Short guide:
- To start Google Assistant, say “OK Google”, press and hold the Home button, or swipe diagonally upwards from the bottom corners of the screen.
- Now speak your query. Google Assistant will respond with spoken and visual feedback.
- To find out more about Google Assistant's uses, ask “what can you do?”
- To create a calendar event, start Google Assistant and say “New calendar event”. Follow the Assistant’s prompts.
- To type queries and commands, tap the keyboard button in the bottom-right corner.
- To see Google Assistant’s settings, simple say or type “Google Assistant settings”.
Before and after
This section explains how to use Google Assistant in Android 13. This is a step-by-step guide with pictures of the screens to help.
Launching Google Assistant
1. To start Google Assistant, say “OK Google.” On devices with navigation buttons, you can also press and hold the Home button. On devices with gesture controls, swipe diagonally upwards from the bottom-left or bottom-right corners of the screen.
Questions and commands
2. Now speak your query. It will appear as text on the screen. When you have finished, Google Assistant will respond with spoken and visual feedback.
You can ask Google Assistant to perform a wide variety of tasks on your device, including:
- Make calls (for example “OK Google, Call Mum”). You'll need to have anyone you're calling set up as a contact first.
- Send text messages (for example “OK Google, send a text”)
- Set calendar events and reminders (for example “OK Google, set a reminder”)
- Set alarms and timers (for example “OK Google, set an alarm/timer”)
- Get weather forecasts (for example “OK Google, what’s the weather like?”)
- Get directions on Google Maps (for example “OK Google, navigate to … “)
- Perform calculations (for example “OK Google, what is 28lbs in kilograms?”)
- Give translations (for example “OK Google, how do you say ‘Hello’ in Italian?”)
- Open apps (for example “OK Google, open Twitter.”)
- Open Accessibility options (“OK Google, open accessibility options”)
- Change setting on your device such as changing the brightness and volume or toggling Wi-Fi on or off. (for example “OK Google, turn up the volume.”)
- Perform web searches (“OK Google, who is …”)
- Play music from particular artists, songs or albums (for example “OK Google. Play Elbow.”)
- Play videos on YouTube (for example “OK Google, play AbilityNet videos on YouTube.”)
- Control any smart home devices you may have (for example “OK Google, turn on the lights in the lounge.”)
You can also ask follow-up queries to requests. For instance, if you ask for directions you can follow up with a question such as “What will the weather be like there?”
Find out what else Google Assistant can do
3. To find out more about what Google’s digital assistant can help you with, start the Google Assistant, then ask “what can you do?” Google Assistant will show you a list of tasks it can perform. You can select any item in the list to see more details.
Create a calendar event
4. To create a calendar event, start Google Assistant and say "New calendar event". Google Assistant will ask you to give a title for the event.
Set a date and time
5. Next, you will be asked for the date and time of the event.
Review and confirm
6. Finally, Google Assistant will show you review of the details you have provided and will ask if you would like to save the event. Say "Yes" and Google Assistant will create a calendar event and give you spoken and visual confirmation.
Typing queries and commands
7. You can also type queries in Google Assistant. Start it up and tap the keyboard icon in the bottom-right corner of the Google Assistant window. Here we've entered a reminder. You don't need to type full questions or commands, as Google Assistant will usually work them out from a few keywords.
Getting a visual response
8. Google Assistant will give you visual confirmation that the reminder has been created. Note: When you type your query Google Assistant does not provide spoken feedback. You can also type to open apps and settings.For example, you can type “Open Accessibility Settings”.
See the Google Assistant settings
9. To see Google Assistant’s settings, simple say or type “Google Assistant settings”. Here you can set up Google’s Voice Match if your voice isn’t always recognised, and enable the power button to be used as a Google Assistant shortcut. For more settings, tap See all Assistant settings.
Adjusting settings
10. Scroll down below your profile picture and you can see additional settings for using Google Assistant from the lock screen, setting reminders and creating useful routines – a series of actions you can trigger through a voice command.
Note: we have written these instructions for devices running the standard version of the Android operating system. You may find some minor presentation differences if the manufacturer has customised the theme.
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