How to setup: common problems

The page is focused on issues related to the setup of the Developer Assistant app. Before going into details, please verify that you performed all the steps required to configure it correctly: How to setup.

When I long press the home button the Developer Assistant is not being invoked

Xiaomi

Xiaomi devices allow users to override action assigned to the home button. The Developer Assistant will work only if the home button is configured to invoke assist apps.

Affects

Xiaomi Mi devices

Fix

1. Open the system Settings.
2. Open the Additional settings section.
3. Go to the Buttons section.
4. Go to the Home section.
5. Set the home button to something like: assist app, voice search, search app, one of such options should make the assist apps work.

OnePlus

OnePlus devices allow users to override action assigned to the home button. The Developer Assistant will work only if the home button is configured to invoke assist apps.

Affects

OnePlus 5

Fix

1. Open the system Settings.
2. Scroll to Customization section.
3. Select Buttons.
4. Scroll to Home button
5. Set Long press action to Search assistant.

Android 6.0

There is a known bug on the Android 6.0.x, the operating system seems to don’t load a custom assist app correctly after the system boot. As an effect, properly configured Developer Assistant won’t show after being invoked by a user by long press on home button.

Affects

Android 6.0, confirmed on multiple devices from major manufacturers, fixed on newer versions of Android OS.

Workaround

Open Developer Assistant via it’s launcher icon, verify it is set as the assist app, even if it is, click the EDIT... button to open system settings responsible for assist apps. This is it. Opening the system settings triggers Android OS to correctly register the default assist app. From now on, the default assist app will work correctly... till next reboot. Affected environment: Android 6.0.1, confirmed on multiple devices from major manufacturers

Resurrection Remix OS (custom ROM)

This Android ROM doesn’t invoke Developer Assistant when user long presses the hardware home button. This OS always invokes Google Assistant / Google Now, whatever assist app would be set by the user - it just won't work with the hardware home button.

Affects

Resurrection Remix OS based on Android 7

Workaround

The software navigation bar is not affected. Display the software navigation bar and long press on the virtual home button displayed on it.

Device runs on a custom ROM: Lineage OS

This Android ROM has customizable home button. The Developer Assistant will work correctly only if the home button long press is assigned to the Search Assistant action. Users reported that this action is not assigned by default.

Affects

Lineage OS based on Android 7

Fix

1. Open the system Settings.
2. Go to the Buttons section.
3. Go to the Home button section.
4. Edit the Long press action and set the Search Assistant.

Resurrection Remix (custom ROM)

This Android ROM allows users to customize actions invoked by hardware buttons. This can affect the ability to open a default assist app which is required by the Developer Assistant to work.

Affects

Resurrection Remix based on Android 7

Fix

1. Open the system Settings.
2. Search for the "button options" or something similar depending on your language.
3. Set a tap action of the home button to the Search Assistant.
4. May be necessary: set again the Developer Assistant as your default assist app.