How To Force Enable Google Assistant - Nexus 6P General

So, as most of you know, Google released an update to Google Play Services that allows all phones with Nougat and Marshmallow firmware to use Google Assistant. Good!
This new feature unfortunately has to be rolled out through Google's servers. Bad
There is a simple way to force enable Google Assistant on (almost) all your devices, and all you need is root and edit your build.prop
*Please remember that these build.prop aren't necessary because Google will eventually push it your device through the rollout. However, this method just ensures that you get Google Assistant now without having to wait for that happen. So, while it may not be necessary, it can be very helpful for many marshmallow and nougat devices at this time*
Now for the "How to" part:
0. Make sure you have the latest Google Play Services, the Google app, and your device is rooted
1. Open your build.prop editor (I use J Rummy's editor) and add this single line to the bottom of your build.prop-
ro.opa.eligible_device=true
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
2. Save it
3. Reboot your device
4. Wait for your device to completely boot (I waited a few minutes afterwards, just to be sure)
5. Hold your Home Button and behold this magical moment...
*This method is very similar to what we used to Enable Google Assistant in the past. However, this method works without the need to change your device name to "Pixel" or Manufacturer to "Google" in the build.prop because Google Assistant is now updated through Google Play services to allow (almost) all devices to use it now
-So for nexus devices (6P/5X), this means you get to keep your Auto HDR Camera Mode because you didn't modify your device name or manufacturer name in build.prop.
(changing those names would have taken away those said options from the Google Camera app)
I hope this helps most of you guys out there eagerly waiting for Assistant to hit your device. It worked for me ?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

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Can confirm worked perfectly! Thanks a ton op ?

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crixley said:
Can confirm worked perfectly! Thanks a ton op ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem! I'm glad that I can finally contribute to XDA (sort of) ?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

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vincentallen2 said:
So, as most of you know, Google released an update to Google Play Services that allows all phones with Nougat and Marshmallow firmware to use Google Assistant. Good!
This new feature unfortunately has to be rolled out through Google's servers. Bad
There is a simple way to force enable Google Assistant, and all you need is root and edit your build.prop
Now for the "How to" part:
0. Make sure you have the latest Google Play Services and Google app
1.Open your build.prop editor (I Use J Rummy's editor) and add this single line to the bottom-
ro.opa.eligible_device=true
View attachment 4062532
2. Save it
3. Reboot your device
4. Wait for your device to completely boot (I waited a few minutes afterwards, just to be sure)
5. Hold your Home Button and behold this a magical moment...
View attachment 4062530
This works without the need to change your device name to "Pixel" or Manufacturer to "Google" in the build.prop because Google Assistant is now updated through Google Play services to allow (almost) all devices to use it now
I hope this helps most of you guys out there eagerly waiting For Assistant to hit your device. It worked for me ?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the Home button animation work just like it works on Pixel phones?
Edit : I updated my device to March Security update and after two days I got the assistant update without tweaking the build.prop and there is no animation for the home button

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How can i update google play services???

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destinypham said:
How can i update google play services???
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Click to collapse
Hi... You can manually update it. Download the appropriate version from apkmirror:
http://www.apkmirror.com/?s=Google+play+services&post_type=app_release&searchtype=apk

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5.1 said:
Hi... You can manually update it. Download the appropriate version from apkmirror:
http://www.apkmirror.com/?s=Google+play+services&post_type=app_release&searchtype=apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do all of things like the guide, and even flash rom and Gapp again, but i still can not enable GA

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This method has been available since Assistant's release.

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5.1 said:
Hi... You can manually update it. Download the appropriate version from apkmirror:
http://www.apkmirror.com/?s=Google+play+services&post_type=app_release&searchtype=apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i see you're french too : do you know how to make it work when your phone system language is french ?
my build prop is ready to get google assistant, but when i got to google app setting, it says "google assistant not available in your country" and the google asssistant setting are greyed.
maybe there's a way to use google assistant (and google app) in english, and the rest of the phone in french ?

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neeko92 said:
i see you're french too : do you know how to make it work when your phone system language is french ?
my build prop is ready to get google assistant, but when i got to google app setting, it says "google assistant not available in your country" and the google asssistant setting are greyed.
maybe there's a way to use google assistant (and google app) in english, and the rest of the phone in french ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't need assistance and to be honest, I've never looked into it.
Maybe try to setup the assistant with English language first? And once everything works, try switching system language?
I'd try this way. Maybe open a thread in Q/A section to see if people managed to get it working with foreign system language.

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That's great, got it to update now. Will the battery take a hit of the "OK Google" recognition is left on?

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I've added the line, updated play services, ran full aroma installer for gapps, still no assistant. Running Alcatel Idol 3 on lineage os 13.
Any thoughts or suggestions?

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Updated to latest Google play services, added line to build.prop and still no assistant. Root Stock ROM 6.0.1 September security patch.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA-Developers Legacy app

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Right after I installed the March OTA I got assistant. I didn't do anything else. I'm not rooted.

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TokedUp said:
Right after I installed the March OTA I got assistant. I didn't do anything else. I'm not rooted.
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Click to collapse
I just flashed the March update and re-rooted, and I have assistant now. Was going to edit the build prop, but apparently the update enables it.

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supermoocow5 said:
I just flashed the March update and re-rooted, and I have assistant now. Was going to edit the build prop, but apparently the update enables it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you prompted to setup Google Assistant? I just updated to the March OTA manually on my 6p in hopes it would help me get Google Assistant sooner. I understand the two might not be dependent on one another but it didn't work for me. I'm using Nova launcher and when I long press the middle Circle button, it only pulls up On Tap.

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No need anymore.... my 6P just got GA live just now.

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Do you need root to make the edits? I tried to edit but it won't save the file.

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mreediowa said:
Do you need root to make the edits? I tried to edit but it won't save the file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.

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I had it working, but the March update has removed it again. I've updated build.prop again and it's come back.