Get notified by Google Pixel Buds

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: 

1. Open your Android settings.
2. Tap Apps & notifications Advanced Special app access Notification access Google.
3. 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: 

1. Pixel: Go to your phone’s Settings Connected devices Pixel Bud's settings .
2. Other Androids: Open your Google Pixel Buds app .
3. Select Assistant & notifications. 
4. Tap Spoken notifications. 
5. Toggle Spoken notifications on . 
6. 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.

The Google Assistant on Google Pixel Buds is only available on Android and requires an Assistant-enabled Android device and data connection. Data rates may apply. For minimum requirements, go here. A Google account is required for full access to features. 

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.

Internet connection required. Fees may apply.

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.