Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice control device including a microphone, a mute control, and a push-to-talk (PTT) control. An example embodiment operates by: entering a mute state from an always-listening state when the device receives a mute control signal; entering a PTT state from the mute state when the device is in the mute state and receives a first PTT control signal; activating the microphone when the device is in the PTT state; and entering the mute state from the PTT state when the device is in the PTT state and receives a second PTT control signal.