The 'Microphone' button (voice command function) on my TV remote control doesn't work

1. Open the  Settings screen:
   • If the remote control has a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the Quick Settings button and select  Settings.
   • If the remote control does not have a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the HOME button and select  Settings 
2. Select Accounts and Sign In → (Login Name) → Google Assistant → Voice control → On.
   Note: If the above settings are not shown, skip this step.

Follow the steps below to confirm that your TV can connect to the Internet.

1. Open the  Settings screen:
   • If the remote control has a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the Quick Settings button and select  Settings.
   • If the remote control does not have a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the HOME button and select  Settings 
2. The next steps will depend on your TV menu options:
   • Select Network & Internet → Network status → Check Connection.
   • Select Network → Advanced settings → Network status → Check Connection.
   Notes:
   • An Internet connection is necessary to use voice recognition.
   • Depending on your TV model, you can also check the Internet connection status by pressing the HELP button, then selecting Internet connectivity symptoms or Status & Diagnostics → Internet connection diagnostics.
   • For W8, X7, and X74H / X75H series: Check the connected network status under the Network & Internet option.

If the network diagnosis result is not OK, refer to this article: How to perform a network diagnosis when the Android TV™ or Google TV™ can't connect to the Internet.

Notes:

• If you are using the Touchpad Remote Control for TV models released in 2015, refer to this article: How to pair the Touchpad Remote Control with the TV.
• If your TV model was released in 2020 or later (except for the models below), you can skip this step. Continue to the 2. Register the remote control section of this article.
  • If your 2020 TV model is one of the following, you may continue with this step: BRAVIA 2 (S20), W8x5 / W8x6, W8L, X64L / X70L / X74L / X75L, X77L / X78L, W8K, X74K / X75K, W8, X7, X74H / X75H.

1. Check if the remote control is registered.

1. Open the  Settings screen:
   • If the remote control has a  Quick Settings button:
     1. On the remote control, press the  Quick Settings button.
     2. Select  Settings.
   • If the remote control does not have a  Quick Settings button:
     1. On the remote control, press the HOME button.
     2. Select  Settings.
2. The next steps will depend on your TV menu options:
   • Select Remotes & Accessories → Bluetooth Settings.
   • Select Remotes & Accessories.
   • Select Bluetooth settings.
3. Check if SONY TV RC MIC 001 or SONY TV VRC 001 is registered.  If it is registered 
   
   De-register the Bluetooth pairing of the SONY TV RC MIC 001 or SONY TV VRC 001, and then register it again.

   1. Open the  Settings screen:
      • If the remote control has a  Quick Settings button:
        1. On the remote control, press the  Quick Settings button.
        2. Select  Settings.
      • If the remote control does not have a  Quick Settings button:
        1. On the remote control, press the HOME button.
        2. Select  Settings.
   2. The next steps will depend on your TV menu options:
      • Select Remotes & Accessories → SONY TV VRC 001 → Unpair → OK.
      • Select Remotes & Accessories → Bluetooth Settings → SONY TV RC MIC 001 or SONY TV VRC 001 → Unpair → OK.
      • Select BRAVIA Settings → Voice Remote Control, then select Yes to unpair. 
      • Select Bluetooth settings → SONY TV RC MIC 001 or SONY TV VRC 001 → Unpair → OK.
   3. After unpairing the remote control, register it again using the steps in the 2. Register the remote control section of this article.
    If it is not registered or displayed 
   
   Refer to the 2. Register the remote control section below.

2. Register the remote control.

1. Open the  Settings screen:

   • If the remote control has a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the Quick Settings button and select  Settings.
   • If the remote control does not have a Quick Settings ( or ) button, press the HOME button and select  Settings.
2. The next steps will depend on your TV menu options:
   • Select Remotes & Accessories → Remote control → Connect via Bluetooth or Activate  button.
   • Select BRAVIA Settings → Voice Remote Control.
   • Select Remote control → Connect via Bluetooth.
   • Select Voice Remote Control → Activate  button.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
   • Except for RMF-TX920: Pairing can fail if the battery level is low. Replace the batteries and try pairing again.
   • Only for RMF-TX920: Pairing can fail if the battery level is low. Charge the battery and try pairing again.

• For Google TVs: On the remote control, press and hold the Microphone button and then speak into the microphone.
• For Android TVs: On the remote control, press the Microphone button and then speak into the microphone.

Remember to position the microphone closer to your mouth, or speak in a loud and clear voice, so the remote control registers your command.

Note: The microphone is usually located at the top or just above the center of the remote (the location may differ depending on your remote control).

Voice recognition cannot be used in all circumstances. Even when pressing the Microphone button on the remote control, the voice recognition function will not work with certain TV displays or setup screens, and the Search box will not appear.

Refer to this article for more details: The Search box does not appear, even when I press the Microphone button on the remote control.

If the issue persists, try following the steps below:

• Except for RMF-TX920: Remove and re-insert the batteries.
• Only for RMF-TX920: Charge the batteries.
  

Symptoms may improve after upating the remote control software. Check whether there is a software update available, and refer to this article for details: How to perform a TV remote control software update.

The reset steps may vary depending on your TV model. Refer to this article for more details: How to restart (reset) a Google TV™ or Android TV™?.