How to Use Google Assistant on Android

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Google Assistant is a powerful virtual assistant developed by Google that is available on a wide range of Android devices. Its capabilities extend beyond basic voice commands to manage a wide range of tasks, such as setting reminders, sending messages, making calls, or even controlling smart home devices. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn how to enable and use Google Assistant on your Android device, and you'll discover the countless ways it can make your everyday life easier.

Enabling Google Assistant

Before you start using Google Assistant, you need to make sure it's enabled on your Android device. Usually, Google Assistant comes pre-installed on most Android phones, but you may need to set it up the first time. Here's how you can do it:

1. Open the Google app on your Android device.
2. Tap on your profile picture or the 'More' option.
3. Go to 'Settings' and then tap on 'Google Assistant'.
4. Under the 'Assistant' tab, find 'Assistant Devices' and tap 'Phone'.
5. Toggle the switch to turn on Google Assistant.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Set up Voice Match

Voice Match helps the Google Assistant recognize your voice and give you personalized answers. Here's how to set up Voice Match:

1. Go to 'Assistant Devices' in Google Assistant settings.
2. Tap on 'Voice Match' and turn it on.
3. The device will ask you to repeat some phrases so it can learn your voice.
4. After doing this, your Google Assistant will recognize your voice and respond accordingly.

Activate Google Assistant

After enabling Google Assistant, there are several ways to activate it:

1. Say “Hey Google” or “OK Google” when your screen is on or the device is charging.
2. Long press and hold the Home button.
3. If your phone supports it, swipe from the bottom corners of your screen.

Basic commands

Now that the Google Assistant is up and running, let's start with some basic commands:

Search the Internet: You can ask questions like "How's the weather today?" or "Who won the game last night?"
Set a reminder: Just say, "Remind me to call Mom at 6 PM."
Send message: The command "Send message to John: Heading out now."
Call: Say this : "Call Dad."
Set an alarm: Try "Set an alarm for 7 AM."

Exploring advanced features

Once you're familiar with the basic commands, you can start using some of the advanced features of Google Assistant:

Using shortcuts

With shortcuts, you can abbreviate common tasks into phrase or word commands:

1. Tap your profile picture in the Google app.
2. Go to 'Settings' and select 'Shortcuts'.
3. Browse or add custom shortcuts that suit your routine.
4. Save and start using these shortcuts to streamline activities.

Controlling smart home devices

If you have smart devices in your home, the Google Assistant can control them:

1. Open the Google app and go to 'Home' in the Assistant settings.
2. Tap 'Set up devices' to add your smart home devices.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup for each device.
4. Commands such as "turn off the lights" or "set the thermostat to 70 degrees" can now be used.

Learning new skills

Google Assistant is constantly updating, adding new features and capabilities. To stay updated:

1. Check out the Google Assistant community forum.
2. Check out the 'Explore' section in the Google app to discover new features.
3. Experiment with different commands and pay attention to the prompts for new options.

Adapt to routine

Google Assistant allows you to create routines that package multiple actions into a single command:

1. In the Google Assistant settings, tap 'Routines'.
2. You can select a pre-defined routine or add your own custom routine.
3. Set commands to trigger actions, such as turning on lights and playing music with the command "Good Morning".

Practical use cases

Let's take a look at some examples below that show how the Google Assistant can be used in practice:

Daily essentials

Use the Google Assistant for everyday tasks. Say "Start my day" to get the weather, calendar updates, and news briefs.

Shopping help

Quickly create a shopping list by saying "Add milk to my shopping list" or simply asking "Where can I find the nearest grocery store?"

Recipe help

When cooking, you can get cooking help by saying "Tell me how to make lasagna" or "How much sugar do I need for a chocolate cake?"

Privacy and security

When using the Google Assistant, it's important to be aware of privacy settings:

1. Go to Google Account Settings to look for 'Data & personalization.'
2. Adjust the voice and audio activity settings as desired.
3. Always review the permissions granted to the Google app.

Troubleshooting

If you run into any problems, try these solutions:

- Make sure the microphone on your device is working correctly.
- Double-check that your device is not in 'Battery Saver' mode.
- Make sure all relevant apps are up to date.
– Restart your phone and see if that resolves any issues.

Conclusion

Google Assistant on Android is a multi-faceted tool that offers convenience, hands-free operation, and advanced functionality to help you automate your daily tasks. Whether setting reminders or controlling smart devices, Google Assistant can streamline your activities and improve productivity. With continuous learning, see how this virtual assistant can fit into and improve every aspect of your life.

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