Get help from Google Assistant on Google Pixel Buds

Your Google Pixel Buds allow you to get hands-free help from Google Assistant, making them the perfect companion to stay connected wherever you may be. Whether you are on the go and want to control music, get directions and manage your to-do lists, or you are at home and need a moment to disconnect, your Assistant on Pixel Buds is always ready to help.

How to use Google Assistant with Google Pixel Buds Pro | Google Pixel Buds Pro

What you'll need

Turn on Google Assistant

To talk to your Assistant, just say 'Hey Google', or touch and hold either earbud, wait for the chime, then continue touching the earbud while you ask your question.

For Google Pixel Buds Pro, the default touch and hold gesture will toggle between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency. You can customise this gesture in the 'Touch controls' settings to activate Assistant.

Examples of what you can ask

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 off/on 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 five minutes'.
• Calls: Call Mum

Get directions and answers

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

Manage your plans

• Reminders: Remember that 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 12.30 p.m. tomorrow.

Translation

• Talk to 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 Centre.

Complete tasks without "Hey, Google"

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".

Request media

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 that you request music. After that, it will begin playing your media. For more information on selecting a preferred music service, go here. Subscriptions and fees may apply.

Music services supported by Google Assistant include:

• Spotify
• YouTube
• YouTube Music

Radio services supported by the Google Assistant include:

• iHeartRadio
• TuneIn

Basic voice commands

Here are some other ways that 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?'

Troubleshooting

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 recognise your voice by using the steps in Access Google Assistant with your voice.
2. In addition, 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'.

The Assistant isn't telling me about new notifications

This is only available if you configure at least one earbud 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 is not instantaneous. For available languages go to g.co/pixelbuds/help}

Integrate media services

You can link other media apps in your Assistant.