TV™ or Android TV™ article.
- For Google TV™ models: If the TV is set up as a basic TV, voice recognition via remote control does not work. The TV must be set up as a Google TV.
For TVs that do not come with a remote control as shown above, you can use one of these two alternatives to the voice recognition function of the TV.
- Use a software keyboard.
- Use the Google TV application on your mobile device or tablet.
Note: In this case, it is necessary to connect your smartphone or tablet to the same network as the TV.For details about OS versions that support Google TV, refer to the appropriate page:
Troubleshooting steps
If voice recognition does not work, even when you use a remote control that supports the voice recognition function, check the following items.
1. For models that have Voice control settings, make sure the Voice control function is turned On.
- Open the
Settings screen. How to access Settings
- Select Accounts and Sign In → (Login Name) → Google Assistant → Voice control → On.
Note: If the above settings are not shown, skip this step.
2. Make sure that your TV can connect to the Internet.
Follow the steps below to make sure that your TV can connect to the Internet.
- Open the
Settings screen. How to access Settings
- The next steps will depend on your TV menu options:
- Select Network & Internet → Network status → Check Connection.
- Select Network → Advanced settings → Network status → Check Connection.
- An Internet connection is necessary to use voice recognition.
- Depending on the model, you can also check the Internet connection status by pressing the HELP button, then selecting Internet connectivity symptoms.
- For W8, X7, and X75H series, check the connected network status under the Network & Internet option.
If the network diagnosis result is not OK, refer to How to perform a network diagnosis when the Android TV™ or Google TV™ can't connect to the Internet. article.
3. Pair your remote control to your Android TV or Google TV before it will work.
Note: If you are using the Touchpad Remote Control for models released in 2015, Refer to the How to pair the Touchpad Remote Control with the TV article.
- Check if the remote control is registered.
Note: If your model was released in 2020 or later (Except for W8L, X64L, X70L, X74L, X75L, X77L, W8K, X74K, X75K, W8, X7, and X75H series), you can skip this step. Refer to the 2. Register the remote control step.- Open the
Settings screen. How to access Settings
- The next steps will depend on your TV menu options:
- Select Remotes & Accessories → Bluetooth Settings.
- Select Remotes & Accessories.
- Select Bluetooth settings.
-
Check if SONY TV RC MIC 001 or SONY TV VRC 001 is registered.
If it is registered: If it is not registered or not displayed:
- Open the
- Register the remote control.
- Open the
Settings screen. How to access Settings
- The next steps will depend on your TV menu options:
- Select Remotes & Accessories → Remote control → Connect via Bluetooth or Activate
button.
- Select BRAVIA Settings → Voice Remote Control.
- Select Remote control → Connect via Bluetooth.
- Select Voice Remote Control → Activate
button.
- Select Remotes & Accessories → Remote control → Connect via Bluetooth or Activate
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
Note: If the battery level is low, pairing may fail. In such cases, before pairing, replace the batteries with new ones.
- Open the
4. Speak into the microphone built into the top portion of the remote control in one of the following ways:
- For Google TV models: On the remote control, press and hold the Microphone button. During holding the Microphone button, speak into the microphone on the remote control.
- For Android TV models: On the remote control, press the Microphone button and then speak into the microphone on the remote control.
Position the microphone closer to your mouth, or speak in a loud and clear voice.
Note: The microphone is usually located at the top of the remote or just above the center of the remote (location may differ depending on your remote control).5. Check if the circumstance that can use voice recognition.
Voice recognition cannot be used in all circumstances. Additional information about the different circumstances wherein the Search box does not appear, even after pressing the Microphone button on the Touchpad Remote Control is available.
6. Remove and then re-insert the remote control batteries.
If the issue persists, remove and then re-insert the remote control batteries.
7. Updating the software of the remote control.
Symptoms may improve by updating the software of the remote control. Check whether there is a software update for the remote control. For details, refer to the How to perform a TV remote control software update article.
8. Perform a reset to your Android TV or Google TV.
If the issue persists, refer to the How to restart (reset) a Google TV™ or Android TV™?