# Update for Pixel Buds Pro: Users Must Speak to Receive Notifications
In a recent twist, owners of Google’s Pixel Buds Pro have observed a notable transformation in their interaction with the earbuds concerning notification retrieval. Formerly, users could effortlessly press and hold the colored section of their earbuds to have Google Assistant vocalize their notifications. Nonetheless, a new update has modified this feature, necessitating verbal requests for notifications instead.
## Essential Information
– **Alteration in Notification Retrieval**: Owners of Pixel Buds Pro have noted that the “touch-and-hold” function no longer prompts the assistant to read notifications.
– **Vocal Command Needed**: In place of the former method, users must now verbally say “read notifications” after activating Google Assistant with the “Hey Google” phrase.
– **Ambiguous Reason**: It is unclear if this adjustment is due to a server-side update or an unexpected bug.
– **Pixel Buds Pro 2**: Announced in August, the second-generation Pixel Buds Pro features enhanced integration with Google’s fresh AI platform, Gemini.
## Transition: From Silent to Vocal
For numerous users, the ease of having notifications read aloud through a mere press-and-hold action has been a defining characteristic of the Pixel Buds Pro. This approach permitted a discreet and silent method to keep informed about incoming messages and alerts without vocalizing. However, as highlighted by users on Reddit, this feature has recently been substituted with a different protocol.
Upon attempting to press and hold their earbuds, users now receive a notification from Google Assistant stating, “Touch and hold won’t read notifications anymore.” The assistant subsequently prompts users to articulate “read notifications” after initiating the assistant with the “Hey Google” command.
This transition has ignited frustration among users, many of whom appreciated the previous silent, non-verbal functionality. The requirement to vocalize notifications is perceived as less practical, particularly in settings where privacy or silence is a priority.
## User Sentiments and Issues
The change in functionality has caught the attention of many. Numerous users have voiced their disappointment on Reddit, with several mourning the disappearance of the silent notification capability. One user remarked, “The touch-and-hold option was handy and, most importantly, silent. Now I have to vocalize, which undermines the convenience in numerous situations.”
Additionally, some users have experienced a complete cessation of notifications for new messages on their Pixel Buds Pro, leading to added confusion and annoyance. This predicament appears to have emerged in the last few days, with various discussions on Reddit regarding the abrupt alteration.
## Potential Reasons: Update or Glitch?
There are theories suggesting that this modification may link to a recent update enabling the “Hey Google” voice command to function directly from the Pixel Buds, instead of depending solely on the paired phone. However, others suspect it might be an unintended glitch or a server-side update that is still being implemented.
Curiously, some users have observed that the change has not impacted all Pixel Buds Pro devices, indicating it may not yet be a universal update. Outlets like 9to5Google have also reported this matter but have not detected the change on their own Pixel Buds Pro units.
## The Influence of Google Gemini
The timing of this change aligns with the recent introduction of the Pixel Buds Pro 2, announced in August and anticipated to begin shipping this month. The new earbuds feature Google’s Tensor A1 chip, providing enhanced audio quality, improved call clarity, and superior noise reduction.
A prominent feature of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is its extensive integration with Google’s new AI platform, Gemini. Google has been progressively shifting focus from Google Assistant to Gemini, and this alteration in notification handling could be part of that evolution. Some users speculate that the touch-and-hold functionality may have been modified to correspond with Gemini’s capabilities, although Google has yet to verify this.
## What Lies Ahead?
Currently, it remains uncertain whether this change is a lasting one or if it will be rectified in an upcoming update. Android Central has reached out to Google for clarification and will inform users when further details are available.
For now, users of Pixel Buds Pro will need to adapt to the new method of managing their notifications, which entails speaking aloud. While this may present a minor inconvenience to some, it has undoubtedly ignited discussions among those who preferred the previous, more discreet approach.
## Conclusion
The latest update to the Pixel Buds Pro has brought forth a significant modification in how users access their notifications. The elimination of the touch-and-hold feature in favor of a vocal command has caused frustration, particularly among those who appreciated the silent and private nature of the former system. Whether this change signifies a broader shift towards Google’s Gemini platform or is merely a temporary glitch remains to be seen.
