Enjoy music from popular music services by artist, song, genre, album, playlist, mood or activity.
Whether a single person or multiple people are using a Google Nest or Home speaker or display, each person can link a single account only per streaming service. Learn how to link your music services and set your default service.
You'll get different music based on the content provider and your subscription.
- YouTube Music*, Spotify*, Pandora*: You'll get a station of songs inspired by the song, album or artist you requested.
- YouTube Premium*, YouTube Music Premium*, Spotify Premium*, Apple Music*, Pandora Premium*, Deezer Premium*: You'll get specific songs, albums or artists along with music based on genre, mood or activity or your personal playlists.
Basic voice commands for all content providers
| To do this: | Say "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
| Request a song | "Play [song name]" "Play [song name] by [artist name]" "Play [song name] from [album name]" "Play [song name] on [music service]" "Play songs like [song name]" |
| Request an artist | "Play [artist name]" "Play music by [artist name]" "Play [artist name] on [music service]" "Play songs like [artist name]" |
| Request an album | "Play [album name]" "Play [album name] by [artist name]" "Play [album name] by [artist name] on [music service]" |
| Play music based on genre, mood, or activity | "Play classical music" "Play happy music" "Play music for cooking" "Play [genre] on [music service]" |
| Play personalized suggested content from chosen service | "Play some music" "Play [genre] music on [music service]" |
|
Shuffle |
"Shuffle" You can also use an artist or playlist name instead of an album name. |
| Pause | "Pause" "Pause the music" |
| Resume | "Resume" "Continue playing" |
| Stop | "Stop" "Stop the music" |
| Play next song | "Next" "Skip" "Next song" |
| What's playing | "What's playing?" "What song is playing?" "What artist is playing?" |
| Control volume | "Louder" "Set volume to 40%" |
|
Play music on your speakers, TV, or video device Note: You must use a Google streaming device, TV that works with Google Cast, or Assistant built-in TV that is linked to 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]" Note: Set up a speaker group in the Google Home app to enable this feature. |
Advanced voice commands for subscription services
YouTube Music and YouTube Music Premium*
To listen to YouTube Music on your speaker or display, you must link your YouTube Music account. There are a couple of ways to listen to music using YouTube Music.
Personal results allow you to play your personal playlists, check your liked songs, and access your music library content on your devices. Learn more about personal results and how to turn them on.
YouTube Music Premium
If you have a YouTube Music Premium account,you can play content on demand. You can get specific songs and albums along with music based on genre, mood or activity, and YouTube Music's curated playlists.
YouTube Music
If you don't have a YouTube Music Premium account, you'll get a station of songs inspired by the song, album, or artist you asked for. You can't get specific songs, or albums on demand, but you can ask for music based on genre, mood or activity, or for YouTube Music's curated playlists.
What you'll get
Here's what to expect if you use YouTube Music vs YouTube Music Premium:
|
|
YouTube Music on speakers or displays, smart speakers, or audio groups will play: |
YouTube Music Premium on speakers or displays, smart speakers, or audio groups will play: |
|---|---|---|
|
Request a song |
Station of songs inspired by the requested song |
Requested song |
|
Request an album |
Station of songs inspired by the requested album |
Requested album |
|
Request a YouTube Music-generated playlist |
The requested and closely related playlists on shuffle |
Requested playlist |
| Request a personal playlist | Station of songs inspired by your requested playlist | Requested playlist |
|
Play uploaded music |
Not supported |
Music or album from your library (Personal results must be turned on.) |
|
Play your liked songs |
Speakers: A station inspired by your liked music Smart Displays: Liked playlist with ads (Personal results must be turned on.) |
Liked playlist (Personal results must be turned on.) |
|
Play a previous song |
Not supported |
Supported |
|
Repeat a song or skip within a song |
Not supported |
Supported |
Your speaker or display may take several hours to recognize a newly-created private playlist.
Advanced voice commands
In addition to basic voice commands, you can use these advanced commands when you listen to YouTube Music Premium.
| To do this: | Say "Hey Google," then: |
|
Like or dislike a song |
"I like this song," "Thumbs up," or "I dislike this song," "Thumbs down" |
|
Like or dislike the current station |
"Save this station," "Follow this station," or "Unsave this station," "Unfollow this station" |
|
Play your liked songs |
"Play my liked songs," "Play my liked music," or "Play my thumbs up" |
|
Play a public playlist |
"Play top 100 songs" or "Play [playlist name]" |
| Play a personal playlist |
"Play my [named playlist]" |
| Play uploaded music |
"Play [song name] from my library" |
| Play previous song |
"Back" or "Previous" |
|
Skip forward |
"Skip forward [X] seconds" |
|
Shuffle |
"Shuffle" |
|
Repeat song |
"Play it again" or "Play this song again" |
Spotify and Spotify Premium*
To listen to Spotify on your speaker or display, you must link your Spotify account. There are a couple of ways to listen to music using Spotify.
Spotify Premium
If you have a Spotify Premium account, you can play content on demand. You can get specific songs, albums or artists along with music based on genre, mood or activity. Spotify's curated playlists, and your personal playlists.
Spotify
If you don't have a Spotify Premium account, you'll get a station of songs inspired by the song, album, artist or personal playlists you asked for. You can't get specific songs, albums, artists or personal playlists on demand, but you can ask for music based on genre, mood or activity, or for Spotify-curated playlists.
Spotify also offers different listening experiences if you cast to TVs or speakers, which give you more ways to enjoy your music. You can also play audio on multiple devices or manage your TV and speakers that work with Google Cast.
What you'll get
Here's what to expect if you use Spotify vs Spotify Premium on a specific device:
| Spotify on your speaker or display or audio group will play: | Spotify on audio devices that work with Google Cast (Example: Chromecast Audio) will play: | Spotify on video devices that work with Google Cast (Example: Google streaming device) will play: |
Spotify Premium on |
|
| Request a song | Station of songs inspired by the requested song | Station of songs inspired by the requested song | Requested song | Requested song |
| Request an album | Station of songs inspired by the requested album | Station of songs inspired by the requested album | Requested song | Requested song |
| Request an artist | Station of songs inspired by the requested artist | A shuffle of the artist songs | Tops songs from the artist | Tops songs from the artist |
|
Request a Spotify curated playlist, like Discover Weekly |
The requested playlist on shuffle | Requested playlist on shuffle | Requested playlist | Requested playlist |
|
Request a personal playlist on Spotify |
Station of songs inspired by the playlist | Playlist on shuffle | Requested playlist | Requested playlist |
| Playing a previous song | Not supported | Not supported | Supported | Supported |
| Repeat a song or skip within a song | Not supported | Not supported | Supported | Supported |
Advanced voice commands
In addition to basic voice commands, you can use these advanced commands when you listen to Spotify or Premium.
| To do this: | Say "Hey Google," then: |
| Play your liked songs from your Spotify library | "Play my songs" or "Play my library" |
|
Play playlist Play playlist pre-shuffled |
"Play Discover Weekly" or "Play [playlist name]" "Shuffle Discover Weekly" or "Play [playlist name] on shuffle" |
|
Play personal playlist Shuffle personal playlist |
"Play [named playlist]" "Shuffle [named playlist]" |
| Like or dislike a song |
"I like this song" or "I dislike this song" "Thumbs up" or "Thumbs down" |
| Like or dislike the current playlist, album, or artist |
"Save this playlist" or "Unsave this playlist" "Follow this playlist" or "Unfollow this playlist" You can also say "this album" or "this artist" instead of "this playlist" |
| Play previous song | "Back" or "Previous" |
| Skip forward | "Skip forward [X] seconds" |
| Shuffle | "Shuffle" |
| Repeat song | "Play it again" or "Play this song again" |
| Play playlist in a loop | "Repeat on" or "Repeat off" |
It may take your speaker or display several hours to recognize a newly-created private playlist.
To listen to Apple Music on your speaker or display, you must link your Google Account with your Apple Music account. Note: An Apple Music subscription is required to play music using speakers and displays.
You can get specific songs, albums or artists along with music based on genre, mood or activity, Apple Music’s curated playlists, and your personal playlists.
Advanced voice commands
In addition to basic voice commands, you can use these advanced commands when you listen to Apple Music.
|
To do this: |
Say "Hey Google," then: |
|
Play your liked songs from your Apple Music library |
"Play my songs" or "Play my library" |
|
Play playlist Play playlist pre-shuffled |
"Play New Music Daily" or "Play [playlist name]" "Shuffle New Music Daily" or "Play [playlist name] on shuffle" |
|
Play personal playlist Shuffle personal playlist |
"Play [named playlist]" "Shuffle [named playlist]" |
|
Like or dislike a song |
"I like this song" or "I dislike this song" "Thumbs up" or "Thumbs down" |
|
Like or dislike the current playlist, album, or artist |
"Save this playlist" or "Unsave this playlist" "Follow this playlist" or "Unfollow this playlist" You can also say "this album" or "this artist" instead of "this playlist." |
|
Play previous song |
"Back" or "Previous" |
|
Skip forward |
"Skip forward [X] seconds" |
|
Shuffle |
"Shuffle" |
|
Repeat song |
"Play it again" or "Play this song again" |
|
Play playlist in a loop |
"Repeat on" or "Repeat off" |
Pandora and Pandora Premium (US only)*
Pandora is only available in the US.
Pandora
You'll get a station of songs inspired by or similar to the song, album, artist or genre you selected. You can't request specific songs, artists or albums. Ads will play occasionally between songs.
Pandora Premium
You can request specific songs. From a mobile device or computer, you can also create fully customizable playlists that can be played on your speaker or display. Your listening experience won't be interrupted by ads. Music will play at higher quality.
To listen to Pandora on your speaker or display, you must link your Pandora account.
| When you say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
Pandora |
Pandora Premium |
| "Play my shuffle," "Play my shuffle radio" | Play personalized radio from Pandora | Play personalized radio from Pandora |
|
"Play my Thumbprint radio" Note: To play your thumbprint radio, you must have saved several stations and thumbed up several songs in order for Pandora to understand what you like. |
Play personalized radio based on songs you've thumbed on Pandora | Play personalized radio based on songs you've thumbed on Pandora |
|
"Play Radioactive by Imagine Dragons" |
A station that plays similar songs by related artists will be created | Pandora will play your song, followed by playlist of similar songs |
| "Play Hardwired by Metallica" | A station will be created that plays songs similar to songs found on the album | Pandora will play the album you requested |
| "Play Beyoncé" | A station that plays the artist and related artists will be created | Pandora will shuffle songs by the artist |
| "Play classic country", "Play [Pandora station name]" | The station will be played | The station or playlist will be played |
| "Thumbs up," "Thumbs down," "I like this song" | Like or dislike a song from Pandora | Like or dislike a song from Pandora |
Deezer (Premium and Family)
| To do this: | Say "Hey Google," then: |
| Play your Flow | "Play my Flow" |
| Play curated playlist from your library | "Play [named playlist]" |
| Play album | "Play [named album]" |
| Play previous song | "Back" or "Previous" |
| Skip forward | "Skip forward [X] seconds" |
| Shuffle | "Shuffle" |
| Repeat song | "Play it again," "Play this song again" or "Repeat the song" |
Listen to music with Voice Match
If you've set up Voice Match, guests and housemates won't be able to access your library content.
If you haven't set up Voice Match, guests and housemates can access music from your library.
Learn about Voice Match and media on shared Google Nest or Home devices.
Other ways to control music
When music is playing, you can control it from your speaker or display. You can also start and control music from the Google Home app.
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:
|
 |
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. |
 |
|
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%. |
 |
|
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:
|
 |
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%. |
 |
|
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:
|
 |
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. |
  |
|
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. |
  |
|
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:
|
|
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%. |
 |
|
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:
|
 |
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%. |
 |
|
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:
|
 |
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%. |
 |
|
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:
|
 |
- 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
- Make sure your music provider accounts are linked to your speaker or display.
- If you're not getting the music you expect, be more specific with your request.
- Add "...by [Artist]" to your request. (Example: "Hey Google, play a song by Taylor Swift.")
- Add "... [album, playlist, or song name]" to your request. (Example: "Hey Google,play my morning rock playlist.")
- If you want to listen to music that's not from your default service, add "...on [music service]" to your request.
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