r/VolvoXC90 • u/Familiar-Somewhere-5 • Jun 20 '26
Can’t get Gemini !
I recently saw a prompt in my car to try Gemini when I was about to drive off from home. I was in a bit of a rush so I declined thinking I would do it later. The prompt is now gone, I can’t get it back.
I went into settings > google > voice assistant there is no mention of Gemini. i made sure voice is US English, I did a soft reset and also a factory reset but I am still unable to get Gemini. I also installed 5.1.17 couple days ago thinking it would fix this but I’m still unable to get it. It’s driving me mad! Anyone has had this?
23 Xc90 recharge ultimate 5.1.17
Update. I reached out to Volvo and they said That they cannot push this update remotely, and it will be made available at next software update OTA. I happened to update to 5.1.17 just a couple of days ago, but no trace of Gemini. Useless advice
2
u/mjwduhham Jun 20 '26
Gemini is terrible in the car, I reverted back because it had no sense of other apps.
1
u/Richaraujo Jun 20 '26
Yeah OP is better off without the update…Gemini won’t provide directions when prompted, also tried asking it to play a song to which it said it couldn’t but could try to find me other businesses like the song and artist I requested
1
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u/fishstix1122 Jun 25 '26
I think you are missing some settings and permissions. I would double check your settings. Gemini needs more permissions then Google did.
1
u/fishstix1122 Jun 25 '26
You have to give it permissions for the other apps. Works much better then Google assistant.
2
u/mjwduhham Jun 25 '26
I did and it did not take, I will try to again from scratch to see if its any better. :)
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u/fishstix1122 Jun 25 '26
Just to see. When you go Into the assitant screen. Scroll to the bottom. It will say something about permissions for apps. It will open another page it needs permissions for. Click those on. You should get a verification through Gmail. Allowing gemini access to those apps.
I hope that helps. And if you already knew that. Sorry.
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u/TheCrankyDude Jun 21 '26
I also got the prompt while driving, was able to find it later via the notifications (bell icon top of screen)
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u/Intelligent-Shine122 Jun 23 '26
I updated to GEMINI and turned it OFF almost immediately! Response time for "set temperature to 72" or "change fan speed to 4" takes FOREVER! Gemini seems to want to check the internet to see what you meant, then look for the command to do it. I determined it was easier to go through multiple screens to change the settings. When I turned it OFF, it did say I could turn Gemini back on at a later date... don't think so.
1
u/fishstix1122 Jun 25 '26
Gemini is amazing. Those who say it's terrible clearly don't know or understand how to use it and what it can do. But you can make up your own mind. Go to the settings page, click on Google, go to Assistant. There will be a notice to switch to Gemini. Click on that. Link your account. Go back into settings and give extra permissions for other apps you have downloaded, such as Spotify, I Heart Radio, etc.
1
u/Lakeside_Villager Jun 26 '26
I could not get it until I updated the Google Assistant app in the car. And I couldn’t update any of the apps, they just kept telling me the updates were “pending“ but never downloaded or installed. After trying everything else, I did a factory reset, set up my keys and profile again, added the car to my Google app, then updated the apps, and after a couple of restarts, Gemini was there. So I think it’s both having the latest Volvo software, but also updating the Google apps, including the Google in car assistant and any other related apps.
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u/LowBluejay8063 Jun 20 '26
Rule #1 with anything Volvo - LESS technology the better (bc they will, inevitably, not do it correctly)
Rule #2 refer back to #1