Google Assistant Tips: Useful Voice Commands

Google Assistant is a voice-activated helper built into Android phones and many other Google devices. If you have an Android phone, it is already on your device and free to use. You can speak to it naturally, and it responds to your voice with answers, actions, and reminders.

Google Assistant is designed to understand everyday speech — you do not need to memorize specific commands. You can say things the way you would naturally say them, and the assistant figures out what you mean. It is connected to your Google account, so it can access your Google Calendar, Gmail, and Google Maps to give you personalized responses.

Some of the most useful things Google Assistant can do: set alarms and timers, add items to a shopping list, navigate you to an address using Google Maps, answer general knowledge questions, play music or podcasts, make phone calls or send texts, and control smart home devices like lights or thermostats.

You activate Google Assistant by saying "Hey Google" aloud, or by pressing and holding the home button on your phone. On Pixel phones, squeezing the sides of the phone also works.

Google Assistant is especially valuable for managing small tasks while your hands are full. If you are cooking and remember you need milk, say "Hey Google, add milk to my shopping list" and it will be there waiting for you when you go to the store. If you need to leave for an appointment, say "Hey Google, navigate to 123 Main Street" and turn-by-turn directions start immediately.