Set up Google Assistant on headphones

You can use Google Assistant on headphones connected to an Android phone or tablet to get help on the go.

Important: Not all Google Assistant devices work the same. For device-specific instructions, contact your manufacturer.

What you need

• For wireless headphones, you need a phone with:
  • Android 6.0 or up
  • Google app 7.0 or up
  • Google Play services
  • 1.5 GB of memory
  • An internet connection
  • Wireless headphones optimized for Google Assistant
• For wired headphones, you need a phone with:
  • Android 9.0 or up
  • Google app 11.24 or up
  • Google Play services
  • 1.5 GB of memory
  • An internet connection
  • Any 3.5 mm wired headphones

Set up your headphones

Wireless headphones

For wireless headphones, you'll need to pair your phone to your headphones with Bluetooth. 

1. Make sure your phone is connected to the Internet.
2. Turn on Bluetooth.
3. Turn on your headphones.
   • If your phone asks you to pair with your headphones, tap Accept and skip steps 4-6.
4. On your phone’s Home screen, open the Settings app Bluetooth settings.
5. Tap Pair a new device.
   • Under “Available devices,” when your headphones display, tap them to connect.
6. You’ll get a notification to begin the Google Assistant setup process.
7. To begin, tap Activate.

Important: When you set up Google Assistant on your headphones, Assistant features are enabled for any active Google accounts on your phone. When you talk to Google Assistant through your headphones, your Google account is used for personal answers like calendar or email. If you want to use a different Google Account, learn how to change your settings.

3.5 mm wired headphones

For wired headphones, there’s no setup required. If you currently use a different assistant service, you need to reset your assistant services settings to use Google Assistant.

Step 1: Check which service you use

1. On your Android phone or tablet, tap the microphone.
2. Note which app the microphone opens.

Step 2: Reset the app settings

1. On your Android phone or tablet, touch and hold the app.
2. Tap Information .
3. At the bottom, tap Advanced  Open by default  Clear defaults. 

Turn Google Assistant on or off

Wireless headphones

Important: Before you can turn on Google Assistant, you must:

• Turn on your headphones.
• Connect your phone to the internet.
• Connect your wireless headphones to your device.

To turn your wireless headphones' Google Assistant on or off:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings." 
2. Tap Devices Your headphones.

• Turn off: Tap Turn off Google Assistant.
• Turn on: Google Assistant turns on for wireless headphones after you complete "Set up your headphones" for wireless headphones.

3.5 mm wired headphones

To turn on your wired headphones' Google Assistant:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings." 
2. Tap Devices Wired headphones.
3. Turn on Get help from Google.

Start a conversation

Before you start, refer to your headphone’s instruction manual or packaging to find the button or touch area used to talk to Google Assistant.

1. On your headphones, press and hold the button or touch area to talk to Google Assistant.
   • Tip: When you activate Google Assistant, you’ll hear a tone. You don’t need to wait until you hear the tone to start talking.
2. Ask a question or say a command.
3. When you’re done talking, release the button or touch area.

Important: There are different ways to start and stop a conversation, depending on the headphones you use. Learn more about gestures you can use.

Related resources

• What you can ask Google Assistant
• Access Google Assistant on your headphones with Voice Match
• Fix issues with Google Assistant on headphones
• Manage Google Assistant headphone notifications
• Get personal results on headphones
• Use gestures to control Google Assistant on headphones