Google Assistant has been around since 2016, so you have undoubtedly learned many of the tricks that Google’s voice-activated helper is capable of, from setting alarms and timers to performing calculations and searching settings. But the number of skills available to the Google Assistant is growing all the time, and there are some that you may not have known so far.
As always, you need to place a “hey Google” or “OK Google” before each of these commands. Now let’s dive.
1. Take screenshots
A simple “take a screenshot” will capture an instant screenshot of your Android device, although you can’t use it on other Google Assistant compatible devices – yet.
2. Play podcasts
Like all other companies, Google is interested in podcasts. YYou can say “play the last episode of …” followed by the name of the podcast to start listening.
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3. Explore your photos
With Google Photos open on a Pixel smartphone, you can tell Google Assistant to “show me photos of …” a place and then follow with “those in …” and a specific landmark. The example that Google gives is “show me the photos of New York” and then “those of Central Park”, so that you can adjust the commands to match your own travel and image collection.
4. Monitor your exercise
Wear OS may not be the most popular smartwatch platform in the world, but it has tight integration with Google Assistant. You can use commands like “track my run” and “start a bike ride” to start recording your exercise without touching the clock.
5. Watch a little TV
You can tell Google Assistant to play certain movies, programs, or types of video on Netflix or YouTube. Just say “play …” and then what you want to watch and in which application. This works with Android TVs and Chromecasts, as well as Android phones and tablets.
6. Find your phone
It works with speakers and smart monitors with Google Assistant on board. Say “find my phone” and your phone will start ringing, even if it is in silent mode, as long as it is an Android phone connected to the same Google account as your speaker or display.
7. Control your applications
Google Assistant can interact with various applications on Android, including Mint, Instagram, Outlook, Discord, and Spotify. YYou can use commands like “search for candles on Etsy” or “send money on Venmo” to save a few taps on the screen. Use the “show my shortcuts” command to see all available based on the applications you have installed.
8. Read articles on the web
If you are using Google Chrome on Android, you can say “read” to the Google Assistant with an open web page and you will get the text of the page spoken back to you.
9. Take a timed photo
Make sure you always get the perfect image on Android phones, saying “take a picture in five seconds ”or“ take a selfie in 10 seconds,“ adjusting the countdown as needed.
10. Remember where you put things
Google Assistant’s long memory can be a privacy nightmare, but it can help you know where everything is. Tell the Wizard to “remember that my spare keys are in the file” and when you ask later “where are my spare keys?” you will get the right answer. You can make the Assistant remember other information as well, such as your friend’s favorite cake or your cupboard number.
11. Listen to animal sounds
You may be surprised at how much educational content is included in Google Assistant for children. Try to ask, “Çhow does an elephant sound? “for example, or choose a different animal (the Assistant can continue to choose animals for you, if necessary).
12. Relax slowly
You probably knew that Google Assistant can play music and set timers, but you’ve realized that you can combine the two – if you’re falling asleep, for example. Just tell Google Assistant to, “Stop the music in … ”and choose the time period to start the timer.
13. Stream to multiple speakers at the same time
If you have multiple Google Nest speakers and monitors around the house, you can broadcast a message to all of them at once – just say “broadcast” and then your message.
14. Roll a coin or roll a dice
A classic trick from the Google search engine has arrived at the Google Assistant: ask to “flip a coin” or “roll a dice” and the Assistant obeys, with beautiful animation on some devices.
15. Create and edit lists
Another way to take advantage of Google Assistant’s recall powers is to have it manage lists. If you have a shopping list, for example, you can say: “ONEadd eggs to my shopping list ”and hear everything at once with one, “Çhat is on my shopping list? ” voice command.
16. Delete voice recordings
You can delete the voice recordings that Google Assistant recorded through your Google account page on the web, but you can also do this through the Wizard itself with commands like, “Deliminate the last thing I said to you,“or, “DElete everything I said to you last week.“
17. Silence your phone
This is exclusive to recent Pixel smartphones, but it is useful: you can tell Google Assistant to “activate Do not disturb mode” to apply silent mode using the current default settings.