Update: Motorola just updated Motorola Assist app. The problem discussed in this post was solved in this update. So, if you still have problems to get Motorola Assist to read messages in Home mode or Driving mode, please try to update the Motorola Assist app from Play Store.
Recent Google app update broke some features in Motorola Assist. Specifically, after Moto Assist asks you to say listen, it does not response to any voice input and the phone may make noises itself. This guide is specific for this issue before Motorola updates the Motorola Assist app. If you have other issues with Motorola Assist, please discuss them here.
This guide works for Moto X, Moto X 2nd Gen (Moto X 2014), Moto G, Moto G 2nd Gen (Moto G 2014) and Moto E, because they share the identical Motorola Assist app.
What are the symptoms of this Motorola Assist not reading message issue?
The issue is caused by the recent update of Google App on January 12, 2015. This update breaks the messaging voice interaction feature in Motorola Assist when in driving or home mode.
The symptoms of this Motorola Assist not reading message issue include:
- Motorola Assist can switch to Driving mode (Driving Assist) and Home mode (Home Assist) correctly.
- Incoming messages and calls are announced properly.
- Incoming calls are not affected. You can say Answer or Ignore to pick up the phone or hang up the phone.
- You get noise after it asks you to “say listen” or “say send text”. It does not respond to your voice command. Basically, you cannot listen message or reply text messages in home and driving modes.
- The version of Google App in your phone is 4.1.24.1672412.arm.
Please note, the issue is caused by Google app. But probably Motorola has to fix the issue in the Motorola Assist app.
Before Motorola releases the update for Motorola Assist, you can only solve the issue by uninstalling updates for Google app.
If you are a heavy user of Google Now, this fix probably is not for you because Google add many nice Google Now features in recent updates.
How to fix this Motorola Assist not reading message issue? (for impatient owners)
Here is the quick steps to uninstall the updates for Google app.
Step 0: Verify the version of Google App in your phone in Settings–Apps–All–Google apps
Step 1: Start Google Play
Step 2: Search “Google”
Step 3: Tap Google app
Step 4: Tap “Uninstall”
Step 5: Tap OK to finish
Step 6: Test the Motorola Assist message reading feature in Home mode or driving mode
How to fix this Motorola Assist not reading message issue? (detailed step-by-step guide)
Step 0: Verify the version of Google App in your phone.
You can go to Settings–Apps. In some models, you need flick to All tab.
Tap Google App as shown below.
In the App info page, you should find the version of the Google app as 4.1.24.1672412.arm as shown below.
If the version of your Google App is lower, this guide will probably not work for you. The Motorola Assist not reading message issue is very likely caused by other apps or settings.
As you notice, you cannot uninstall updates here. You have to go to Play store to manage the updates for this app.
Step 1: Start Google Play app.
Step 2: Search “Google”.
In Play Store app, tap search button as shown below. Then type Google to search for Google app.
The search results will be shown as below.
Step 3. Tap Google app to open the detailed info page.
Tap the Google app as shown above.
This will bring you to the detailed page for Google app in Play store as shown below.
Step 4. Tap Uninstall as shown below.
This will only uninstall the updates, not the Google app, from the phone. You cannot uninstall Google app from your phone actually.
So tap Uninstall as shown below to remove the updates so that Motorola Assist can read messages or reply messages in home mode and driving mode following your voice commands.
Step 5: Tap OK to acknowledge the uninstallation as shown above.
As highlighted in the pop out message, this will reset the app to the original state.
Tap OK to proceed.
It may take a few mins for the phone to uninstall the updates.
Step 6: Test Motorola Assist message reading feature in Home mode or driving mode
After the Google app updates are uninstalled, you can test the Motorola Assist message reading feature in either Home mode or driving mode.
It should work now.
You can also check the app info for Google app which should be changed to Google Search. You can find it in Settings–Apps–All. The version should be 4.0.x.
Is your Motorola Assist reading messages now?
If you still have problems with Motorola Assist in Home mode or Driving mode, please let us know in the comment box below.
We will try to help you.
This guides should on all Moto devices: Moto X, Moto X 2nd Gen (Moto X 2014), Moto G, Moto G 2nd Gen (Moto G 2014) and Moto E.
John says
January 17, 2015 at 4:59 pmAs of Jan 12th, 2015 I had the issue using Motorola Assist on my Motorola DROID-X when in the HOME mode not allowing the alert of “you have a new text from ____. Say listen to hear the text message” making other noises preventing me from hearing or responding to the text. I contacted Motorola Tech support (level 2). I was talked into doing a complete reset, but could not do this before backing up everything I had (I will never do this again). After the complete reset and spending hours restoring my information, reinstalling my other apps I received a notification that Google needed to update my phone. Thinking this was normal, I allowed the update on January 15th, 2015.
As of doing the Google update, I experienced the same additional noise preventing me from being able to listen or reply to the Motorola Assist while in HOME mode. I telephoned Motorola again and was told that I had three options. 1. Do another factory reset; 2. give them my credit card number and they would do a phone swap, but I would still have to migrate all of my contacts, data, pictures, etc from one phone to the other, but was warned that Motorola Assist still may not work because I may be transferring the glitch from the old phone to the new phone; and 3. I could send them my phone and they would send me a new one requiring me to do a cloud restoration of my information, but I would be without a phone for up to 2 weeks.
I asked if I were to go into my Verizon corporate store would Motorola waive the credit card hold and I was told “NO”.
I explained to the Motorola rep that I would be going to the Verizon store, give the reference numbers that I was provided by Motorola and persuade Verizon to allow me to dump Motorola and get a Samsung phone. The Motorola rep was then more happy to try to accommodate my inquiry of how to fix this Motorola Assist problem.
While being on hold for 10 minutes I found your site and followed the UNINSTALL Google instructions where it stated that this does not uninstall Google, only the updates.
THIS WORKED!
Thank you for saving my a trip and an argument with Verizon and the time I would have to spend transferring my information from one phone to another.
Gaurav says
January 17, 2015 at 6:22 pmHi,
I have done above steps on my Moto X Gen1. However with moto assist home mode when I receive a call, prompt says “answer or igonre”. And immediately the prompt says ” Sorry I am having network trouble , let’s talk later”. This prompt also received for message received in home mode. Also, my network is showing four sticks. Is it a app issue or network carrier issue?
simon says
January 18, 2015 at 3:05 amdo you have internet connection when you see get this message?
Gaurav says
January 18, 2015 at 5:02 pmOk got it, my internet connection was slow when the message received in moto assist home mode.
It is working now…Thank you!!!
Joan says
January 17, 2015 at 6:33 pmI am using a Droid Maxx Motorola X8 Android 4.4, 4 and I too have lost my friend talking to me!!!:-[
I have tried the tips of Uninstallinh Google App from Play Store. Powering down….clearing cache and data. No luck. This is the feature I brag about to all and friends with other phones try to get a app like it but with no luck.
Please advise…..I miss her!
simon says
January 18, 2015 at 2:28 amDid you check the Google Search version? Your phone probably automatically update the app. You need turn off auto app update.
Actually, after uninstalling the update, it is not necessary to clear cache or clear data. Reboot is need only when you update the Google app.
joantw says
January 18, 2015 at 2:40 amNot sure what you mean by Google Search version. I would just like my Assist back!?!
simon says
January 18, 2015 at 3:47 amThere are some conflicts between the recent updates in Google app and motorola Assist app.
You have to wait either Google or motorola to fix them .
Before the update is available, the temporary workaround is to uninstall the Google app update.
Bee says
January 18, 2015 at 5:05 amThank you!! This worked for me. I use Assist more than I use the Google features.
Sandie says
January 18, 2015 at 4:07 pmUninstalling the Jan. 12 Google app update fixed Assist! Thank you
Charles says
January 19, 2015 at 9:55 pmThis seemed to happen when I updated Google Hangouts. Assist was working fine before the Hangouts update. I tried uninstalling Hangouts latest version, but that didn’t help. I think I’m experiencing what is being described above…when getting a new SMS text message, Assist says “new text from ______, to hear it say listen” then a bunch of weird noises that doesn’t stop. I can’t say listen, can’t cancel either.
In any case, if I uninstall the latest Google App, is that going to affect the way other Google apps work? Basically, are there going to be other issues by “backdating” the Google App?
Thanks! Glad I found this I thought my phone was messed up.
simon says
January 20, 2015 at 12:13 amIt will affect some features in “OK Google” detection and a few Google Now features.
It should not affect other Google apps, as i know.
Anyway, you can always update at anytime when needed. Please reboot the phone after updating it.
kent37 says
January 20, 2015 at 12:15 pmThanks, worked for me! How will we know it is safe to install the Google App updates?
simon says
January 20, 2015 at 2:29 pmI guess Motorola will update the Motorola Assist app to solve the issue. But it may take a few weeks.
We will update this post for any news on this issue accordingly.
Jimbo A says
January 21, 2015 at 1:24 amThese steps fixed my wife’s Moto X, she was threatening to go buy a new phone as she thought this one had gone bad. And I am no longer sleeping on the couch for buying her a crappy phone.
Ron says
January 22, 2015 at 1:50 pmThank you so much for this thread, the issue was driving me crazy. It works with the Google uninstall of updates. If any one finds a new update version that we can install please post here!
Mike Threlkeld says
January 23, 2015 at 4:44 pmThis worked perfectly. Thank you!! I’ve been weeks trying to figure out what went wrong.
Francisco Urbina says
January 24, 2015 at 3:09 amWorked excelent ! Thank u !!
Pete Borini says
January 25, 2015 at 3:19 amI had no idea this was a problem with all Assist users until today–I was going to throw out my Bluetooth device because I thought that was the cause! The Assist update just showed up today. I hope this gets everything back to normal. Hands-free messaging is why I bought a Moto X in the first place.
Peter says
January 26, 2015 at 4:38 pmOn a 1st gen Moto X Dev edition this patch works. As of 1.25.15 this patch is no longer needed. Motorola Assist has been updated.
simon says
January 28, 2015 at 12:42 pmUpdate: Motorola just updated Motorola Assist app. The problem that Motorola Assist refuses to read messages or respond to voice commands is solved in this update. Please try to update the Motorola Assist app from Play Store.
Michael Weaver says
February 7, 2015 at 8:55 pmHi: I’m a new Moto X 2014 user and also have the Voice problem. I don’t see a new version of Moto Assist on the Play store, however.
Thanks,
Michael
simon says
February 8, 2015 at 3:07 amYou can just update your Apps in Play store. The latest version of Motorola Assist solved the issues already
Ron says
February 7, 2015 at 4:44 pmGoogle just out a Feb. 6 update for the “Google” app update, should I update this now? I have the Moto X 2014.
simon says
February 8, 2015 at 3:04 amMotorola already fix the issue in Motorola Assist app. it should work with new Google apps now. So, you can update the Google app if you already updated Motorola Assist.
Ron says
February 10, 2015 at 2:35 pmThere is no Moto assist for the 2014 X as a stand alone app, the play store says it is “not compatible for this version”. Installed the Google update and now my home and driving notifications stopped working again. Going to uninstall the Google app update again. Motorola, please fix this!
Simon Lindsay says
February 15, 2015 at 9:16 pmCan someone help? I have Motorola g 4g. I cannot get my phone to understand me when I say ‘listen’ when a message comes in. If not that it doesn’t always register that I am home even though it knows where I live.
simon says
February 16, 2015 at 1:17 amWhat’s the response from the phone? Did it say it cannot catch you?
For the home mode, it is very likely due to GPS error. You can always check the current address based on your GPS. If the error is consistent, you may change your home address to this address. This will NOT change your Google settings.
Aaron Degler says
March 6, 2015 at 11:43 pmI have the same issue whenever I am driving. Drives me nuts. It won’t recognize me or my commands. Only once and a while. I use a Motorola Droid Mini.
simon says
March 7, 2015 at 3:25 amNext time, you can check whether the phone does not hear you or it cannot understand the command.
sanjoy nandi says
March 22, 2015 at 4:51 amYour trick of uninstall google update work for my moto g 2nd gen !! Thanks Simon.
Christo says
May 4, 2015 at 5:13 amHi Simon and thanks for having a forum for this issue that appears to be problematic to a lot of us Moto X (2013) owners. My question is: does assist work in the car when you are playing radio or cd versus using a streaming music service (spotify)? I am getting it to read texts to me when I am using streaming music but nothing when cd or radio. Is this normal or as intended?
Much thanks.
simon says
May 4, 2015 at 10:18 amIt depends on the car entertainment system. For most cars, this is normal.
sujit says
May 14, 2015 at 11:45 amHI Sujit here after i did the above things i am getting the issue.its saying can’t troublemaker i am having some trouble,net work issue.
simon says
May 14, 2015 at 6:02 pmThe bug was fixed long time ago.
sujit says
May 14, 2015 at 11:46 amThe home mode is not working
simon says
May 14, 2015 at 6:02 pmProbably the the location got from GPS and map is not the home address. Sometimes, in some regions, the error can be large. You can check the current location reported.
desktop4ever says
June 25, 2015 at 9:02 pmIs driving mode available on Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) ? I haven’t been able to add it or get it to work. The Moto Assist help files no longer mention the Driving mode.
https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_answer_detail/a_id/99144/
https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_answer_detail/a_id/103950/
My wife has a Moto G 2nd Gen that sill has Driving mode. Likely because she hasn’t upgraded anything.
simon says
June 26, 2015 at 9:39 amDriving assist (Home assist as well) is NOT available in Moto E 2nd Gen currently. But very likely, it will be added in future update.
Larry says
October 19, 2015 at 10:42 pmIf this thread is still alive I have a 1st gen moto g driving assist did not work unless I rolled back Google app and then worked up till lollipop upgrade now not working “can’t hear” thing and fix does not work
simon says
October 20, 2015 at 1:06 amUpdate all apps. There are no known problems for Motorola assist currently.
Jennifer Staten says
October 25, 2015 at 4:18 pmUpdate all apps??? Exactly what does ALL MEAN????? I have the same problem with moto g 1st gen lollipop.
simon says
October 26, 2015 at 12:12 amThe latest version of the app has no known issues as you mentioned. The app can also be affected by other apps, especially Google App and Google play services. So, it is better to update all apps to the latest version.