Use Google Pixel Buds to receive and respond to incoming messages, emails, and important calendar events on the go.
Important: Google Assistant on Pixel Buds requires an Assistant-enabled Android 6.0+ device, Google Account, and an internet connection. Data rates may apply. See minimum requirements.
Before you start
You’ll need to enable access to your notifications. To enable notifications:
- Open your Android settings.
- Tap Apps & notifications
Advanced
Special app access
Notification access
Google.
- Move the slider to the right for Google to allow Google Notification access.
You also need to turn on your Spoken Notifications from the Pixel Buds settings menu:
- Pixel: Go to your phone’s Settings
Connected devices
Pixel Bud's settings
.
- Other Androids: Open your Google Pixel Buds app
.
- Select Assistant & notifications.
- Tap Spoken notifications.
- Toggle Spoken notifications on
.
- In the apps list, choose which apps you want to hear notifications from by moving their slider to the right.
Hear your notifications
When you wear Pixel Buds, your Assistant can automatically alert you of notifications as soon as your phone receives them. For important notifications, a chime will play and a summary of the notification will be read.
To hear the full message, touch and hold your earbud until you hear a chime, then let go.
If you don't take action on a notification, your Assistant will play a chime for subsequent messages from the same sender, but it won't read the summaries.
You can choose to stop your Assistant at any time by tapping either earbud.
Reply to your notifications
To reply to a text notification, wait for your Assistant to finish reading you the message, then touch and hold either earbud when prompted and begin speaking.
Types of notifications
Messages
Your Assistant will read your latest messages back to you and prompt you to respond if you'd like.
Emails
If you're too busy to go through your recent emails, your Assistant will read their subject line to you while you're on the go.
Calendar Events
If a meeting or an event on your calendar gets rescheduled, your Assistant will update you of the new notifications of changes.
Traffic Updates
Your Assistant will alert you to any notifications of accidents or detours that may extend your usual commute so you can plan accordingly.
Flight Changes
If you're in a hurry to make your flight, your Assistant will inform you of any changes made to your departure time.
Pixel Buds (Gen 1)
With the Google Pixel Buds, your Assistant can give you updates on your daily itinerary, recent messages, emails, or calendar events without you having to look at your phone.
Note: Notifications must be enabled in the Assistant settings menu in order for this feature to work. You will also need to grant the Google app access to your notifications. Notifications may not work with all apps.
Spoken Notifications
When you are wearing your Pixel Buds, the Google Assistant will tell you when you have a notification as the phone receives them. For important notifications, a chime will play and a summary of the notification will be read.
You can choose to hear the full message by double tapping the right earbud. If you don't take action on a notification, your Assistant will temporarily play a chime for subsequent messages from the same sender and not read the summaries.
Getting Notifications
To hear notifications, simply double tap the right earbud. Your Assistant will then read the notifications you may have missed within the last hour. You can choose to stop your Assistant at any time by double tapping the right earbud.
Replying to Notifications
To reply to a text notification, wait for your Assistant to finish reading you the message, then touch and hold the right earbud when prompted and begin speaking.
Note: Google Pixel Buds do not currently support replying to SMS text messages.
Examples of important notifications
Messages
You Assistant will read your latest messages back to you and prompt you to respond if you'd like.
Emails
If you're too busy to sit and sift through your recent emails, your Assistant will read them to you while you're on the go.
Calendar Events
If a meeting or an event on your calendar gets rescheduled, your Assistant will let you know so you can arrive right on time.
Traffic Updates
Your Assistant will notify you of any accidents or detours that may extend your usual commute so you can plan accordingly.
Flight Changes
If you're in a hurry to make your flight, your Assistant will inform you of any changes made to your departure time.
Configuring Notifications
To manage your spoken notifications, navigate to your Pixel Buds settings by opening your Assistant.
To open your Assistant, press and hold the home button on your Android phone.
With your Assistant open, tap Headphones Settings.
You will then be able to move the "Spoken notifications" slider to the right to enable spoken notifications .
Enabling Notifications after initial setup
If you didn't enable notifications from the Google app in the initial setup, you can do so by navigating to Android settings.
To do so, open Android Settings then tap
Notification access
Google.
You will then be able to move the slider to the right to allow Google Notification Access.