Set up your car's Assistant

With Assistant built into your car, you can navigate, make calls, control vehicle temperature, and play music without your phone. Learn which cars are compatible.

Important: Some cars don’t have a data plan built in that turns off access to online Assistant features. In some cars, you can get online Assistant services with a hotspot from your phone. 

Learn how to use Assistant without a data plan. 

Step 1: Set up your profile

On your car display home screen, follow the instructions.

Step 2: Sign in to your Google Account

1. Tap the car display home screen.
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial .
3. Tap Sign in to Google. 
4. Sign in on your car display.

• Optional: Turn on Allow personal results to allow Assistant to read or show results for you, like personalized destinations. Learn more about personal results.

Step 3: Pair your mobile device

To make calls and send and reply to text messages, connect your mobile device to your car’s Bluetooth.

Important: Some features aren’t available for iOS.

1. Tap the car display home screen.
2. Go to your apps.
3. Tap Settings Bluetooth Pair new device.
4. Follow the instructions on your phone and car display.
5. When asked to “Allow Assistant to temporarily upload contacts from this Bluetooth Device,” tap Yes.

Use Assistant commands in your car

You can ask Assistant to navigate, play music or radio, or call a friend.

Try these commands

Navigate

• "Navigate to [address].”
• “Navigate to Work."
• "How’s the traffic to work?"
• "What’s my next turn?"

Use car controls

• “Set the temperature to 70 degrees.”
• “Turn on my seat heater.”
• “Turn on the front defroster.”

Play media

• "Play some music."
• “Play the news.”
• “Resume my book.”
• "Play [song name]."
• “Play [radio] or [frequency].”
• "Play the latest episode of [podcast name]."

Communicate

Step 1: Pair your mobile phone

To send text messages and make calls, connect your phone to your car’s Bluetooth.

Step 2: Allow Assistant to access notifications

To read your messages, turn on notifications for Assistant.

1. Tap the car display home screen.
2. Go to your apps.
3. Tap Settings Apps and Notifications.  
4. Tap Special app access Notification access.
5. Turn on Google Assistant.

Step 3: Use voice commands

• "Call Mom."
• "Text Dad."
• "Read my messages."

Tip: To have Assistant read a notification, you can also tap Play. Learn more about what you can ask Google Assistant.