Get started with Google Assistant driving mode

You can use Google Assistant’s driving mode to help you complete actions while you drive. With your voice, you can read and send messages, make calls, and control media.

Important: Some features aren't available in all languages, countries, or eligible Android devices.

What you need

An Android phone with:

Android Version 9.0 or up
4 GB RAM or more
Portrait mode only
Locations:
- Australia
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Mexico
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- United States

Tips:

For your safety and convenience, dock your phone while in Assistant driving mode.
To get message notifications:
- Tap Settings Apps & notifications Advanced Special app access Notification access Google.
- Turn on Allow notification access.
To make calls and send messages to your contacts: Grant device contacts permission.

Start driving mode

When you navigate in Google Maps, driving mode starts automatically.

On your Android phone, open the Google Maps app .
Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
Tap Start.

Tip: You can also say, “Hey Google, navigate to [destination].”

What you can ask Assistant driving mode

Make a call: Say “Make a call” or “Call [contact].”
Answer a call: Assistant will say “Call from [contact], do you want to pick it up?.”
Send a message: "Send a message to [contact]” or “Send a message.”
Get your messages: “Read my messages.”
Listen to music: “Play [artist],” or “Play [genre].”

Tip: To use commands, you can either say “Hey Google,” or before you speak, tap Microphone .

Learn more about how to use music commands.

Access settings

Important: If you turn on call settings for driving mode, incoming calls are announced automatically.

While driving, you can:

Manage driving-related settings for Assistant.
Turn driving mode on or off.
Let Assistant manage your incoming calls and read and reply to your messages.

On your Android phone or tablet, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings."
Tap Transportation Driving mode.

Tip: You can also access settings in driving mode or the Google Maps app Maps .

Settings through driving mode: Tap Settings .
Settings through the Google Maps app: Tap Your profile picture or initial Settings Navigation settings Google Assistant settings.

Use Google Assistant while you navigate

You can find info and get things done with your Google Assistant while you drive. Ask it questions and tell it to do things in Google Maps so you can focus on the road.

Tip: This feature isn't available in all languages and countries or regions.

Turn on or off Driving mode in Google Maps

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
Tap your profile picture or initial Settings Navigation settings Google Assistant settings.
Turn on or off Driving mode.

Learn more about using Google Assistant's driving mode.

Talk to your Google Assistant

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
- If you haven't used Google Assistant yet, set up the Google Assistant.
Navigate to a place.
- You can also say, "Ok Google, navigate home."
In navigation mode, say “Ok Google” or tap the Assistant microphone .
Ask the Google Assistant to help with something.

Get help from Google Assistant

"Call Mom."
"Send a text to Larry” or "Send an SMS to Sergey.”
"I'm feeling lucky."
"What's the weather like?" or "How's the weather in Seattle?"
"Play some jazz" or “Stop playing music.”
"When's my next meeting?"

Travel and nearby places

"What road is this?"
“Gas stations nearby.”
“When does [name of place] close?”
"Show route overview" or "Show alternate routes."
"Restaurants nearby."

Directions and navigation

"What’s my next turn?" or “Next step.”
“How long until I get there?”
"How's traffic ahead?" or "How's traffic to home?"
"Show traffic" or "Hide traffic."
"Show satellite view" or "Hide satellite view."
"Avoid tolls" or "Allow tolls."
"Mute voice guidance” or “Unmute voice guidance.”
“Recenter.”
“Show list of directions.”
"Avoid highways" or "Allow highways."
“What’s my destination?” or “How far is my destination?”
"Exit navigation."
“Where am I?”
“Are we there yet?”
“Help.”

You can also ask the Google Assistant for info and help with everyday tasks. Learn what else you can ask.

Hear messages while you drive with Google Assistant

With auto read, you can hear and respond to new messages as they come in. When your drive ends, auto read turns off until your next drive.

Important: This feature is available in English for the following country or region:

Australia
India
Ireland
Singapore
United Kingdom
United States

Turn on notifications

To get message notifications automatically, you must turn on notifications for the Google app.

On your device, go to Settings.
Tap Apps & notifications Advanced Special app access Notification access Google.
Turn on Allow notification access.

Hear messages automatically

Before you start to drive, turn on Google Assistant driving mode.
Say “Hey Google, turn on auto read.”
When you get a new message, Google Assistant reads it.
- When Google Assistant reads your messages, any other media pauses then resumes.
When your drive ends, auto read turns off until your next drive.

Respond to messages

After Google Assistant reads a message, say “Hey Google, reply.”
Say your message.
Google Assistant confirms the message with you and sends it.

Learn more about sending messages with Assistant.

Turn auto read on or off

To stop: Say “Turn off auto read” or “Stop reading my messages.”
To resume: Say “Turn on auto read."

Tip: Auto read pauses sometimes, like when you’re on a call or when Maps gives directions.

What Google Assistant reads

New messages from your contacts
- Skips messages from unknown senders
- Asks before it reads long messages
New messages from group conversations