topic Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B in Audio & Video

Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Iggsta — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 12:59:55 GMT

Hiya Peeps from Australia here,

I’m just wondering if the Alexa function is working on anybody’s Samsung HW-Q990b or the HW-Q930B.

When I tested the Q930b in the store I bought it from it worked when I say “Alexa” or “Hey Alexa” it worked in the store. Now I checked if there was a seperate Alexa device near by that could detect my voice but there was none. I was right up to the Q930B Soundbar in store with my nose almost touching it and when I said “Alexa” or “Hey Alexa” it worked! I tested this in store until I was ready to buy.

I used the Samsung SmartThings App to to connect both the Soundbar and signed in and allowed my Amazon Alexa App/Account, Google Account to link and allow services to the Soundbar which was successfully done.

When I say “Alexa” or “Hey Alexa” this feature is still not working on the Soundbar. The mic on the Soundbar is on and everything.

I also did the revers and deleted the device from the Samsung SmartThings App, Google Home Apps and Amazon Alexa App, that’s including deregistering the Soundbar from my accounts and doing the process again, I did this several times for both models with no luck.

I Specifically bought this device specifically to be be able to control the Soundbar by Saying “Alexa” or “Hey Alexa” just like I would if I wanted to use “Google” or “Hey Google”.

I took back the Q930B to the store and when the agent in store connected his phone to my Q930B Soundbar in store it did not work for him. He was actually signed in to the Q930B in store, the one that was working. He has a Samsung phone to connect the Soundbar and I am using a iPhone 14Pro with all apps and services up to date.

What’s the point in having an On/Off Button for the Mic on top of the Soundbar? If Samsung are restricting access to us then I will never buy Samsung again!

Very Disappointed!

Suggestions anyone?

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Jonty — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 21:49:52 GMT

I have the 990b. Straight out of the box Alexa worked without even having the Alexa app on my phone. When I finished setting up the tv and soundbar. Alexa stopped working. Called Samsung they took control my tv and everting went off including the picture. A full reset did not bring Alexa back. This stated for a few days then randomly a smart hub notification appeared in smart things and started telling me I’d logged in. Alexa worked perfectly for 4 days, I went out for the day and Alexa was gone again. Another full reset and no Alexa no smart hub notification and no clue what I did previously to get it working, it’s very frustrating and time consuming but so useful if you just want to listen to Amazon Music whilst looking at your Frame TV art.

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

marc2629 — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 15:36:34 GMT

To get Alexa to work I had to find the devices tab at the bottom of the smart things app, select the soundbar and it opens a prompt to sign into Alexa there. I don't think this is the same as allowing the smart things app generally to sign into your Alexa account, you have to do it via the soundbar. Or that worked for me anyway...

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Jonty — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:02:18 GMT

Thank you that worked. Alexa is working

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

marc2629 — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:15:43 GMT

Oh great I'm glad I was able to help someone. Instructions are absolutely woeful in the box and not a lot better on the online PDF!!

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Giorgio1704 — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 01:06:49 GMT

Could you explain it to me better? I didn't understand very well how to do it ... thank you very much

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Jonty — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 07:49:38 GMT

Hi, from my experience which I think is also similar to other’s’ experiences, there is no one permanent method.. these are the factors that have worked for me. My experience is that Alexa needs really good WiFi and if your soundbar is paired with a tv both need to be on 5ghz channel WiFi. Only your soundbar needs to be linked to smart things and from smart things linked to Amazon Alexa. Your soundbar needs to make a connection whilst It is on WiFi mode so make sure when trying to connect that your soundbar mode is WiFi not Bluetooth or hdmi. Keep trying to connect and one time you will see a flash of little lights on the speaker and Alexa will work. The most she has worked for me is 7 days. Then nothing. I am now trying to connect again and have unplugged my soundbar and tv and will go through the same process again knowing that at some point Alexa will work. In the meantime you can play Anazob music direct from the Amazon music app, that’s what I do when Alexa is down. It would be great if Samsung could fix this and provide one method to connect but in my experience there is no one method. I hope that you are successful. Best wishes, Jonathan

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

marc2629 — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:06:41 GMT

There's a devices tab at the bottom of the smart things app, go into there and then go into soundbar. If you've not previously connected alexa it should pop up asking you to do so. If you have and want to reconnect then try clicking the soundbar and then the three dots in the top right hand corner. Should see "Alexa Settings" in there.

Although honestly you're not missing out on much by not having it. I'm unable to play spotify songs by asking Alexa due to some compatibility issue. Only Amazon music seems to work. Better off just using air play.

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

marc2629 — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:07:22 GMT

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Giorgio1704 — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:16:31 GMT

I have now tried everything ... first to connect it from the settings of smarthings then in the Alexa application, I tried in every way, removing the 2.4ghz line, connecting it only in wifi, but if I say ALEXA it does nothing !!

But it is connected to alexa because in the application I see it, I can set an alarm and it sounds so Boh ... in the end I have an echo plus next to it and I say to play music on the soundbar and it works well, I know I will continue like this

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Jonty — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 17:01:49 GMT

We’ll done for trying. I am thinking about getting an echo too for the same reason. For now I just created a ‘likes’ playlist on Amazon music and use my phone to play through the soundbar. One day it may be fixed for us all!

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Jonty — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 18:22:56 GMT

Thanks for that info it’s good of you to help. It’s a frustrating thing and I agree with you it’s not worth worrying about, it’s an add-on at best. Very best wishes and thanks, Jonathan

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

daschmee12 — Wed, 01 May 2024 04:09:09 GMT

I bought the Q990C during Samsung's Black Friday sale back in November '23. I had no issues setting up the Alexa functionality initially, but it later caused issues with my home A/V setup, so I ended up disabling it again. I first added the bar to the Smart Things App(SmartThings app auto detected the soundbar as soon as i plugged it in). Then, once added, if you go to the Settings for the Soundbar within SmartThings app(click the soundbar in smartthings app then select the 3 dot settings button in upper right corner), there is an option for "Voice Assistant Settings", where you can select between Bixby(which actually seems to be more capable of controlling the soundbar with voice commands than Alexa is on the soundbar), OR Alexa. You can also just not touch the option, and you won't have any Voice Assistant enabled on the bar. Anyway, the problem started once i realized that every time i said the wake word "Alexa" the soundbar would turn on, and then trigger all the other devices connected to the soundbar, and in the CEC chain, to all turn on simultaneously...my LG TV, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast with Google TV 4K, and my Xbox all turning on constantly, due to utilizing the Alexa feature on the bar. I quickly disabled Alexa voice functionality after that, as I need to use CEC for device control, but cant have every single device connected to the TV and Soundbar turning on, every single time I say the word Alexa.

As to your question regarding suggestions.....

Although I ended up turning off the Voice Assistant functionality(Alexa) on the soundbar, I actually ended up having to remove/de-register the soundbar from the SmartThings app the other night, due to an issue with my Samsung account not recognizing all the devices I have registered to my account. I then re-added the soundbar(Q990C) to SmartThings app, at which point, i was able to access the soundbar settings in SmartThings app again, which is where the Voice Assistant Settings are found(you can select Alexa here.) You should then be brought to a page asking you to sign into your Amazon account, and then authorize Alexa to access/control the soundbar. In fact, even though I don't currently have Alexa set up on the bar.... once i re-added the bar to SmartThings, and then opened the Alexa app, i was greeted with a Pop-up stating that Alexa functionality was available/built into the Soundbar i had just added, and asking if i wanted to enable it(Alexa will recognize the bar as soon as you add it to SmartThings app). That's always how i got Alexa Voice Assistant functionality working on the bar, before i decided not to use it anymore.

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

Members_26pdbOR — Wed, 01 May 2024 08:54:51 GMT

Speaking with Samsung's level 2 technical support, yesterday, their senior expert admitted that Samsung had no part in developing the software they've installed and have no idea how to fix the issues.

His official recommendation was to tell me how to DISABLE Alexa on the Samsung Q-series sound systems 😳!

A major problem that I found is that Alexa mutes the speaker when it hears the activation word "Alexa". This is necessary so it can hear what you're saying if you're watching a loud blockbuster action movie. Sounds reasonable enough, and works the same if you're playing music on an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot device. However, Alexa is supposed to stop listening after it's heard and actioned your command, returning your volume to the original sound level. It doesn't!

My very expensive Q-series sound system remained muted (with the Alexa "listening" lights displaying in the little LED screen*) losing around 70% volume thereafter.

For the extremely limited usability of Alexa as implemented on Samsung sound systems, I'd recommend following their senior technical support guy's instructions to disable and uninstall Alexa from any Samsung soundbar. Alexa functionality, to control things like volume or selecting a program, is better enabled through an Alexa enabled TV. Personally, I use Amazon's Fire TV Stick [MAX] which has Alexa built into the remote or can be connected to an Echo or Echo Dot. It also means you're only dealing with one set of technical incompetents (a.k.a. technical support) if you need assistance.

As for Samsung's attitude: it stinks! Shalln't be purchasing any further Samsung products, their policy being customer should sort problems for themselves "self help" as they term it.

Re: Alexa with HW-Q990B & HW-Q930B

srsnleo — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:08:47 GMT

i am also facing the same issue.. Alexa works sometimes with my Samsung Q900d soundbar and sometimes not... When i switch off TV, soundbar ,wifi and in the next morning, Alexa not working with my soundbar.. Crazy.. I just use 2.4ghz wifi .