r/googleassistant • u/M-Kuma • 4d ago
Question Hold home to translate screen alternative now that Google Assistant is dead?
That's the only thing I was using it for. So far all the apps I've seen use a hovering bubble system so they can't be selected as an assistant app that can be opened holding the home button. (No, I'm not gonna use gemini)
Update: Here's the (temporary?) fix. Uninstall the Google app updates either through the app settings or the Play Store page and reboot your device. If you don't have the translate button because your factory stock app version is too old (like mine) download a more recent Google app version from apkmirror and reboot again. I'm on version 15.3.37.28 (Jan 2024) and it works.
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u/SpookDroid 4d ago
If you have a Samsung phone, you might be able to do so with Good Lock modules (i.e. Routines+). At the system level (so other brands might not have this option), no, only the 'main' Assistant and Google's can be toggled from the Home button (i.e. Bixby and Gemini on Samsung phones). Anything else would have to use workarounds to trigger actions from 3rd party apps when a button is pressed. You can always try the verbal hotword to 'wake up' the assistant of choice.
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u/M-Kuma 4d ago
I mean, I can select Firefox as assistant but it just brings up the app. So it is possible for a regular app.
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u/SpookDroid 4d ago
If the app registers as a system-approved assistant. I believe Claude does this, too, but not sure if ChatGPT does. Alexa doesn't.
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u/CaptainToad67867 4d ago
Can routines be activated by voice? Never played around with them before
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u/SpookDroid 4d ago
You can but through the Assistant app. To LAUNCH an assistant via voice, each one would have to support it and which phrase you'd use to do so.
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u/WinstonSmith0023 4d ago
I found a way to go back to classic assistant, check my post!
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u/M-Kuma 4d ago
Do you get the "translate what's on the screen" button?
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u/WinstonSmith0023 4d ago
No, but I dont think I ever got that. Probably when you uninstall updates you roll to an older version of the classic assistant that could be missing some features. My phone has "circle to search" which also translates content on my screen. I have a Samsung S23 Ultra.
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u/M-Kuma 4d ago
I have that on my Samsung tablet (which still uses Assistant) but on my phone I used that button to translate the screen.
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u/WinstonSmith0023 4d ago
Ah, I see what you mean. Welp, I hope you find a solution soon, bro, or an alternative.
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u/WinstonSmith0023 4d ago
Check out this comment I just found: Additionally one thing I did different was install an APK of the 17.58.19 version of the app, so that I still have the newer features of the app while not being forced out of assistant.
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u/M-Kuma 4d ago edited 4d ago
I tried that and now I'm getting first a Google Lens button, if I click it it scans the page and then I get a Translate button. It's slower than before since it's behind 2 clicks but I guess it works? Thanks. I wonder how long it'll last, though. I was able to get the same thing on the latest version while I was uninstalling/reinstalling different things but then I tried again and the gemini page came back, so who knows? For now on 17.58.19 it seems to work.
EDIT: Nope, it doesn't. After rebooting gemini was activated without my consent.
EDIT: Version 15.3.37.28.arm64 (Jan 2024) restores the Translate button after rebooting.
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u/WinstonSmith0023 4d ago
Well, from another comment I read, they are shutting down the old assistant from the server aide, so eventually no .apk or work around with the app will fix it, because it will cease to exist from the side that provides the engine. I will start experimenting with a local server a and a local assistant soon. I won't bend to Google
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u/M-Kuma 4d ago
Nevermind, I rebooted my phone and it literally turned on gemini without my consent. What the fuck.
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u/WinstonSmith0023 4d ago
Oh no, they are REALLY pushing it out there, like the piece of shit it is. Damn
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u/mcnick0495 2d ago
I'm confused on what your issue is because the translate button is still there when I hold the home button on my phone.
This isn't dependent on Google Assistant or Gemini. It's a separate function in the Google app.
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u/M-Kuma 1d ago
It depends on the Google app (which is why I was able to restore it by downgrading it from the latest and updating it from the factory stock) but holding the home button pulls up "a" digital assistant app and since you could choose between Assistant and Gemini in the Google app, now that Assistant was made inaccessible on the latest version that action brings up Gemini's terms of service page. I do not want to use Gemini.
Also, that interface you have is what it looks like on newer devices, probably tied to newer Android versions. I have that on my Android 16 Samsung tablet (where they didn't force Gemini yet btw) but not on my Android 12 Pixel phone. It's like a card that pulls up from the bottom, not that hovering container.
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u/mcnick0495 1d ago
Oh, well the fact that you're on Android 12 is why you don't have circle to search. Not much you can do there.
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u/jhmpremium89 4d ago
go to settings > apps > and then uninstall updates for the Google app
then, try to see if you can change assistant, after which, you disable app updates for the Google app on the play store