Get started with the Google Assistant on your phone or tablet

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 and tablets, the Google Assistant is available in English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish. 

What you need

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

  • Android 5.0 or higher
  • Google app 6.13 or higher
  • Google Play services
  • 1.4 GB of memory and 720p screen resolution
  • Device's language set to a language listed above
Check if your device has what it needs

Check your Android version 

Check your Google app version 

  1. On your phone or tablet, open the Google app Google . 
  2. On 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. 

Check if you have Google Play services

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

Step 1: Turn on the Google Assistant 

Android devices (except Pixel)
  1. On your phone or tablet, open the Google app Google Search.
  2. On the Home screen, tap Menu Menu and then Settings.
  3. Under "Google Assistant," tap Settings and then Turn on. 
Pixel phones
  1. On your phone, touch and hold the Home button or say "Ok Google."
  2. When asked if you want to turn on the Google Assistant, tap Turn on.

Step 2: Start a conversation

  1. On your phone or tablet, touch and 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.

Tip: On some phones, you can also say "Hey Google." 

Other ways to reach your Assistant

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

First, get the Google Assistant app.

  1. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Assistant app Google Search.
  2. Ask a question or say a command.
Squeeze your phone (Pixel 2 only)
  1. Squeeze the bottom half of your phone.
  2. Ask a question or say a command.

See the squeeze gesture or learn how to change how hard you have to squeeze your phone.

What you can ask 

To get ideas, ask your Assistant "What can you do?" Here are more examples of what you can ask.

Related pages:

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

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