Galaxy S7 Google Voice Typing feature not working properly, other issues

Today’s #GalaxyS7 troubleshooting article deals with two app-related problems and a wifi issue. As customary, the cases mentioned here are all taken from correspondence from some members of our community. We hope you’ll find this material useful.

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.

Problem 1: Galaxy S7 Google Voice Typing feature not working properly

Hi. I use speech to text in quite a few apps including Google, email and messages.  Every so often it stops working with either Cannot Reach Google at the Moment (usually Google) or Server not Available. Google IS available if I type my question. I have read & tried all the solutions posted on the net apart from the soft or hard re-boot. The frequency is indeterminate, sometimes it will work for 3 days or so then go off, sometimes only 1 day.  The temporary solution is to restart the phone which always works but I would like a more permanent solution. All my apps are up to date.  Due to the erratic frequency, I suspect that it may be a background update that is affecting the speech to text function.  To this end, I have enabled notifications for updates in the hope that I can spot a pattern but so far, no luck but its still early days. I am quite logical but not a phone wizard, I don’t easily understand the subtleties so please respond in real English !! My responses back to you may be days apart as the frequency of the problem is not fixed but I will still be monitoring it & will respond as soon as I have anything. Thanks.  — Carol

Solution: Hi Carol. If you’re using Google Voice Typing feature to convert your speech into text and you’re having problems with it, the reason must be any of the following:

1. there’s significant noise clutter from nearby surroundings
2. your phone’s microphone may be defective, or not in a good position to pick your voice up
3. you have unreliable or slow internet connection
4. you’re not enunciating words clearly

Fix #1: Minimize background noise

Keep in mind that Google Voice Typing feature is basically a computer feature. It’s not perfect in filtering extra noise from your surroundings. Though Google claims that it works fine even with a noisy background, it may still be having problems detecting and recognizing your voice. To increase the chances of this feature working on properly, try to use it only when you are in a quite or not-too-noisy environment.

Fix #2: Verify that microphone works properly

To check if your phone’s microphone is picking up your voice clearly, try to record yourself for 10 seconds and listen to it. If your voice sounds robotic, garbled, or if there’s too much static in the background, this can be the reason why Google Voice Typing feature fails.

To record your voice, do the following steps:

1. Go to the Home screen and tap Apps.
2. Look for Voice Recorder app. If you can’t find it, look for Samsung folder and open Voice Recorder from there.
3. Press the red button at the bottom.
4. Record a short clip of yourself talking as if you’re using Google Voice Typing feature.
5. After 30 seconds, hit the Stop button and save the file.
6. Then, listen to the recorded file.

Fix #3: Ensure you have fast internet connection

Google Voice Typing feature works best when you have a solid internet connection. Keep in mind that this feature does not rely on your phone alone. Once you’ve spoken, it consults a remote server in Google to transcribe the words you said, before it eventually shows it in the screen. If you have spotty cellular connection, your device may lose connection to Google resulting to server not available error.

Fix #4: Speak clearly

Talking too fast may confuse Google Voice Typing. Couple that with a slow internet connection and you have a completely ruined experience. When dictating, try to speak in a normal pace, like what newscasters usually do.

Fix #5:  Install app and Android updates

We’re not aware of any issues with Google Voice Typing feature at this time but just the same, make sure to always install app and Android updates to minimize problems. If you’re lucky and this issue is actually a known problem with a lot of devices, Google may release the patch in the next update.

Problem 2: Galaxy S7 wifi signal is weak in certain parts of the house only

My Samsung S7 has had issues with the internet in my house from the first day that I got it. The phone is about 8 months old. My phone’s network provider is Tesco mobile and the broadband is supplied by Sky. When I am in the living room, which has the broadband router in it, or when I am in my bedroom, which is directly above the living room, the internet on my phone does not work properly or at all. I will have to turn the wi-fi connection off and on again several times just to get a internet page to load or I will have to turn my phones data on.

Strangely in the other half of the house where there are 2 bedrooms, the bathroom and the kitchen my internet seems to work fine, occasionally I will have to turn my phones Wi-Fi off and on again to get a steady connection. My mum and dad’s house has the exact same broadband provider as I do, but I have no issues with my phone’s internet at all.

Also when we went on holiday to Robin Hood’s Bay I had no problems with the Wi-Fi on my phone there either. I had the exact same problem for two years with my last phone which was a Samsung Galaxy Core Prime. No one else in my house has issues with the broadband on their phones or tablets. It is just my phone that has this problem. And it only occurs in two rooms. What do I do? — Joe

Solution: Hi Joe. if your phone does not have any wifi problem anywhere else except these two places you mentioned, it’s probably high time for you to start checking for possible sources of signal interference. In a regular house setting, the usual reasons why wifi signal may be weakened or disrupted can be one of the following:

1. Wireless speakers. Many wireless speakers use the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. These two bands happen to be the ones routers use too. Although most routers are equipped to minimize interference even when there are other devices utilizing these bandwidth, you should still consider checking your wireless speaker if you happen to have one in any of these two places.
2. Some external monitors and screens. Particular monitors may leak harmonic interference in the 2.4GHz, particularly in channels 11 and 14. Try turning monitors off and see if that will fix the issue.
3. Defective cables. Cables that connects computer components like hard drives have special shielding in them to minimize interference from the wires. If you have a lot of electronic devices in the affected areas, try turning them off one by one until you narrow down the possible source of interference. If you think that a poorly shielded cable is the cause, simply replace it with a different one.
4. Some wireless phones that runs on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. Some cordless phones operating in 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidth may lead to signal interference when used.
5. Nearby power sources. Some routers may not work properly when in proximity with power sources like a power line. Try to distance your router from a line running in the wall and see if that will help.
6. Microwave oven. We can’t see any reason why you’ll have microwave oven in your living room or bedroom but for troubleshooting sake, it can also cause signal interference.
7. Glass and thick, reinforced walls. Wireless signal from your router may not be able to work properly when there are glass walls or thick walls around. For example, your upper bedroom floor may be made of thick-steel reinforced concrete so there’s a chance wifi signals may not be able to penetrate it.
8. Other wireless devices. Just like certain gadgets mentioned above, other electronic devices that utilizes 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz can potentially lead to signal problems. Some of the common electronics that you may have can include wireless cameras, any form of microwave transmitter, baby monitors, wireless CCTVs, and even other routers.

If your wifi issue continues even after checking all the items above, consider asking your internet service provider for support so they can send a professional to help you figure it out.

Problem 3: Galaxy S7 edge Youtube app keeps crashing

I have a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. Recently, I noticed my YouTube app would not load. After restarting my phone, the app worked for a period of time but would again quit opening. Specifically, it will open to the YouTube icon and not load the actual app. I disabled to app, cleared the cache, cleared the partition. Same result, where the app would work for a period of time after restarting the phone and then quit. The same thing is happening with Netflix, Hulu and Amazon video. Essentially every video streaming device on my phone quits working after a period of time. I have uninstalled every new app I downloaded in the past few weeks.  Everything is up to date on my phone. All other non video streaming apps work perfectly fine on my phone. I am able to stream with the Watch ESPN app and Google Movies app.  Results are the same on WiFi and cellular networks.  Not sure what to try next. Any advice it would be greatly appreciated. — Vivek Kumar

Solution: Hi Vivek. Given how little history you provide about your phone, there’s no way we can tell you what’s going on. We believe though that it’s either a network bug or a poorly coded third party app. To check, do a factory reset and observe how your phone works after every installing Youtube app only.

To factory reset your Galaxy S7, follow these steps:

1. Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7.
2. Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the Samsung Galaxy S7 shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
4. When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
5. Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
6. Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.
7. Now highlight the option Yes — delete all user data using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.
8. Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and press the Power key.
9. The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

After you’ve factory reset your phone, check how Youtube app works. Make sure not to install any other app or change any network setting like add VPN settings at this time. If Youtube app works normally, do the same for the rest of the apps having an issue. If the problem goes away altogether after re-installing the rest of your apps, that means there was an unknown software bug that caused the problem.

However, if the problem returns sometime after reinstalling your apps, one of them must be the cause.

 

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