Listen to music

Important: The languages you can use depend on the device. Learn which languages work on your device.

Try these commands

Play music

Important: This feature may vary per device. Not all commands work with all devices. Check the owner's manual of your device for details.

Change the volume

Choose your default music service

Important: In August 2020, Google Play Music may shut down some of its services and in September 2020, access to Google Play Music might not be available for some users. If Google Play Music is your default service, make sure to update it. Learn how to transfer your Google Play Music account to YouTube Music.
 

Important: Some services require you to sign in to your Google Account.

Speakers, Smart Displays, Smart Clocks & TV devices

Customize your news preferences

To choose your news preferences, you can go to Google Assistant settings on your phone or tablet.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Assistant app ​.

2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial  Settings.

3. Under "You," tap News.

4. Add or remove news sources.

5. To decide which news sources you hear first, tap and hold the news source you want and drag it to the top.

Change your news playlist format

Important: This feature is only available in the US.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Assistant app ​.
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial Settings.
3. Under "You," tap News.
4. To decide which news format you prefer, tap Change news playlist format.

 

Listen to news or podcasts

Important: Some features aren't available in all languages, countries or regions, or eligible Android devices.

You can ask Google Assistant to play your favorite news stations and podcasts.

1. To talk to your Assistant, say "Hey Google" or press the button.
2. Give a command, for example:

Play the news

• Listen to the news.
• Tell me the news.
• What’s the latest in technology?
• Listen to [the news source name].
• News about the Olympics.

Play a podcast

• Listen to [podcast name].
• Play [podcast name].
• Listen to the latest episode of [podcast name].
• Listen to a comedy podcast.
• Find me a podcast about cooking.
• Show me a podcast about cryptocurrency.
• Recommend me a podcast.

Tip: For speakers, Smart Displays, and Smart Clocks that you set up, you can manage access to news and podcasts in Digital Wellbeing settings. Learn how to manage use of your Google Assistant device.

Browse recommendations for you

On Smart Displays, you can get podcast recommendations based on your web and app activity from other Google products. You also get an explanation of why a specific suggestion was made for you. To hide a podcast recommendation, tap Description .

Tip: If you don’t want to get podcast recommendations, learn how to manage personal results on your shared devices.

Hide a recommendation

Listen to radio

Important: Some features aren't available in all languages, countries or regions, or eligible Android devices.

You can ask Google Assistant on your speaker, Smart Display, Smart Clock, or car to play radio stations by name or location.

1. Say "Hey Google" or press the button to talk to the Assistant.
2. Give a command.

Try these commands

Play

• Station name: “Play ESPN Radio.” “Play Mega 97.9 FM.” “Play Mega 97.9 on iHeartRadio.”

• Frequency: “Play 98.5.”

• Call sign: “Play KQED.” “Play KFOG.”
• Location: “Play Z100 in New York.”
• Nearby NPR station: “Play NPR.”
• Find info: “What’s playing?”

Control what's playing

• To pause or stop:
  • “Pause.”
  • “Stop.”
  • “Stop the radio.”
• To resume:
  • “ Resume.”
  • “Continue playing.”

Control radio from the Google Home app

If you use Assistant on a speaker, Smart Display, or Smart Clock, you can change the volume in the Google Home app.

1. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app .
2. At the bottom, tap Home .
3. Tap your device  Change the volume.

Listen to audiobooks

Important: The languages you can use depend on the device. Learn which languages work on your device.

You can ask your Google Assistant to play your audiobooks.

1. Buy an audiobook. Learn how to buy a book on Google Play Books.
2. Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then say a command. Find some examples below.

This feature doesn't work on Bose or Sonos speakers that have Google Assistant.

Play

• A book: "Read [book title]."
• Continue your most recent book: "Read my book."

Control what’s playing

• Pause or stop: "Pause." "Stop."

• Resume: "Resume." "Continue."

• Go forward: "Skip [amount of time]." "Next chapter."
• Go backward: "Go back [amount of time]." "Previous chapter."
• Find info: "Who wrote this?" "How much time is left?"

Control audiobooks from the Google Home app

When you use your Google Assistant on a speaker, Smart Display, or Smart Clock, you can change the volume in the Google Home app.

1. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app .
2. At the bottom, tap Home .
3. Tap your device  Pause, Play, or Change the volume.