You’ve Been Using the Voice Button On Your Steering Wheel Wrong

Most modern cars come equipped with an infotainment system loaded with features from the manufacturer. But in 2025, just about everything requires a subscription to function. For example, my 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback comes with Toyota’s navigation software and voice assistant, but it requires a subscription to their DriveConnect service to make them work. However, I do not pay the $15 to $30 a month subscription because CarPlay and Android Auto exist and those serivces already give me access to Google Maps and Google Assistant for free.

However, one minor-turned-major annoyance I continuously encountered was that the voice button on my steering wheel activated Toyota’s voice assistant instead of Google’s. While driving, I’d click the button to ask Google for directions or to tell it what song to play next. But instead of Google Assistant coming to my aid, Toyota’s voice assistant would ring out to tell me it can’t help me because I’m not subscribed to its subscription service.

For close to a year, I simmered with rage over the useless button. Surely, if Android Auto is running, clicking the voice button on my wheel should activate Google Assistant, not default to the car’s voice assistant (which I don’t have a subscription for)!

Imagine my surprise when I found out I had been using the button wrong for an entire year, and there is, in fact, a way to activate Google Assistant (or Siri, if you’re a CarPlay user) from the steering wheel. If this is an issue for you, you’ll be mind-blown to know how simple the solution is:

How To Activate Google Assistant/Siri From the Steering Wheel

If you’d like to activate Google Assistant or Siri from your steering wheel, simply long-press the voice button on your steering wheel.

That’s it! May your future drives run smoother now that you’re equipped with this knowledge.

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