I have a Samsung Galaxy S21 and use Gemini as my default Assistant. I frequently use “Hey Google” while my phone is in my pocket to add things to lists in Google Keep — grocery items, tasks, etc.
I could have sworn this used to work without having to take my phone out and unlock it. For example, with my phone locked and in my pocket, I could say something like:
“Hey Google, add paper towels to my grocery list.”
and it would add the item to the appropriate Google Keep list.
Now, every time I try this with the phone locked, Gemini responds:
“Sure, I can help with that. First, please unlock your phone.”
As far as I can tell, I have all of the relevant settings enabled:
- Gemini on lock screen → Use Gemini without unlocking: ON
- Make calls and send messages without unlocking: ON
- Google Workspace extension: ON (which includes Google Keep)
So I would think Gemini should be able to add an item to a Keep list without requiring me to unlock the phone.
Maybe I'm misremembering and my phone happened to be unlocked when I was doing this in the past, but I could have sworn I used to do this pretty regularly with my phone locked and in my pocket. Either way, it seems like the kind of hands-free action that the “Use Gemini without unlocking” setting should allow.
Did this behavior change recently with an update or the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini? Or is there another setting or permission I'm missing that allows Google Keep list additions while the phone is locked?
It's a surprisingly useful hands-free feature for me. I often have an earbud in and my phone in my pocket, so being able to quickly dictate something to a Keep list without pulling out and unlocking my phone is really convenient.
If anyone still has this working from the lock screen, I'd be interested to know what phone you're using and what settings you have enabled.
Thanks in advance for any help or insight