Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 7.1 Nougat updated smartphones can now have Google Assistant. Google made its assistant available only in the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones together with Google Home.

Even though after upgrading any of the non-pixel devices with Android 7.0 Nougat update, Google has not provided Google Assistant. Google has announced that it will bring the Android 7.0 Nougat smartphones with Google Assistant other than the well-equipped Pixel smartphones.

Before it is being released, few tricks are popping up on the internet for enabling the Google Assistant on Android 7.0 Nougat non-Pixel smartphones. But the release dates for the Google Assistant for the non-Pixel devices is not yet announced by Google.

Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 7.1 Nougat smartphones can have Google Assistant same as that of Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. The Google Assistant enabling method works with rooted smartphones and those sporting a custom recovery tool.

Google Assistant can be enabled with steps mentioned in the Guide by an XDA Developer forum member Brianelv. A caution is given on the backups by stating that a full backup of the phone's data shall be taken before proceeding to install the Google Assistant.

The process is only applicable for devices with Android 7.0 Nougat or higher version with Google app version 6.5.35.21 or above installed, SuperSU or kernel with dm-verity disabled and build.prop tweaks as described in the report.

The easiest way to get the Android Nougat on your device is through the beta program as stated in the report.

  • Tweak the build.prop file, or install a flashable zip via custom recovery.
  • Just add or replace these lines on your build.prop: "ro.product.model=Pixel XL" and "ro.opa.eligible_device=true".
  • Next, reboot and clear Google app cache.
  • Once the cache is cleared, user's smartphone will run Google Assistant via long press on the home button.

According to the Forum XDA Developers, the list of working devices are the following:

  • Google Nexus 6P
  • Google Nexus 5X
  • Google Nexus 6
  • Google Nexus 5
  • Google Nexus 4
  • Moto G 2013
  • Moto G 2015 
  • OnePlus One 
  • Lenovo VIBE K5 Plus

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