Search preference settings

You can use the Search preference settings to configure some aspects of web search (for example, whether it makes suggestions below the Quick Search Box as you type) and what phone features you want to include in searches. To access these settings:

1. From the Search application, tap the Menu Key > Settings.

2. Tap Google Now, Voice, Phone search or Privacy and accounts.

   • Google Now : Google Now settings let you turn Google Now on or off. If you turn it on, you’re taken through a brief introduction and given the chance to opt in. While Google Now is on, you can also set your preferences for individual Google Now cards and related notifications from the Google Now settings screen.

   • Voice : Voice settings control different aspects of speech input and output when you search by voice or use voice actions.

     • Language : Select the language to use with voice search.

     • Speech output : To turn on speech output only when you’ve got a headset attached to your phone, select Hands-free only.

     • Block offensive words : Check to ensure that search results with offensive language are blocked.

     • Hotword detection : When this is checked, you can say “Google” when viewing the Google Now screen rather than touching the Microphone icon to initiate a voice search or action.

     • Download offline speech recognition : Check to select one or more additional languages for speech recognition when you don’t have a network connection.

       NOTE

       To detect when you say “Google” to launch Voice Search or Voice Actions, Google analyzes sound picked up by your phone’s microphone in intervals of a few seconds or less. The sound is immediately discarded after analysis and is not stored on the device or sent to Google.

     • Personalized recognition : Check to improve speech recognition accuracy.

     • Google Account dashboard : Manage your collected data.

   • Phone search : Phone search settings let you select which apps on your phone are included in Google searches.

   • Privacy and accounts: These settings control the account for use with Google Search and search-related privacy options for that account.