You now need to say “Check My Alerts” with Google Assistant Headphones

Google has made a change for headphones that work with Google Assistant. After updating its Pixel Buds in September, the company says headphones from other brands will no longer play unread alerts on their own.

Before, when you turned on Google Assistant, it would automatically tell you about unread notifications. Now, you have to say “Check my alerts” to hear them. On top of that, Assistant won’t read notifications or let you reply without this extra step.

Google shared this update yesterday (reported by Android Authority), but they didn’t explain why they made the change. They only said:

“Thanks for your feedback—it helps us make Google Assistant better for you!”

This tweak makes things trickier for people who like hearing alerts without speaking. It’s also harder to know when new notifications arrive since the headphones stay quiet unless you ask. So far, Google hasn’t brought its newer Gemini system to headphones beyond the Pixel Buds Pro. With Gemini, spoken alerts are limited to messaging apps. Google has hinted that Gemini could one day sum up your notifications for a smoother experience, but that’s not here yet. We’re still waiting for that promise to come true.