Tag Archives: Home Mini

Change the voice of Google Assistant

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Change the voice of Google Assistant

You can change the sound of Google Assistant’s voice. When you change the voice setting, it will apply to all of your Google Assistant devices.

Change the voice of your Assistant

Android iPhone & iPad
  1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. At the top right, tap your account.
  4. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your speaker or display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.
  5. Tap Assistant settings and then Assistant voice and then choose a voice.

Manage your Google Home app notifications

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Manage your Google Home app notifications

The Google Home app can notify you of a variety of home and device updates such as new home members, account changes, product updates, and device specific notifications. You can control whether or not to receive these notifications in the settings of the Google Home app.

Change general notifications

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Settings  and then Notifications.
    • If push notifications are not enabled in your phone’s settings, a banner will appear at the top of the screen. To turn on push notifications in your phone’s settings, tap the link in the banner and follow the steps.
  3. Select General notifications.
  4. Turn any notifications on or off.
    • If you turn on critical alerts, but they’re not enabled in your phone’s settings, a banner will appear at the top of the screen. To turn on critical alerts in your phone’s settings, tap the link in the banner and follow the steps.

Change email notifications

After you set up your Chromecast or Google Nest or Home speaker or display, you’ll receive a welcome email that provides helpful information to get you started.

If you choose to receive emails, it’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest about Chromecast, speakers and displays, and the Google Assistant. You’ll get tips and tricks, and learn about new features, partners, offers, research surveys, and much more.

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. At the top right, tap your account.
  3. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your speaker or display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.
  4. Tap Home app settings  Email notifications.
  5. Turn any email notifications on or off. You can also opt out of email updates by selecting the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email you receive.

You can opt out of email updates when you turn off email notifications or click on the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email you receive.

System level notifications

If there’s an important update regarding your device, you may receive a notification or email even if you’ve opted out of receiving other types of notifications from the Home app.

Related articles

Turn notifications on or off 
Receive new device notifications

Check which Google Account is linked to a speaker or display

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Check which Google Account is linked to a speaker or display

For your Google Nest or Home speaker or display to share personalized results, you must be signed into the same Google Account that is linked to the device.

Check which Google Account is linked to a speaker or display

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap your device.
  3. At the top right corner, tap Settings  and then Recognition & sharing.
  4. Under Linked accounts(s), you’ll find the Google Account(s) linked to this specific device.

Control smart home devices using speakers and displays

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Control smart home devices using speakers and displays

You can control over smart home devices including TVs, remote controls, lights, appliances, plugs, thermostats, and more using your Google Nest or Home speaker or display. To get started, you’ll first need to set up your device in the Google Home app.

Control devices using voice commands

Explore the Google Assistant actions you can use to control things around your home with just your voice. Below are some examples:

Control entertainment devices

You can control TVs to play shows or specific channels, request songs on your speakers, change the volume, and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners you can use to control things around your home with just your voice.

To do this:

Say 「Ok Google」 or 「Hey Google,」 then:

Turn on set top box

 「Turn on [set top box name]」

Change volume

 「Volume up on [set top box name]」
「Volume down by 5 on [set top box name]」

Play, pause, fast forward or rewind a show

 「Play [show]」
「Pause [show]」

Play a specific channel

 「Play [channel] on TV」
「Change channel to [x]」

Search and play content

 「Search for [x] movies」
「Play [x] album or artist etc」

Launch a channel

 「Turn on [show] on Netflix on TV」

Control your speakers and AV receivers

 「Play [song] on my speaker」
Play a game on Xbox 「Play [Game] on Xbox」

Control lights

You can adjust brightness and turn on or off lights, and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners you can use to control things around your home with just your voice.
To do this:  Say 「Ok Google」 or “Hey Google,」 then:
To turn on or turn off a light 「Turn on or off <light name>」
Dim a light 「Dim the <light name>」
Brighten a light 「Brighten the <light name>」
Set a light brightness to a certain percentage 「Set <light name> to 50%」
Dim or brighten lights by a certain percentage 「Dim <light name> by 50%」
「Brighten <light name> by 50%」
Change the color of a light 「Turn <light name> green」
Turn all lights in room on or off “Turn on or off lights in <room name>」
Turn all lights on or off “Turn on or off all of the lights”


Control thermostats

You can control thermostats, and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners you can use to control things around your home with just your voice.

To do this:  Say 「Ok Google」 or “Hey Google,」 then:
To adjust the temperature “Make it warmer”
“Lower the temp”
“Raise temp 2 degrees”
「Set the temperature to 72」
To switch heating or cooling modes “Turn on the cooling”
“Set the thermostat to heating」
“Turn thermostat to heat-cool mode”

Control smart plugs and switches

You can control appliances around the house with smart plugs and switches. Explore all the Google Assistant partners you can use to control things around your home with just your voice.

To do this:  Say 「Ok Google」 or “Hey Google,」 then:
Turn plugs on or off “Turn on or off the [plug name]」
Turn switch on or off “Turn on or off the [switch name]”

Control home security

You can control cameras and home security systems and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners you can use to control things around your home with just your voice.
To do this: Say 「Ok Google」 or Hey Google,」 then:
Start stream 「Show [camera name]」
「What’s on [camera name]?」
「[Camera name] on [Chromecast device name]」
「Play [camera name] on [Chromecast device name]」
「Show [camera name] on [Chromecast device name]」
Stop stream 「Stop [TV or Chromecast device name]」

Here’s how to stream and control security cameras.

Note: You can’t disarm using voice commands.

Control appliances

You can control smart appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, vacuums, and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners you can use to control things around your home with just your voice.

To do this: Say 「Ok Google」 or 「Hey Google,」 then:
Start vacuum 「Start the [vacuum name]」
「Start vacuuming」
「Is the [vacuum name] running?」
Stop vacuum 「Stop the [vacuum name]」
「Stop vacuuming」

Control devices through the Google Home app

After you set up your device in the Google Home app, you’ll also be able to control it from your phone.

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap your device.
  3. Use the device card to control your device.

Control and schedule multiple devices through Routines

Use a Routine to control multiple devices with one voice command or to schedule your devices to work at specific times and days of the week. Learn how to set up and schedule a Routine.

Add your device to a new or existing room

Add your device to an existing room

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap your device and then Settings Settings and then Device information and then Placement and then choose where your device is located and then tap Save.

Add your device to a new room

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap your device and then Settings Settings and then Device information and then Placement and then scroll to the bottom and tap Add a custom room and then enter the room name and then tap Save.

Fix a problem

Check these things first

  1. Is your speaker or display plugged into a wall outlet and powered on?
  2. Are your speaker or display and other smart devices set up on the same Wi-Fi network?
  3. Are you using the same Google Account on your mobile device and in the Google Home app?
    1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
    2. At the top right, tap your account.
    3. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your speaker or display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.
  4. Are you in the same room as your speaker or display?
I can’t find my device in the Home control settings of the Google Home app

If you either added a new device in the partner app or updated or changed an existing device in the partner app and can no longer find it in the Home control setting of the Google Home app, try to sync the smart home control device and your speaker or display.

Sync your devices in the Google Home app

  1.  Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. At the top right, tap your account.
  3. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your speaker or display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.
  4. Tap Assistant settings  Home control.
  5. Swipe down with your finger on the screen.
  6. There will be a spinning circle. The sync is complete when the circle disappears.
  7. Check for your device in the Home control list.

Sync your devices with your voice

To do this: Say 「Hey Google」 or 「Ok Google,」 then:
Sync all devices 「Sync my devices」
Sync a device type 「Sync my lights」

Important:

  • You must have already set up your devices in the partner app.
  • If you sync multiple devices at once, you may receive a timeout error.
Google Assistant can’t control device

To try to fix the issue, rename your device.

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap your device and then at the top right corner, tap Settings Settings and then Device information and then Device name.
  3. Enter a new name for your device and then tap Save.

Tips for renaming your device:

  • Don’t include numbers, special characters, or room names.
  • Avoid similar names (for example, 「Table light left」 and 「Table light right」).

Related link

Supported Home control partners

Set up smart devices in the Google Home app

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Set up smart devices in the Google Home app

You can control smart devices that are compatible with the Google Assistant, such as lights, plugs and switches, using the Google Home app. The setup process varies by device, so it’s important to follow the correct instructions.

If your device is in the list below, follow the instructions in the linked article.

Nest Energy, Safety and Security devices

You need to set up some devices with the Nest app before adding them to the Home app. For instructions, select your product from the list below:

Once you’ve set up these devices in the Nest app, they may link automatically in the Home app, depending on your settings. To find out if this has happened, close both apps. Open the Home app and check if the devices are listed under a room name or “Local devices.”  If they aren’t listed, follow the instructions to set them up in the Home app.

Note: Nest Protect and Nest Tag will only appear in the Nest app.

Other devices that work with the Assistant

If your device isn’t listed above, follow the instructions to set up smart devices in the Google Home app.

Note: To verify your device works with the Google Assistant, search for it on the “Explore all actions” Assistant page.