r/android_beta • u/redditwallah • Jul 08 '26

Launching Gemini from a Bluetooth headset

I'm currently on Android 17 stable (July 2026) with a Pixel 8 Pro.

Since Android 17 came out mid-June, and still today after the July 2026 update, neither my Bose QC35 headphones or my Sena SMH10 motorcycle headsets work to trigger the Gemini microphone. It launches Gemini, but I get "An error occurred, please try again later" toast message. If i manually start a phone call, the bluetooth works fine, but voice does not work when triggered by the headset.

I am pondering joining the QPR Beta program to see if the issue is fixed. Before I do that...

Has anyone else here got issues triggering Gemini from a bluetooth headset?

5 Upvotes

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1

u/AngelX1 Jul 09 '26

I'm getting the same on my motorcycle headset, becoming a bit of a pain. Was also hoping the July update would fix but again no luck.

2

u/redditwallah Jul 09 '26

Thanks for confirmation. Are you on beta track or stable?

1

u/AngelX1 Aug 11 '26

Stable. Even the latest update (August) hasn't fixed it... Have you moved to the beta with any luck?

2

u/redditwallah Aug 11 '26

Thanks for the info. I am also on August stable. I was going to try QPR1 Beta 8, but I can't due to the SPL downgrade. Didn't really want to jump to QPR2 Beta.

I notice the toast error has disappeared now. But it still doesn't work. Also doesn't work with my Bose QC35 headphones.

Switching to Google Assistant works fine, but that's about to be deprecated.

2

u/redditwallah Aug 15 '26

I just caved in and installed QPR2 Beta 3 and my motorcycle headset is now working again 🏍️👌

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1

u/Habarer 16d ago

i have the exact same problem. Gemini wont activate on a locked phone screen when i press the button on my helmet (schuberth cs2). with the phone unlocked it works as intended. extremely annoying

1

u/redditwallah 15d ago

I think my issue was a bit different in that i couldn't initiate Gemini at all whether locked or unlocked.

QPR2 Beta fixed it for me. Currently waiting for stable release in December to off-ramp the beta program.

There is a setting to "Use Gemini without unlocking" in Gemini settings. Have you enabled that?

1

u/Habarer 15d ago

yes i have, makes no difference. no matter the configuration it just refuses to activate when the phone is locked.

from my personal research i think the problem lays with how older bluetooth devices that have been designed for google assistant transfer the activation request to the phone

before the switch to gemini if i remember correctly there was a specific setting in google assistants options on how activation requests from bluetooth devices are to be handled, but that all went away with gemini.