How to Fix Gemini Failing at Calls, Timers and Alarms

lakeisaa Updated 2026-10-21 7 min read Verified Oct 2026

Frustrated woman in a kitchen looking at her Android phone

You say “Hey Google, set a timer for ten minutes” while cooking, and instead of a quick beep you get a long, chatty answer, or nothing happens. You ask it to call your sister and it says the contact doesn’t exist, or it rings a business with a similar name. In the car, Android Auto sits there for a minute and then gives up. If this started after Gemini took over from Google Assistant on your Android phone, you’re not alone. Lots of people are reporting the same thing right now. The good news is that many of these failures come from a few settings and permissions you can fix yourself.

Why this happens

In September 2026 Google finished moving Android phones from Google Assistant to Gemini. In the US and some other regions, Assistant has been removed completely. Since then, a popular Reddit thread has collected complaints that Gemini handles calls, timers, alarms, music and Android Auto commands less reliably than Assistant did.

Gemini does these jobs through connected apps. These are small links between Gemini and the apps on your phone, such as Phone, Messages, your clock app, Google Maps and YouTube Music. Each one only works if it has the right permissions and settings. The most common causes are:

Your contacts aren’t shared with Gemini. Gemini looks up contacts saved to your Google Account. If contacts that are only stored on the phone aren’t synced, it can’t find them.
The Google app is missing a permission. On Android, the Google app is what actually runs Gemini, so it needs access to Phone, SMS, Contacts and notifications.
Keep Activity is off. Keep Activity is Gemini’s setting for saving your chat history. When it’s off, only Phone, Messages, WhatsApp and Device assistance (the part that handles alarms and timers) keep working. Maps and YouTube Music stop working, so commands like “navigate to Dad’s house” can fail.
Gemini isn’t your default assistant, or it’s using a different clock or phone app than you expect.

Quick fixes to try first

Update everything. Open the Play Store and update the Google app, Gemini, Clock, Phone, Messages, Maps and Android Auto. Then restart your phone.
Use the full contact name. Say “Call Sarah Jones on mobile” instead of “Call Sarah.” It helps when you have several contacts with similar names.
Name the app. When you type to Gemini, add @Phone, @Messages or the app’s name to your request. If that app isn’t connected yet, Gemini will offer to connect it.
Keep timer commands short. “Set timer for 10 minutes” or “Set alarm at 6:30” tends to work better than a long sentence.

Step-by-step fixes

Fix 1: Let Gemini see your contacts

This is the top fix for “that contact doesn’t exist” errors.

Open the Gemini app.
Tap the menu at the left, then your profile picture or initial, then Settings.
Tap Contact info from your devices.
Turn on Save contact info from your signed-in devices.
Give it a few minutes to sync, then try the call again.

To use relationship names like “call my sister,” add that relationship to Gemini’s personal instructions in Settings, such as “My sister is Anna Lee.”

Fix 2: Give the Google app the permissions it needs

On your home screen or app drawer, touch and hold the Google app (the “G” icon, not Gemini).
Tap App info, then Permissions.
Set Phone and SMS to Allow. These are required for calls and texts.
Also allow Contacts and Call logs. Google says these help Gemini reach the right person, including contacts that aren’t synced to your account.
If you want Gemini to read out and reply to your notifications, allow notification access for the Google app too.

Fix 3: Check your default phone, messaging and assistant apps

Gemini calls and texts through whichever apps are set as your defaults. It also needs to be your default digital assistant to control settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, the flashlight and volume.

Open your phone’s Settings.
Tap Apps, then Default apps (some phones call it “Choose default apps”).
Check that Phone app and SMS app are the apps you actually use.
Check that Digital assistant app is set to Google.

Menu names vary by phone maker. If you can’t find these, type “default” into the Settings search bar.

Fix 4: Sort out timers and alarms

Which clock app Gemini uses depends on your phone:

Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, OPPO, HONOR and TECNO phones: Gemini uses the maker’s own clock app. Make sure it’s updated and not disabled.
Other phones (including Pixel): if Google’s Clock app is turned on, Gemini always uses it. If you disabled Google Clock and use a different clock app, Gemini can only set, check, change and delete alarms and timers. Snoozing, pausing and other actions won’t work.

If alarms keep landing in the wrong app or failing, re-enable or reinstall Google’s Clock app from the Play Store. Then try again.

Fix 5: Turn on Keep Activity for Maps, music and Android Auto

If directions, “call the nearest pharmacy” or YouTube Music requests fail, check this setting.

Go to myactivity.google.com/product/gemini while signed in to the same Google Account as your phone.
Turn Keep Activity on.
Back in the Gemini app, open your connected apps settings and check that Google Maps and YouTube Music are connected.

Privacy note: turning this on means Google stores your Gemini chats. If you’d rather not, calls, texts and timers will still work, but Maps and music commands won’t.

For Android Auto, it also helps to save home addresses on your contacts in Google Contacts. That way “navigate to Mum’s house” has an address to find.

Fix 6: Make it work on the lock screen and by voice

In Gemini, go to Menu, then your profile picture, then Settings, then Gemini on lock screen.
Turn on Use Gemini without unlocking.
Turn on the option to make calls and send messages without unlocking. Google’s help pages word it slightly differently.
Back in Settings, open Talk to Gemini hands-free and check that “Hey Google” is on. If it often misses your voice, set up Voice Match again from the same area.

Some personal requests, like reading your calendar, will still ask you to unlock first. That’s normal.

Fix 7: Switch back to Google Assistant (only where it’s still offered)

Google’s help page still lists a way back: in Gemini, tap Menu, then your profile picture, then Switch to Google Assistant. In the US and some other regions, Assistant has been removed, so you may not see this option at all. If it’s there, it’s the quickest way to get the old behaviour back.

When to contact support

Contact Google if you’ve done all of the above and calls or timers still fail every time. The same applies if a setting described here is missing or greyed out, or if Gemini keeps turning itself back on after you’ve changed your assistant. Use Send feedback in the Gemini app so Google sees the exact request that failed. You can also post in the Gemini Apps Help Community. For clock or dialer problems on Samsung or other brands, your phone maker’s support team may be able to help too.

Never rely on Gemini for emergency calls. Google itself says to use your phone’s dialer directly.

FAQ

Can I still get Google Assistant back?

It depends on where you live. Assistant has been fully removed in the US and some other regions. Elsewhere, the “Switch to Google Assistant” option may still appear in Gemini’s menu.

Do I have to turn on Keep Activity for calls and timers?

No. On Android, Phone, Messages, WhatsApp and Device assistance (alarms and timers) work with it off. You only need it for things like Maps and YouTube Music.

Can Gemini answer or reject incoming calls?

Not at the moment. Google says Gemini’s Phone app can’t accept or reject calls yet.

Does this work on iPhone?

No. Device controls like alarms, timers and the Phone app only work in the Gemini app on Android.

Sources

#Android #Android Auto #Gemini #Google Assistant #Phone calls #Timers and alarms

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