14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just released another update for the beta version of Cortana on Android devices that finally brings support for “Hey Cortana,” the feature that allows you to simply call your personal assistant by name and tell her to perform a number of tasks.
While this feature comes in handy on Windows Phone devices because you don't even have to touch your phone in order to have it start a number of actions, such as sending a message or setting up a reminder, its behavior is different on Android, where additional input is required.
Basically, while Hey Cortana is now available on Android, it doesn't work in the same way as on Windows devices. On Windows Phone or Windows 10, whenever you say Hey Cortana, the personal assistant wakes the phone, no matter if it's locked or not, and listens to your command.
Hey Cortana won't work if your phone is locked
On Android, the phone needs to be unlocked, as Microsoft hasn't found a way to get around the locking system and make it work just like on its own Windows Phone platform.
Obviously, since it needs the phone to be unlocked, Hey Cortana barely has a purpose on an Android phone, and it's hard to believe that anyone would give up on OK Google just to use Microsoft's personal assistant. Truth is, it does bring a handful of really helpful features, but it's still easier to use OK Google because it's fully integrated into each Android device.
If you want to activate Hey Cortana on your Android phone, all you have to do is launch the app and go over to settings, where there's an option carrying this exact name.
What's important to keep in mind is that Cortana for Android is still in beta stage, and a number of features might not work exactly as expected. It could take a while until the feature arrives in full on Android, but there's no doubt that some limitations when comparing it to the Windows sibling will still exist.