Google has been doing a lot of work in terms of its intelligent voice assistant for quite some time. It was launched first as Google Now, but the name has since been changed to Google Assistant. It's all about making voice commands on your Android device more intuitive.
As of right now, the improved assistant can only be found on the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL. We expect it to be rolled out to other devices in the future, but for now, those who want to get a taste will either have to purchase one of the Pixel devices, or keep reading.
First Steps To Get Google Assistant On My Phone
There are a few things that need to be rectified before we begin. First, your smartphone needs to be running the latest version of Android, which is called Android 7.0 Nougat.
You'll also need the latest Google app, KingRoot app, and BuildProp Editor app. These are very important, so download them right now.
This method of installing Google Assistant is known to work with the following smartphones, according to XDA Developers Forum:
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- Google Nexus 6P
- Google Nexus 5X
- Google Nexus 6
- Google Nexus 5
- Google Nexus 4
- Google Pixel C
- Moto G 2013
- Moto G 2015
- OnePlus One
- Samsung Galaxy S5
- Nextbit Robin
Now, chances are if your smartphone is running Android 7.0 Nougat, it should still work, but don't take our word for it. We suggest trying it for yourself to see what sticks.
Finally, your Android device needs to be rooted. This is very important, so don't go further down the line unless you're sure your handset has already been rooted.
How To Root My Smartphone Using KingRoot
To root, make sure to allow your device to install apps from third-party sources. Go to Settings > Security, then tap on the option that says Unknown Sources to turn it on. After that, download and install the KingRoot app to your device. Once it's up and running, tap on Root Device and sit back, wait, and allow it to work.
Your smartphone is now rooted, so let's go ahead and get this virtual assistant where it belongs.
OK, Let's Begin
You'll need to edit what is called build.prop. For this task, make sure the BuildProp app has been downloaded and installed. Fire up the app and scroll to ro.product.model. This tells the Android operating system what type of phone you're using, so if you're the owner of a Nexus 6P, then you'll see "6P" in the entry.
The idea is to replace the current entry with Pixel XL. Click on save and you should now see ro.product.model=Pixel XL.
Finally, you will be required to browse for ro.opa.eligible_device. Now, if for some reason it's not there, tap on the three dot menu and manually add ro.opa.eligible_device. Now, in the "Value" entry box, add "true," even if it already has an entry inside.
Restart your smartphone and clear the Google App cache. The Google Assistant should now be available. Bear in mind, you might have to update your smartphone before everything falls into place.
