You can listen to music, news, podcasts, and radio on your Pixel Tablet with a variety of apps and services available in the Google Play Store .
You can also link apps and services to Google Assistant and control playback with on-screen controls or voice commands when your tablet is locked or in Hub Mode.
- To dock your Pixel Tablet and use Hub Mode, you need a Charging Speaker Dock.
- You might need to unlock the tablet before you can use Google Assistant voice commands to play news, radio, podcasts, or other media from certain apps and services.
- When you download the Gemini mobile app and set up Gemini as your primary assistant, it will replace Google Assistant when your tablet is unlocked. Your Pixel Tablet will continue to use Google Assistant when locked, including in Hub Mode.
- If a feature you rely on isn’t supported in your Gemini mobile app, you can switch back to Google Assistant. Learn how to switch back to Google Assistant.
How to listen to media on your Pixel Tablet
You can listen to music, news, podcasts, and radio by installing your favorite apps or using Google Assistant.
Install your favorite apps to listen to media
Use Google Assistant to listen to media in Hub Mode
Some streaming apps and services are compatible with Google Assistant, so you can use "Hey Google" to play media when your Pixel Tablet is locked or in Hub Mode.
To use Google Assistant to listen to media when your tablet is locked and docked in Hub Mode:
- Open your device's Settings app
.
- Tap Hub Mode
Assistant.
- Turn on Use Assistant to play music, movies, and more when your tablet is locked.
- To turn off this setting, tap it again.
.
Assistant.Tip: You need to link your media services in your Assistant settings to use this feature.
Use the Gemini mobile app to listen to media when your tablet is unlocked
When you download the Gemini mobile app and set up the Gemini as your primary assistant, Gemini can play and control certain media when your tablet is unlocked. To use certain media services, you may need to turn on the Extension for your media app or service. Learn more about Extensions in Gemini Apps.
Important:
- When your tablet is unlocked, Gemini Apps can interact with other apps and services, like media apps, through extensions. Learn more about Extensions in Gemini Apps.
- Even if you downloaded and set up the Gemini mobile app on your Pixel Tablet, Google Assistant will continue to respond when your tablet is locked, including when in Hub Mode.
- If a feature you rely on from Google Assistant isn’t supported in your Gemini mobile app, you can switch back to Google Assistant. Learn how to switch back to Google Assistant.
How to control media playback on your Pixel Tablet
When you play media on your Pixel Tablet, you can control media playback on your touchscreen, with the Google Home app, or by using “Hey Google.”
Control media by touch
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 plays.
Control media with the Google Home app (Hub Mode only)
When you play media on your Pixel Tablet in Hub Mode, you can use the Google Home app 
- Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your Pixel Tablet.
- On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app
.
- Tap the current media session for:
- Playback controls
- Volume control
- Playback device control
Control media with “Hey Google”
Once you link your streaming services to Google Assistant, you can use voice commands to control media on your Pixel Tablet.
Learn more about Google Assistant voice commands you can use to play media.
Important: If you download the Gemini mobile app and set up Gemini as your primary assistant, Gemini will only respond to “Hey Google” when your Pixel Tablet is unlocked. Google Assistant will continue to respond when your tablet is locked, including when in Hub Mode.