With Google Nest and Google Home speakers and displays, you can listen to popular podcasts and shows on Google Podcasts or Spotify from anywhere in your home using only your voice.
Note: Podcasts, podcast providers, and podcast voice controls availability can vary based on your country, region, or language.
Each person can link only a single account per streaming service. For example, if you have two Spotify accounts you can only use one across your devices. Learn how to link your podcast services and set your default service.
You can control access to content with the Digital Wellbeing settings in the Google Home app.
Use your voice to control podcasts and shows
Below are some ways to activate Google Assistant on your speaker or display when you choose and listen to podcasts and shows.
To do this: | Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
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Listen to a podcast |
"Listen to Oral History of The Office on Spotify" |
Continue to listen to a podcast |
"Continue listening to Oral History of The Office" |
Listen to podcast by latest episode | "Listen to the latest episode of Oral History of The Office" |
Listen to the next or previous episode |
"Next episode" |
Pause |
"Pause" |
Resume |
"Resume" |
Stop |
"Stop" |
Change the playback speed |
"Play at 2x speed" |
Play previous or next podcast |
"Next" |
What’s playing (podcast) |
"What’s playing?" |
Discover new podcasts |
"Recommend a podcast" |
You can still use your Google Assistant on your speaker or display while you listen to a podcast. When you activate Google Assistant, the podcast will pause and then resume when you’re finished interacting with your Google Assistant.
Other ways to control podcasts
Speakers
To do this: | Touch Google Home like this: | Image |
Play, pause or stop alarm or timer |
Tap once on the top of the device. | |
Turn up the volume |
Swipe clockwise on the top of the device. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media. You can adjust alarms and timers volume anytime in the Google Home app. |
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Turn down the volume |
Swipe counterclockwise on the top of the device. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. |
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Start your request |
Press and hold down on the top of the device. | |
Mic on or off |
Press the microphone mute button on the back of the device. Note: If you mute the microphone, it prevents Google Home from listening or responding. To interact with Google Home, the microphone must be on. |
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Factory reset the device | Press and hold the factory reset button located on the back of Google Home. | |
Turn off power | Unplug power cable from Google Home. |
Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
Note: The Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) has a wall mount screw slot on the back. If your device doesn’t have a wall mount screw slot, it is a Google Home Mini (1st gen).
To do this: | Touch Google Nest Mini like this: | Image |
Play, pause or stop media or end a current phone call |
Tap the center of the Nest Mini. |
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Stop a ringing alarm or timer |
Tap the center of the Nest Mini. |
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Turn up the volume |
Tap the right side of the Nest Mini. 10 total taps to reach maximum volume. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media is muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. To reverse controls, open the Home app |
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Turn down the volume |
Tap on the left side of the Nest Mini. 10 total taps mute all audio except your Google Assistant. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media is muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. To reverse controls, open the Home app |
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Turn mic on or off |
Toggle the mic on or off switch found next to the power cord. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. Note: If you turn off the microphone, it prevents Nest Mini from listening or responding. To interact by voice with Nest Mini, the microphone must be on. |
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Factory reset the device |
Turn the mic off, then press and hold the lights in the center of the Nest Mini. Hold for about 15 seconds. |
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Turn off power | Unplug the power cable from Nest Mini. | |
Start your request |
Note: You can't press and hold the top of the Nest Mini to start a request with your Assistant. Instead, say "Hey Google" to start your request. |
To do this: | Touch Google Home Mini like this: | Image |
Play, pause or stop media or end a current phone call |
Press and hold either side of Home Mini. |
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Stop a ringing alarm or timer |
Press and hold either side of Home Mini. |
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Turn up the volume |
Tap on right side of Home Mini. To reach maximum volume, tap to volume level 10. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. |
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Turn down the volume |
Press and hold left side of Home Mini. 10 total taps will mute all audio except your Google Assistant. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. |
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Turn mic on or off |
Toggle the mic on or off switch found next to the power cord. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. Note: If you turn off the microphone, it prevents Home Mini from listening or responding. To interact with Home Mini, the microphone must be on. |
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Factory reset the device |
Press and hold the factory reset button located below the power cord on the bottom of Home Mini. Find the circle etched into the base. Hold for about 12 seconds. |
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Turn off power | Unplug the power cable from Home Mini. | |
Start your request |
Note: You can't press and hold the top of Home Mini to start a request with your Assistant. Instead, say "Hey Google" to start your request. |
Google Home Max
To do this: | Touch Google Home Max like this: | Image |
Play, pause or stop media Stop a ringing alarm or timer End a call |
Horizontal placement: Tap the line located on the top of Max. Vertical placement: Tap the line located on the right side of Max. |
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Turn up the volume |
Horizontal placement: Swipe from left to right along the line located on the top of Max. Vertical placement: Swipe up along the line located on the right side of Max. |
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Turn down the volume |
Horizontal placement: Swipe from right to left along the line located on the top of Max. Vertical placement: Swipe down along the line located on the right side of Max. |
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Turn mic on or off |
Toggle the mic on or off switch located on the back of Max. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. You can’t use your voice or the Google Home app to turn on or off the mic. Note: When you turn off the microphone, it:
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Factory reset the device |
Press and hold the factory reset button located above the power cord on the back of Max. Find the small grey button. Hold for about 12 seconds. |
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Turn off power | Unplug the power cable from Max. |
Google Nest Audio
To do this: | Touch Google Nest Audio like this: | Image |
Play, pause or stop media or end a current phone call |
Tap the center of the Nest Audio. |
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Stop a ringing alarm or timer |
Tap the center of the Nest Audio. |
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Turn up the volume |
Tap the right side of the Nest Audio. 20 total taps will be maximum volume. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. |
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Turn down the volume |
Tap on the left side of the Nest Audio. 20 total taps will mute all audio except your Google Assistant. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. |
|
Turn mic on or off |
Toggle the mic on or off switch found next to the power cord. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. Note: If you turn off the microphone, it prevents Nest Audio from listening or responding. To interact by voice with Nest Audio, the microphone must be on. |
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Factory reset the device |
Turn the mic off, then press and hold the lights in the center of the Nest Audio. Hold for about 15 seconds. |
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Turn off power | Unplug the power cable from Nest Audio. | |
Start your request |
Note: You can't press and hold the top of the Nest Audio to start a request with your Assistant. Instead, say "Hey Google" to start your request. |
Google Nest Wifi point
To do this: |
Touch Nest Wifi point like this: |
Image |
Play, pause or stop media or end a current phone call |
Tap the center of the Nest Wifi point. |
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Stop a ringing alarm or timer |
Tap the center of the Nest Wifi point. |
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Turn up the volume |
Tap on the right side of the Nest Wifi point. 10 total taps will be maximum volume. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. |
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Turn down the volume |
Tap on the left side of the Nest Wifi point. 10 total taps will mute all audio except your Google Assistant. Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level. It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers. |
|
Turn mic on or off |
Toggle the mic on or off switch found next to the power cord. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. Note: If you turn off the microphone, it prevents Nest Wifi point from listening or responding. To interact by voice with your Nest Wifi point, the microphone must be on. |
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Turn off power |
Unplug the power cable from Nest Wifi point. |
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Start your request |
Note: You can't press and hold the top of a Nest Wifi point to start a request with your Assistant. Instead, say "Hey Google" to start your request. |
Displays
To do this: | Touch Google Nest Hub like this: | Image |
Turn up the volume | Press the upper volume button on the back of Google Nest Hub. | |
Turn down the volume | Press the lower volume button on the back of Google Nest Hub. |
Additional controls to manage the volume of multiple devices are available on your display. Learn more about multi-room controls.
To do this: | Touch Nest Hub Max like this: | Image |
Turn up the volume | Press the upper volume button on the back of Nest Hub Max. | |
Turn down the volume | Press the lower volume button on the back of Nest Hub Max. |
Additional controls to manage the volume of multiple devices are available on your display. Learn more about multi-room controls.
- Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
- Open the Google Home app
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- Tap Media
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- On your media controller, you will find the podcast that is currently playing. You can stop, pause, resume and adjust the volume of your speaker or display, the same way you control your music.
Troubleshooting
If your speaker or display doesn't play the podcast you requested, be more specific with your request by adding the title name. If this doesn’t work, check that podcasts weren’t disabled through Digital Wellbeing.
Related links
Change the volume of Google Nest and Google Home devices
Listen to music on Google Nest and Google Home devices
Listen to podcasts using the Google Podcast app
Download the Google Podcasts app on Android