Whether you have an older device or Google Now just isn't particularly speedy on yours, this simple tweak to its settings will speed it up dramatically for you. All you have to do is tell it not to search some of the local content on your device and go straight to the web—which is where what you want likely is, anyway.


Here's what you need to do:

Open Google Now Open its settings by clicking the button in the lower right corner of the screen with three vertical dots and tapping "Settings." Tap "Phone Search." Uncheck anything you don't want Google Now to index or search for results before it searches the web. Ideally, you'll get the best results by unchecking everything. Click back or home, your settings are automatically saved.

Usually when you make a change like this, the first search or voice search you do with Google Now may take a little longer than usual, but after the first one you'll see speedier results. Best of all, unchecking some of these doesn't stop Google Now from actually searching them when you need them—you can still say "Call Whitson Gordon" and just because the Contacts entry is unchecked doesn't mean Google Now won't place the call.



A while ago, we shared the method below for doing pretty much the same thing, although it uses the Search Applications Provider service instead of the built-in settings. That trick works just as well, regardless of the version of Android you have, and even on devices where the Google Search widget is the problem, like pre-ICS devices or phones where you have Google Now turned off to save battery.



Your mileage may vary depending on the age of your phone and the version of Android you have, but I've done this on a few Android phones—usually older ones—and I've seen snappier response times. It's especially great on my 2-year old Android phone that feels like ICS and Google Now are just a little much for it.



Speed Up Your Google Now | Reddit