Get help from Google Assistant on Google Pixel Buds

To get ideas, ask "What can you do?" Your Assistant can help you:

Check on your Pixel Buds

• Battery level: What's the battery on my earbuds?

Change settings

• Toggle touch controls: Turn on or off touch controls.

Control music

• Music: Play my workout playlist. (Subscription may be required)
• Podcasts: Play [podcast name] podcast. (Requires podcast approval and subscription may be required)
• Volume: Turn up the volume.

Keep in touch

• SMS: Text Michelle "Be there in 5 minutes".
• Calls: Call Mom

Get directions and answers

• Traffic: How's traffic on the way to work? (Requires location enabled)
• Food: Are there any coffee shops nearby? (Requires location enabled)
• Navigation: Navigate me to [airport name]. (Requires location enabled)
• Weather: What's the weather like tomorrow? (Requires location enabled)
• Info: How many pounds are in one dollar?

Manage your plans

• Reminders: Remember the door code is 1234.
• Timers: Set a timer for 30 minutes.
• Shopping lists: Add coffee to my shopping list.
• Schedule: When is my next meeting?
• Events: Add an event "Lunch with Michelle" for 12:30pm tomorrow.

Translation

• Talk with someone: Help me speak Chinese.

• Understand someone: Ayúdame a entender inglés. (Available in select languages)

  • German - Hilf mir, Englisch zu verstehen
  • Spanish - Ayúdame a entender inglés
  • French - Aide-moi à comprendre l’anglais
  • Italian - Aiutami a capire l'inglese
  Learn more about this feature in the Translate Help Center.

Assistant can perform specific tasks without the voice prompt, "Hey, Google." For example, to snooze an alarm, you can say "Snooze," or to decline a call hands-free, you can say "Decline."

Important: This feature is only available:

• In English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. More languages are coming soon.
• On Pixel Buds Pro, Pixel 6 and later, including Fold, when you have one language selected.

Learn how to change your Google Assistant language.

1. On your Pixel, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings."
2. Tap Quick phrases.
3. On the right, tap the slider to turn each quick phrase scenario on or off.

If you turn on Quick phrases for incoming calls, calls might sometimes connect unintentionally. For example:

• If you say "answer" when you're not aware that your phone is ringing, or if it's on silent
• If other voices say "answer"
• If the Google Assistant detects something that sounds similar to "answer"

If Google Assistant is set up and you’re on an Android phone, you can ask your Google Assistant to play some music for you. To request media through the Google Assistant, touch and hold either earbud or say "Hey Google."

Example: "Play rock music"

If you haven't chosen a preferred media service, your Google Assistant will ask you to select a service the first time you request music. After that, it will begin playing your media. For more information on selecting a preferred music service, refer to Listen to music. Subscriptions and fees may apply.

Music services supported by the Google Assistant include:

• Spotify
• YouTube
• YouTube Music

Radio services supported by the Google Assistant include:

• iHeartRadio
• TuneIn

Here are some other ways you can use the Assistant while listening to audio:

• "Play some pop music"
• "Louder / Quieter"
• "Increase / Decrease Volume"
• "Next"
• "Stop / Start"
• "Tell me the latest news"
• "What song is this?"

Assistant is announcing my phone notifications too much or not enough

Learn how to manage your Google Assistant notifications

Touch and hold is not activating Assistant

• If you hear nothing, check to make sure that touch controls are turned on
• If you hear a double chime, you may need to reconnect Assistant by replacing your earbuds in their case and taking them back out again

"Hey Google" is not activating the Assistant

1. Make sure that Google Assistant is on and can recognize your voice by using the steps in Access Google Assistant with your voice.
2. Additionally, try the following:
   1. Put your Pixel Buds in the charging case.
   2. Restart your device and wait five minutes after restarting.
   3. If the Assistant still doesn't activate, take your Pixel Buds out of the charging case and confirm that they are connected to your device.
   4. Go to your device's settings and tap Apps Assistant See all Assistant settings Devices Pixel Buds.
   5. Turn on Say "Hey Google". 

This is only available if you configure at least one earbud’s touch and hold gesture to Assistant. You can find this setting by going to your Pixel Buds settings and tapping Touch controls. Learn controls for Google Pixel Buds

Assistant does not provide information about my account, like my emails or text messages

Control personal results on your earbuds

_{Requires a Google Assistant-enabled Android 6.0+ device, Google Account, and an internet connection. Data rates may apply. Translation isn't instantaneous. For available languages go to g.co/pixelbuds/help}

Start a conversation

1. On your Pixel Buds, touch and hold the right earbud.
2. Ask your Google Assistant for help — No need to say "Hey Google" first.