Mixing Google and Alexa

GDB2222

We have several Alexa devices and one Google Mini. What's driving me mad is that they use different wake words. I quite often get it wrong for the particular device I'm using.

Is there some setting that allows the same wake word to be used on all of them?

Neil_Jones

You can change the wake word for Alexa devices through the app but needs to be done on a per device basis. You can't just pick any old word though, there is a limited list.

Google does not AFAIK allow anything other than "Hey Google" or "Ok Google", though some archive post on Stack Exchange suggests they may respond to something that sounds like Hey Google, so something that rhymes like Say Nurgle may work

GDB2222

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82134432#Comment_82134432

Sadly, the Alexa list of available words doesn't include Hey Google. :)

I think we'll have to change the Google Mini to an Alexa device, then.

jim1999

AFAIK it's to do with the hardware. In order for wake words to function, it needs to engage a simpler recognition process for general listening, and so that's trained based on a handful of very specific wake words.

If you could set the wake word to anything, it would need to be running its full recognition process on everything - which from a security perspective is what makes a lot of people wary / uncomfortable.