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Get started with the Google Assistant on your phone

You can find info and get things done with the help of your Google Assistant. Ask it questions and tell it to do things.

Languages you can use

  • On Android phones (except Pixel): The Google Assistant is available in U.S. English. Over time, it’ll become available in other English forms (U.K., CA, IN, and AU), German, French, Japanese, and Portuguese.
  • On Pixel phones: The Google Assistant is available in English (U.S., U.K., CA, IN, and AU) and German. Over time, it’ll become available in French, Japanese, and Portuguese.

What you need

To use the Google Assistant, you’ll need a phone with:

  • Android 6.0 or higher
  • Google app 6.13 or higher
  • Google Play services
  • 1.5 GB of memory and 720p screen resolution
  • Phone's language set to a language listed above

See if your phone has the requirements

See what Android version you have

See what Google app version you have

  1. On your phone, open the Google app Google .
  2. At the top left of the Home screen, tap Menu Menu and then Settings and then About.
  3. Look for the version number at the top.
  4. If your version is below 6.13, go to the Google app page, then tap Update. 

See if you have Google Play services

  1. On your phone, go to the Google Play services page.
  2. Tap Install. If you see "Installed" that means you already have Google Play services.

Turn the Google Assistant on or off

Android phones (except Pixel)

Turn on

  1. Open the Google app Google Search.
  2. At the top left of the Home screen, tap Menu Menu and then Settings.
  3. Under "Google Assistant," tap Settings and then Turn on. 

Turn off

  1. On your phone, touch & hold the Home button.
  2. At the top right, tap Explore & Your stuff and thenMore More and then Settings and then Phone.
  3. Turn off Google Assistant.

After you turn off the Google Assistant:

  • You can still search with your voice by saying "Ok Google"
  • To get info about what's on your screen, turn on the Google Assistant again, then follow these steps.
Pixel phones

Turn on

  1. Touch & hold the Home button or say "Ok Google."
  2. When asked if you want to turn on the Google Assistant, tap Turn on.

Turn off

  1. On your phone, touch & hold the Home button.
  2. At the top right, tap Explore & Your stuff and then More More and then Settings and then Pixel.
  3. Turn off Google Assistant.

Talk or type to your Google Assistant

Talk

  1. On your phone, touch & hold the Home button or say "Ok Google." (If you haven’t already, turn on "Ok Google.")
  2. Ask a question or say a command.

Type

  1. On your phone, touch & hold the Home button.
  2. Tap Keyboard Type.
  3. Enter a question or command and then Send Send.

Choose talk or type as your default

  1. On your phone, touch & hold the Home button.
  2. At the top right, tap Explore & Your stuff and thenMore More and then Settings and then Phone and then Preferred input.
  3. Choose "Voice" or "Keyboard."

What you can ask your Google Assistant

To get ideas, just ask your Assistant "What can you do?" See examples of what you can ask.

Get info about what's on your screen

Your Assistant can show you info, apps, and actions related to text on your screen.

  1. On your phone, touch & hold the Home button. 
  2. Tap What's on my screen?
Take a screenshot
  1. On your phone, touch & hold the Home button.
  2. Say or type "Take a screenshot." Or tap Share screenshot.

Katie is a Google Assistant expert and author of this help page. Leave her feedback below about the page.

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