Set up and manage routines

Google Assistant can get multiple things done automatically with routines. You can schedule a routine for when you need it, or start it at any time with a command. You can also set up Home and Away routines, which start when the first person comes home or when everyone is away.

This feature is currently not available in Indonesia and Thailand.

Note: If Digital Wellbeing is enabled, this feature may be restricted or blocked by Downtime, Filters or Do Not Disturb.

Learn more about Digital Wellbeing

Set up a routine

Use a ready-made routine

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap Routines   choose the routine that you want to edit  tap the boxes next to the actions that you want.
3. (Optional) Turn on personal results to get personal info like calendar events and commute information.

Note: You can adjust the settings for individual actions by tapping the settings  next to the action.

Workday

The workday routine automatically reminds you of all the small and big things to do throughout your working day, which can sometimes be easy to forget.

Your Assistant can:

• Regularly tell you the time throughout the day, so that you don’t lose track of upcoming meetings
• Tell you about today's calendar
• Tell you of your customised set of reminders
• Recite prompts over the device at a chosen time, such as:
  • 'It’s time to stand up and stretch. Let's take a break for 10 minutes.'
  • 'It’s time for lunch! Remember to wash your hands!'
  • 'Go have a snack.'
  • 'Let's go grab a glass of water. And why don't you go and wash your hands?'
  • 'Hope you're having a great day! Want to go for a walk?'
  • 'Time to start wrapping up your working day and plan for dinner!'

Good morning

Say 'Hey Google, good morning'

And your Assistant can:

• Take your phone off silent (only when initiated via an Android device)
• Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats and more
• Tell you about today's:
  • Weather
  • Commute
  • Calendar
  • Reminders
• Adjust the media volume

And then play:

• Music
• News
• Radio
• Podcast where you left off
• Audiobook where you left off
• Nothing

Bedtime

Say 'Hey Google, bedtime'

And your Assistant can:

• Put your phone on silent (only when initiated via an Android device)
• Tell you about tomorrow's:
  • Weather
  • First calendar event
• Set an alarm
• Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats and more
• Adjust the media volume

And then play:

• Music 
  • Set a sleep timer for X minutes (only for music)
• Sleep sounds
  • Note: Sleep sounds will play for one hour if not turned off.
• Nothing

Leaving home

Note: You can personalise this routine to your preferences. No one else can edit it. If you want a routine that other people in the home can edit, and that can start when everyone is away, use the Away routine.

Say 'Hey Google, I’m leaving'

And your Assistant can:

• Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats and more

I'm home

Note: You can personalise this routine to your preferences. No one else can edit it. If you want a routine that other people in the home can edit, and that can start when someone comes home, use the Home routine.

Say 'Hey Google, I'm home'

And your Assistant can:

• Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats and more
• Broadcast to speakers and displays that are in your home
• Tell you home (location-based) reminders
• Adjust the media volume

And then play:

• Music
• News
• Radio
• Podcasts
• Audiobooks
• Nothing

Commuting to work

Say 'Hey Google, let's go to work'

Note: Must be initiated via an Android or iOS device. Not supported on Google Nest or Home devices.

And your Assistant can:

• Tell you about today's:
  • Commute
  • Weather
  • Calendar
  • Reminders
• Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats and more
• Adjust the media volume

And then play:

• Music
• News
• Radio
• Podcast

• Nothing

Commuting home

Say 'Hey Google, let's go home'

Note: Must be initiated via an Android or iOS device. Not supported on Google Nest or Home devices.

And your Assistant can:

• Tell you about your commute
• Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats and more
• Send texts
• Read unread texts
• Broadcast to your speaker or display that you're on the way home
• Adjust the media volume

And then play:

• Music
• News
• Radio
• Podcast

• Nothing

Use Home and Away routines

Your Away routine will start when everyone’s away from home. Once someone returns, your Home routine will start. You can also start these routines with a voice command (US English only) or the Home app. Anyone who has been added to your home in the Home app can edit Home and Away routines.

Learn more about Home and Away routines.

Set up Home and Away routines 

1.  Open the Google Home app   tap Set up Home & Away Routines.
2. Tap Home or Away.
3. Select the devices and settings you want the Routines to adjust. 
   1. Select the ones you want to change when the first person comes home.
   2. Select the ones you want to change when everyone’s away.
4. (Optional) Select the devices you want to use to determine if someone’s home. 
5. (Optional) Set up your phone’s location to be used for presence sensing. 
   1. You’ll need to enter your home address and confirm it by placing a pin on a map.

Create a custom routine

(Optional) Turn on personal results to get your personal info like calendar events and commute information.

1. Make sure that your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
2. Tap Routines   Add  button near the bottom of the screen.
3. Under “When…”
   1. Tap Add commands (required)  Add   enter the phrase that you want to say to trigger the routine  OK  Save.
4. Under 'Assistant will…'
   1. Tap Add action  enter what the Assistant should do. You can enter any Google Assistant command or choose from popular actions  Add.
      Note: You can't assign multiple voice queries to an action.
5. [Optional] Under “And then play...”
   1. Tap Add media.
   2. Tap the circle next to the media source.
      Note: You can customise what plays by tapping Settings  next to the source.
   3. Tap Add  Save.

Schedule a custom routine

You can schedule custom routines to automatically start on your smart speaker. Just set the desired day and time. 

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap Routines   Add  button near the bottom of the screen.

3. Under 'When…'

   1. Tap Add commands (required) Add   enter the phrase that you want to say to trigger the routine OK  Save.
      1. Note: You’ll need to enter a voice command, but the routine will automatically start at the scheduled time even if you don’t say the command.
   2. Tap Set a time and day (optional)  'Choose a time for this routine'.
   3. Choose a schedule under 'Choose which days it should repeat'.
   4. Select which speaker under 'Choose which speaker will start it'.
   5. You can choose whether you want to be notified on your phone when it starts by ticking the box.
   6. Tap OK.

4. Under 'Assistant will…'

   1. Tap Add action  enter what the Assistant should do. You can enter any Google Assistant command or choose from popular actions Add.
      Note: You can't assign multiple voice queries to an action.

5. [Optional] Under 'And then play…'

   1. Tap Add media.
   2. Tap the circle next to the media source.
      Note: You can customise what plays by tapping Settings  next to the source.
   3. Tap Add.

6. In the top-right corner, tap Save.

Edit a routine

Change the actions of a routine.

1. Open the Google Home app   tap Routines .
2. Choose the routine that you want to edit.
3. Edit the actions that you want to change  tap Save.

Edit presence sensing

Change which devices start a Home or Away routine.

1. Open the Google Home app  tap Settings .
2. Tap Presence sensing.
3. Select the devices that you want to help determine if someone’s at home.

Learn how to use your phone location for better presence sensing.

Set up personalisation to get your personal info (optional)

One person using a speaker or display

Personal results must be turned on to get your personal information, like calendar events and reminders.

1. Make sure that your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. At the top-right corner of the screen, tap your account.

4. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.

5. Go back to the home screen .
6. Tap your device.
7. In the top-right corner, tap Settings   Recognition and sharing  Recognition and personalisation.
8. Turn on Allow personal results.

Note: If multiple people are using the same speaker or display, everyone who wants to get their own personal information must link their Google Account and set up Voice Match on the device, including the person who set it up.

Multiple people using a speaker or display

If multiple users are using the same speaker or display, everyone who wants to get personal info must link their Google Account and voice to the device, including the person who set it up. If you've already linked your Google Account and voice, skip these steps.

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. At the top right, tap your account.
3. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your speaker or display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.
4. Tap Assistant settings  Voice Match  Add devices.
5. Make sure that any devices to which you want to link your voice are ticked.
6. Tap Next  I agree.
7. Follow the in-app steps.
8. To get your personal information, you must turn on personal results. Tap I agree and proceed with the Voice Match setup.
9. To invite others to set up Voice Match for tailored results, tap Invite  choose your communication method and send the invitation. To skip this step, tap No thanks.