You can use voice commands to manage devices that you've added to the Google Home app. These can be media devices, speakers and displays, lights, thermostats, and much more.
To use a voice command on a Google Nest or Home speaker or display, you can say "Hey Google" or "OK Google" and then the command.
To use a voice command on your Chromecast with Google TV or Google TV Streamer (4K), press and hold the Voice Remote's microphone button and state the command. No need to say “Hey Google” or “OK Google.”
If you have Look and Talk (English only) or quick phrases (US English only) enabled on your Nest Hub Max, you can also activate Google Assistant without "Hey Google."
Tip: If Digital Wellbeing is enabled, this feature may be restricted or blocked by Downtime, Filters or Do not disturb. Learn more about Digital Wellbeing.
Learn how to ask your Assistant to do multiple things at once (US English only).
Listen to media
Tip: The voice commands listed below also apply to Google Cast-enabled apps.
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To do this: |
Say "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Play |
"Play” |
|
Control volume |
"Louder" |
|
Pause |
"Pause" |
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Resume |
"Resume" |
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Stop any media, Android audio or Chrome content playing on your speaker or display |
"Stop" |
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What’s playing (applicable for music, podcasts, radio, and news) |
"What's playing?" |
For more specific details about colume control on Google Nest speakers and displays, refer to Control volume of Google Nest speakers and displays.
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To do this: |
Say "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Request a song |
"Play [song name]" |
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Request an artist |
"Play [artist name]" |
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Request an album |
"Play [album name]" |
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Play music based on genre, mood, or activity |
"Play classical music" |
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Play personalized suggested content from chosen service |
"Play some music" |
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Shuffle |
"Shuffle" You can also use an artist or playlist name instead of an album name. |
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Play next song |
"Next" |
|
Play music on specific speakers, TVs, or displays added to your home in the Google Home app. Important: For this voice command, you must use compatible TVs:
Learn how to link your TV to your Google Nest or Home speaker or display. |
"Play music on my living room TV" |
|
Play music on a speaker group |
"Play music on [speaker group name]" Tip: To enable this feature, set up a speaker group in the Google Home app. |
Learn more on how to listen to music.
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Listen to a podcast |
"Listen to [podcast name] on [podcast service]" |
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Continue to listen to a podcast |
"Continue listening to [podcast name]" |
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Listen to podcast by latest episode |
"Listen to the latest episode of [podcast name]" |
|
Listen to the next or previous episode |
"Next episode" |
|
Discover new podcasts |
"Recommend a podcast" |
Learn more on how to listen to podcasts.
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To do this: |
Say "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Listen to the closest radio station by name, call-sign, or frequency Tip: Premium online radio streaming requires a subscription (available in the US and Canada only). |
"Play [radio station name]" |
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Listen to a radio station in another location |
"Play [radio station name] in [location]" |
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Listen to the last radio station or channel you played |
"Turn on the radio" |
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Listen to the last radio station or channel you played on a specific service |
"Play [radio service]" |
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Play radio on TV or speaker that works with Google Cast. |
"Play [radio station] on my [device name]" |
|
Play a nearby NPR station |
"Play NPR" |
Learn more on how to listen to radio.
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Listen to the latest news |
"Play me the news" |
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Listen to news from specific provider |
"Listen to (the news from) [provider name]" |
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Listen to news about a topic |
"Listen to news about NASA" |
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Listen to the latest news about a specific news category |
"What's the latest in sports?" |
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Change the playback speed |
"Play at 2x speed" |
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Play next news story |
"Next" |
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Rewind |
"Rewind" |
Learn more on how to listen to news.
Control TV or speakers
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
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Turn on subtitles or captions for videos, TV shows, or movies. |
"Turn on subtitles" |
|
Turn on subtitles or captions for videos, TV shows, or movies. |
"Turn off subtitles" |
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Turn on subtitles of a video, TV show, or movie for a specific language.
|
"Turn on [language] subtitles" |
|
To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
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Play music on a specific device by name Tip: To start, stop, and control music on a remote device, and "on [device's name]" to any of the basic voice commands. News and podcasts aren't supported. |
"Play [artist] using [music service] on [device name]" |
Learn more on how to play audio on speakers and TVs from your speaker or display.
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Play general videos from TV show, YouTube Channel, or artist |
"Play [artist] videos on [TV name]" |
|
Play specific videos or songs |
"Play [video name] trailer on [TV name]" |
|
Play videos by category |
"Play [topic] videos on [TV name]" |
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Control videos on a remote device. Tip: To do this, add "on [device name]" to any of the basic voice commands for music. |
"Pause on [device name]" |
Learn more on how to play video on TVs using your speaker or display.
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Open an app |
"Open [app name] on the TV" |
|
Play a specific channel |
"Play [channel] on TV" |
|
Search and play content |
"Search for [genre] movies" |
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Play TV series, TV show, or movie Tip: For TV series, each session usually starts where the previous session ended. For The CW, each session starts from the latest aired episode. Requests for specific episodes or seasons of a TV series aren't supported. |
"Watch [TV series] on [TV name]" |
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Play next episode or previous episode Tip: Some services don't support requests for next or previous episode. |
"Next episode on [TV name]" |
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Pause or resume or stop |
"Pause on [TV name]" |
|
Skip back |
"Skip back [time] on [TV name]" |
|
Turn on dubbing Tip: Dubbing switches the spoken language to a language of your choice. Some services don't support dubbing. |
"Dubbing on" |
|
Change dubbing to a language of your choice |
"Change language to [language]" |
Learn more on how to play TV shows and movies with your speaker or display.
Important: During group playback, volume commands only change the device you said the voice command to.
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Play music using group name |
"Play rock on [group name]" |
|
Control music using basic commands |
"Pause" |
|
Control volume of a device in a speaker group |
"Louder" |
Learn more on how to use multi-room group playback with your speaker or display.
|
To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Turn on set top box |
"Turn on [set top box name]" |
|
Change volume |
"Volume up on [set top box name]" |
|
Play a game on Xbox |
"Play [game] on Xbox" |
Control your home
Lights|
To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Turn on or turn off a light |
"Turn on or off [light name]" |
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Dim a light |
"Dim the [light name]" |
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Brighten a light |
"Brighten the [light name]" |
|
Set light brightness to a certain percentage |
"Set [light name] to 50%" |
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Dim or brighten lights by a certain percentage |
"Dim [light name] by 50%" |
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Change the color of a light (if multiple colors are available on your lights) |
"Turn [light name] green" |
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Turn all lights in room on or off |
"Turn on or off lights in [room name]" |
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Turn all lights on or off |
"Turn on all the lights" |
Learn more on how to connect and manage lights using your speaker or display.
|
To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|
Adjust the temperature |
"Make it warmer" |
|
Switch heating or cooling modes |
"Turn on the cooling" |
Learn more on how to connect and manage thermostats with Google Assistant.
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|
Turn plugs on or off |
"Turn on or off the [plug name]" |
|
Turn switch on or off |
"Turn on or off the [switch name]" |
Learn more on how to connect and manage plugs or switches using Google Assistant.
|
To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or Hey Google," then: |
|
Start stream |
"Show [camera name]" |
|
Stop stream |
"Stop [TV or Chromecast device name]" |
Learn more on how to stream and control security cameras.
Tip: You can't disarm using voice commands.
Manage alarms, timers and shopping lists
Alarms|
To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Set new alarm |
"Set alarm for 6 AM tomorrow" |
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Set an alarm with a name |
"Set an alarm for 7 AM called Medicine" |
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Set a recurring alarm |
"Set alarm for 7 AM every day of the week" |
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Ask about an existing alarm |
"When is my alarm set for?" |
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Ask about all alarms |
"What alarms are set?" |
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Cancel an existing alarm |
"Cancel my alarm" |
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Stop a ringing alarm |
"Stop" To stop an alarm, you don't need to say "Hey Google." Just say "Stop." (English language only) |
|
Snooze |
"Snooze for 10 minutes" |
Learn more on how to set up and manage alarms.
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To do this: |
Say "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Set a timer with or without a name |
"Set a timer for one minute" |
|
Find out time remaining on a timer with or without a name |
"How much time is left?" |
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Cancel a timer |
"Cancel timer" |
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Stop a ringing timer |
"Stop" To stop a timer, you don't need to say "Hey Google." Just say "Stop." (English language only) |
|
Pause timer |
"Pause timer" |
|
Resume timer |
"Resume timer" |
Learn more on how to set up and manage timers.
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To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Add item to list |
"Add paper towels to my shopping list" |
|
Add multiple items to list |
"Add paper towels and batteries to my shopping list" |
|
Ask what's on list |
"What's on my shopping list?" |
Learn more on how to create and manage shopping lists.
Fix a problem
Check these things first
- Is your speaker or display and smart device plugged into a wall outlet and powered on?
- Are your speaker or display and other smart devices set up on the same Wi-Fi network?
- Are you using the same Google Account on your mobile device and in the Google Home app?
- Open the Google Home app
.
- At the top right, tap your account.
- Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your Google device. If correct, tap Close
to exit the account window. To switch accounts, tap the drop down
another account or Add another account.
- Open the Google Home app
- Are you in the same room as the device you’re using for voice commands?
.
another account or Add another account.If you add, update, or change a device in the partner app and can't find the device in the Google Home app, try to sync the smart home control device and your speaker or display.
To sync your devices in the Google Home app:
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap your account.
- Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your Google device. If correct, tap Close
-
Resync your linked smart home devices with the Google Home app. You can either:
-
Tap Devices
and swipe down with your finger on the screen.
-
Tap Settings
-
-
There will be a spinning circle. The sync is complete when the circle disappears.
-
Tap Devices
and swipe down with your finger on the screen.
To sync your devices with your voice:
Important:
-
You need to set up some devices in the manufacturer's app and the Google Home app. Use the correct setup instructions for your device.
-
If you sync multiple devices at once, you may receive a timeout error.
|
To do this: |
Say "Hey Google" or "Ok Google," then: |
|
Sync all devices |
"Sync my devices." |
|
Sync a device type |
"Sync my lights." |
To fix the issue, you can try to rename your device.
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Open the Google Home app
-
Tap Settings
.
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Under "Devices, groups & rooms", tap your device's tile.
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Tap Name or Device information
Tips for renaming your device:
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Don't include numbers, special characters, or room names.
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Avoid similar names (for example, "Table light left" and "Table light right").