With Google Nest and Google Home speakers and displays, you can listen to popular podcasts and shows on YouTube Music or Spotify from anywhere in your home.
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.
You can control access to content with the Digital Wellbeing settings in the Google Home app.
Use your voice to control podcasts and shows
| To do this: | Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
| Listen to a podcast | "Listen to [podcast name] on [podcast service]" "Play [podcast name] on [podcast service]" |
| Continue to listen to a podcast | "Continue listening to [podcast name]" "Play my podcast" |
| Listen to podcast by latest episode | "Listen to the latest episode of [podcast name]" |
| Listen to the next or previous episode | "Next episode" "Previous" "Skip" |
| Pause | "Pause" "Pause the podcast" |
| Resume | "Resume" "Continue playing" |
| Control volume | "Louder" "Set volume to 40%" |
| Stop | "Stop" "Stop the podcast" |
| What's playing (podcast) | "What's playing?" "What podcast is playing?" |
| Discover new podcasts | "Recommend a podcast" "Play a comedy podcast" "Find podcasts about investments" |
You can interact with Google Assistant on your speaker or display while you listen to a podcast. When you activate Google Assistant, the podcast will pause until you finish the interaction.
Other ways to control podcasts
From the Google device
Google Home and Nest Speakers
Important: Speaker touch controls change the volume of media and Google Assistant only. To change the volume of alarms and timers, use the Google Home app or the Quick settings menu on a Nest display.
Google Home
| To do this: | Touch Google Home like this: | Image |
Turn up the volume  |
Swipe clockwise on the top. |  |
| Turn down the volume |
Swipe counterclockwise on the top. Note: When the volume is set to 0:
|
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Start your request  |
Press and hold on the top. |  |
Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
To reverse right and left controls, open the Google Home app 
| To do this: | Touch Google Nest Mini like this: | Image |
| Pause, resume, or stop media |
Tap the center of the Nest Mini. |
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|
Turn up the volume |
Tap the right side of the Nest Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. |
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|
Turn down the volume |
Tap the left side of the Nest Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. Note: When the volume is set to 0:
|
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Google Home Mini (1st gen)
| To do this: | Touch Google Home Mini like this: | Image |
| Pause, resume, or stop media | Press and hold either side of the Home Mini. |  |
|
Turn up the volume |
Tap the right side of the Home Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. |
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|
Turn down the volume |
Press and hold the left side of the Home Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. Note: When the volume is set to 0:
|
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Google Home Max
| To do this: | Touch Google Home Max like this: | Image |
|
Pause, resume, or stop media |
Horizontal placement: Tap the line on the top. Vertical placement: Tap the line on the right side. |
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|
Turn up the volume |
Horizontal placement: Swipe from left to right along the line on the top. Vertical placement: Swipe up along the line on the right side. |
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|
Turn down the volume |
Horizontal placement: Swipe from right to left along the line on the top. Vertical placement: Swipe down along the line on the right side. Note: When the volume is set to 0:
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Google Nest Audio
| To do this: | Touch Google Nest Audio like this: | Image |
| Pause, resume, or stop media | Tap the center of the Nest Audio. |  |
|
Turn up the volume |
Tap the right side of the Nest Audio. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%. |
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|
Turn down the volume |
Tap the left side of the Nest Audio. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%. Note: When the volume is set to 0:
|
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Google Nest Wifi point
| To do this: | Touch Nest Wifi point like this: | Image |
| Pause, resume, or stop media | Tap the center of the Nest Wifi point. |  |
|
Turn up the volume |
Tap the right side of the Nest Wifi point. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. |
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Turn down the volume |
Tap the left side of the Nest Wifi point. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. Note: When the volume is set to 0:
|
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Google Nest displays
Important: To control the volume of alarms and timers, use the Quick settings menu. The volume button and media card adjust the volume of media and Google Assistant only.
Use the media card to pause, resume, play the previous or next song, or change the devices that are playing media.
Volume button
| To do this: | Touch Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max like this: | Image |
|
Turn up the volume |
On the back of the Nest display, press the upper volume button. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%. |
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|
Turn down the volume |
On the back of the Nest display, press the lower volume button. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%. Note: When the volume is set to 0:
|
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- To open the Quick settings menu, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Volume
.
- Use the main volume control slider
- If needed, tap Expand
to open the volume control slider for timers and alarms
.
- Use the main volume control slider
- To change the volume, swipe the slider left or right.
Media card
- To find the media card, swipe down from the top
tap Media.
- Note: If the screen shows the media that's playing, tap the screen instead.
- Use the controls on the card to pause, resume, or play the previous or next song.
- To open more controls, tap [display name]
. You’ll get a list of available devices and a volume control slider for each device that’s currently playing.
- To start or stop playing media on a device, tap the radio button next to its name.
- To change the volume on an active device, swipe its slider left or right.
Google Pixel Tablet (Hub Mode)
When you change the volume on your Pixel Tablet while it's docked, the volume on the speaker dock will also change.
Volume button
| To do this: | Touch Google Pixel Tablet like this: |
| Turn up the volume |
Press the side button closest to the power button. |
| Turn down the volume |
Press the side button that's farthest from the power button. |
Media widget
When media is playing in Hub Mode, you can control playback on your lock and Home screens by touch. A media widget will automatically appear with buttons to control what's playing
Some media apps have widgets you can add to your Home screen for easy touch control. Place the widget on your Home screen, then tap the widget to control the volume, pause playback, skip or change songs or podcasts, change the radio station, and more.
From the Google Home app
- Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Favorites
- Tap the current media session for:
- Playback controls
- Volume control (media and Google Assistant)
- Playback device selection
Troubleshooting
If your speaker or display doesn't play the podcast you requested, add more specific information, like the title or streaming service, to your request.
If you still don't get your podcast, check whether Filters are blocking podcasts or Downtime is turned on in Digital Wellbeing settings.
Related links
Control volume of Google Nest speakers and displays
Listen to music on Google Nest speakers and displays
Set and manage sleep timers on your Google Nest speaker or display