Useful and personalized commands for Google Home and Google Assistant: The ultimate guide to complete control of your home and your daily life.

  • Master Google Home and Google Assistant with over 200 useful commands organized by topic and common needs.
  • Learn how to create custom routines and commands to automate your home, manage reminders, control devices, music, alarms, and more.
  • Discover advanced modes and tricks for customization, multimedia control, instant translation, and entertainment that adapts to any user and context.
Isaac

7 minutes

Useful Google Home and Assistant commands

Google Home y Google Assistant They have revolutionized the way we interact with technology at home and on mobile devices. These voice-activated assistants allow you to manage daily tasks, control smart devices, access information, play multimedia content, and automate personalized routines without ever touching a screen.

However, the real power of Google Home and Assistant lies in the knowledge and application of the most useful voice commands, as well as the ability to customize actions, routines, and shortcuts. Not only do they make everyday life easier, but they can also turn your home into a truly smart environment tailored to your needs. All this, using just your voice.

In this comprehensive guide you will find All useful Google Home and Google Assistant commands organized by category, with detailed explanations, concrete examples, and tips to customize them to your lifestyle. You'll also discover how to create your own custom commands and routines, what you need to know to control your entire home with your voice, and how to take advantage of lesser-known or advanced features that make all the difference.

Useful custom Google Home and Assistant commands

What can you do with Google Home and Google Assistant? All the main features and their potential

Google Assistant offers much more than just turning on the lights or putting on a playlist. By learning the range of commands and possibilities, you'll be able to:

  • Manage smart home (home automation): Control lights, thermostats, plugs, blinds, appliances, sensors, cameras, and more, individually, by room, or centrally.
  • Automate routines, actions, and task sequences: Set up chains of actions with a single command.
  • Play, control, and transfer media content: Music, radio, podcasts, audiobooks, and videos on compatible speakers, TVs, smart displays, and devices.
  • Receive reminders, alarms and timers: for any task, event or appointment, no matter where you are.
  • Make calls, send messages and communicate hands-free, both on the phone and via messaging and email apps.
  • Create, view, and manage lists and notes: shopping, tasks, travel, recipes, ideas and much more.
  • Consult information in real time: weather, traffic, transport status, sports scores, events, stock market, recipes, dictionary and almost any imaginable question.
  • Translate languages ​​and activate interpreter mode to talk to foreigners in real time or practice languages.
  • Have fun and be entertained with games, jokes, riddles, stories, trivia, animal sounds, poems, interactive stories, songs and interesting facts.
  • Control your Android phone by voice: open apps, adjust settings, take photos, search for information, record video, and much more.
  • Locate your lost device and send messages or notifications to the entire house, as well as personalize the name the assistant calls you with and many more advanced tricks.

This versatility makes knowing and mastering the key commands is the best way to take advantage of the entire system, whether on a Google Home speaker, a Nest display, a Chromecast, a tablet, an Android phone, or even an iPhone with the app installed.

Smart home control with Google Home and Assistant

Start and end your day: Smart commands for personalized daily routines

The true value of Google Assistant and Home is their ability to adapt to your routine. Through the custom routines You can automate the start and end of your workday, combining relevant information and automated actions into a single order.

Set up phrases like "Ok Google, good morning," "Ok Google, time to sleep," or "Ok Google, I'm leaving home" to start a multi-action routine. For example:

  • By saying “Ok Google, good morning” or “Hey Google, start my day,” you can receive:
    • The current time.
    • The weather in your location and the forecast for the day.
    • Traffic and the best route to get to work or school.
    • Calendar of events and reminders.
    • Reading news from your favorite sources.
    • Turn on lights, adjust thermostat, raise blinds, and deactivate night alarms.
    • Activate the coffee maker or robot vacuum cleaner if you have compatible home automation.
    • Start music, relaxing sounds or favorite playlist.
  • The “Bedtime” routine can:
    • Turn off all lights and devices of your choice.
    • Activate night modes (lower volume, turn off screens, reduce LED brightness).
    • Play ambient sounds for sleeping.
    • Set the weather forecast for the next morning.
    • Close blinds and activate security alarms.
    • Activate “Do Not Disturb” on your mobile.
  • You can add, remove, or customize any step of your routine from the Google Home or Google Assistant app, in the Routines section.

This functionality is extended with automatic routines based on schedule ("at 7:00, turn on the lights and raise the blinds") or by geolocation (when I get home, activate a sequence of actions). It is even possible to create completely personalized routines with your own phrases and commands, including shortcuts using “shortcuts.”

Useful custom commands in Google Home routines

Complete smart home control with voice commands

One of the most valued features of Google Home and Assistant is their integration with home automation devices and smart home control. You can connect hundreds of brands and products: light bulbs, plugs, blinds, thermostats, sensors, appliances, security cameras, TVs, robot vacuums, smart locks, and more.

Examples and useful command combinations you can use:

  • Lights and plugs:
    • "Ok Google, turn on the living room lights"
    • "Turn off the bedroom lamp"
    • «Dim the lights to 40%»
    • «Change the color of the lights to blue»
    • «Increase the main light intensity to 80%»
    • «Turn on the fan plug»
    • "Turn on all the lights" / "Turn off all the lights"
  • Thermostats and air conditioning:
    • "Set the thermostat to 22 degrees."
    • "The temperature rises two degrees"
    • «Activate heating mode»
    • "What's the temperature like at home?"
    • "Turn on the air conditioning"
    • «Activate eco mode»
  • Blinds, curtains and doors:
    • "Raise the blinds in the living room"
    • "Lower all the blinds"
    • "Open the curtains in the master bedroom."
    • "Close the garage door"
  • Cameras and security:
    • "Show the garden camera on the TV"
    • "Show the front door camera on the kitchen screen"
    • «Activate surveillance mode»
  • Connected robots and appliances:
    • «Activate the robot vacuum cleaner»
    • "Make the robot return to base"
    • "Turn on the coffee maker"
    • "Turn off the oven"
  • Groups of devices or entire rooms:
    • "Turn on the lights upstairs."
    • "Turn off everything in the house"
    • "Play the music in the 'whole house' group"

To personalize the experience, assign clear names to each device and create groups by room in the Google Home app. This way, you can organize joint actions and routines involving multiple devices. You can integrate devices from popular brands such as Philips Hue, Xiaomi, TP-Link, Tado, Bosch, Netatmo, Nest, Meross, and others.

Google Assistant offline voice commands

Music, radio, podcasts, and videos: control your entertainment as a DJ and TV operator

Google Home and Assistant let you select, play, pause, or skip music, podcasts, radio, and videos using your voice on any compatible speaker, TV, or display. You can choose from multiple services: Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, Deezer, TuneIn Radio, iVoox, and more. You can also manage volume, select playlists, switch between rooms, and control your multimedia experience hands-free.

  • Music and podcasts:
    • «Hey Google, play Queen music»
    • "Play my 'relax' playlist on Spotify."
    • «Play Los40 radio»
    • "Put on the science podcast"
    • "Play cheerful music while cooking"
    • "Turn the volume up to 70%" / "Turn the volume all the way down" / "Turn the volume down to 10%"
    • "What song is playing?"
    • «Next song» / «Previous song»
    • «Pause the music» / «Resume the music»
    • "Play music in the bedroom"
    • Play relaxing music for studying
  • Video on TVs and screens:
    • "Put Stranger Things on Netflix on the living room TV."
    • "Play YouTube cooking videos in the kitchen"
    • "Put animal videos on TV"
    • "Turn the TV volume up to 50%"
    • «Turn on the subtitles in Spanish»
    • "Fast forward 10 minutes"
    • "Mute the TV"
  • Radio and news:
    • "Turn on Cadena SER radio"
    • "Put the radio on in the living room"
    • "Move the radio to the kitchen"
    • "Give me the news"

For a more personalized experience, link your preferred music and video accounts from the Google Home app under Settings > Music or TV & Video. You can create speaker groups to play music throughout your home, or transfer music between rooms with a simple voice request.

Alarms, timers, and reminders: your most efficient calendar assistant

Google Assistant is an essential ally for daily organization: it allows you to create and manage alarms, timers, reminders, and calendar events with complete flexibility, using only your voice. These commands are useful in the kitchen, while studying, for workout routines, and any task that involves keeping track of time or meeting appointments.

  • "Set an alarm for 7 a.m."
  • «Add an alarm for every Tuesday at 6:30»
  • "Set a 30-minute timer for pizza."
  • "Wake me up in 20 minutes"
  • "Remind me to call Mom tomorrow at 5."
  • "What alarms do I have?"
  • "Cancel all alarms" or "Cancel the medical alarm"
  • Create a meeting event on Monday at 10 a.m.
  • "What's on my agenda today?"
  • "Show me the reminders"
  • "Set a 45-minute countdown"
  • "Remind me to buy milk when I get to the supermarket."

It supports repeating alarms, named alarms, multiple timers, and location-based reminders via mobile. All data is synced to your Google account, accessible from any device.

Daily queries, instant answers, and advanced information search

One of the advantages of Google Assistant is its ability to understand natural language and provide accurate, real-time information on a multitude of topics. Examples of requests you can make include:

  • "What's the weather going to be like in Barcelona on Saturday?"
  • "Is it going to rain this week in Valencia?"
  • "What time is it in New York?"
  • "Where is the nearest pharmacy?"
  • "How's the traffic on the way to work?"
  • "How many dollars is 15 euros?"
  • Square root of 144
  • "How many kilometers are 8 miles?"
  • "When does Real Madrid play?"
  • "Tell me the latest news"
  • "What does home mean in Spanish?"
  • "How many calories does an apple have?"
  • Google stock price
  • "How many inhabitants does Zaragoza have?"
  • "Who is the president of Argentina?"
  • "Tell me something interesting"

Thanks to Google's integration with search, you'll receive spoken and visual answers, links, summaries, specific data, and, for broad queries, a selection of relevant results. For more in-depth information on how to get the most out of these commands, visit .

Lists, notes, and shopping management: never forget or repeat again.

Google Assistant and Home let you create, view, and edit lists by voice. You can manage shopping, tasks, travel, ideas, or projects, all synced with Google Keep, Tasks, or other compatible apps.

  • Add eggs to your shopping list
  • "What's on my shopping list?"
  • "Remove bread from the list"
  • Create a travel list
  • Add passport to travel list
  • "Show me the to-do list"
  • "Empty the shopping list"
  • Create a post: blog ideas
  • Add packing to your travel list.

Manage multiple different lists with custom names and use sticky notes for anything you can think of. Perfect for keeping everything under control and sharing it with other users in your family, if you want.

Mobile and app control: use your phone without touching it

Google Assistant on Android (or iOS, with some limitations) allows you to operate the device entirely by voice. This is useful when you have your hands full, are driving, cooking, or just looking for convenience:

  • «Open WhatsApp»
  • «Open Instagram»
  • «Turn on WiFi / Turn off WiFi»
  • "Increase the screen brightness"
  • "Take a photo"
  • «Record a video»
  • "Call Mom"
  • "Text Ana and tell her I'll be there in 10 minutes."
  • "Start a video call with Juan"
  • "Find hotels near me"
  • «Turn on the flashlight»
  • «Activate airplane mode»

You can dictate text messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, or SMS, configure settings, open any installed app, search within supported apps, and much more. You can also ask to search for specific photos ("Show me pictures of cats") or view your activity and search history.

Translation, interpreter mode and language learning: communication without barriers

One of the most surprising features of Google Assistant is its ability to translate words and phrases in real time, as well as activate interpreter mode to hold conversations in two languages ​​simultaneously:

  • "Ok Google, be my English/Italian/German translator"
  • "How do you say 'good night' in French?"
  • «Translate 'Where is the bathroom?' into German»
  • "What does 'sky' mean in Spanish?"
  • "Help me translate"
  • «Activate interpreter mode for English and Spanish»

In interpreter mode, Assistant continuously listens, translates, and automatically vocalizes each sentence, facilitating fluid communication between people who don't share a common language. It's also useful for practicing languages ​​and improving pronunciation in real time.

Entertainment, fun and games: make the most of your free time

The Google Assistant isn't just serious and functional; it can also be your perfect partner for having a good time. You can access quizzes, trivia, stories, jokes, animal sounds, and other interesting facts. Example commands:

  • "Tell me a joke"
  • "Let's play 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'"
  • "Tell me a riddle"
  • «Surprise me with a curious fact»
  • «Do beatbox»
  • "Tell me a tongue twister"
  • "Tell me a scary story"
  • "Recite me a poem"
  • "Let's play rock, paper, scissors"
  • "Flip a coin" or "Roll a die"
  • "I'm bored"
  • "Something random fun"
  • "I want to play something"

Many of these commands activate real-time interactive games, both solo and for the whole family. There are classic games like Tic Tac Toe, blackjack, guess the word, tongue twisters, riddles, and, of course, narrated children's stories. Just ask and let yourself be amazed by the assistant's creativity.

Messaging, calling, and voice communication in the Google ecosystem

In addition to regular calls and messages, you can use Google Home and Assistant to communicate with members of your household or family, make calls using Google Duo, and even announce messages to all devices in your home.

  • «Call to»
  • "Send a WhatsApp message and tell him I'm coming."
  • "Send Pedro a text: I'm here."
  • "Announce that dinner is ready" (sends the voice message to all linked speakers at home)
  • "Send an email to Juan: final proposal sent"

It's especially practical for large households or when you want to gather everyone around the table without shouting. Remember that for calls and messages, contacts must be properly synced in your address book and have the necessary app (Google Duo, WhatsApp, Telegram, email, etc.).

Custom commands, advanced routines, and smart shortcuts

Google Home and Assistant allow you to create your own custom commands, routines, and shortcuts to fully automate complex or routine tasks. This allows you to say a single activation phrase and execute a sequence of actions, such as:

  • "Ok Google, get your car ready": Activates the climate control of your compatible car, opens the garage door, turns on the exterior lights, and tells you the traffic forecast.
  • "Ok Google, movie night": dim the lights, close the blinds, turn on the TV, and put on your favorite playlist.
  • "Ok Google, study routine": Turn off notifications, play instrumental music, adjust the lighting to a warm tone, and activate Do Not Disturb mode on your phone.

To create a custom command or routine:

  1. Open the Google Home or Google Assistant app.
  2. Go to Routines > New > Personal > Add Start > Voice Command.
  3. Enter your activation phrase.
  4. Add desired actions, such as turning on lights, playing music, reading calendar, etc.
  5. Save your settings and test your new custom command.

You can also use “shortcuts” to map short phrases to very specific actions, such as “Workout Time” to automatically launch a playlist of your choice or a sequence of specific actions.

How to set keywords and edit custom commands

Editing and creating custom commands is key to a truly tailored experience:

  • Access the “Explore” section of the Google Assistant by tapping the compass icon.
  • Select the command you want to customize and scroll down to “Manage Shortcuts.”
  • Define your trigger phrase and link it to your preferred action or routine.
  • You can edit the phrase at any time using the pencil icon next to the command.

Remember that some system commands or third-party apps may not be editable, but most routines, home actions, and shortcuts are. Additionally, you can set multiple different phrases for the same shortcut and take advantage of the flexibility of natural language.

Advanced Customization: Little-Known Options and Tricks

To get the most out of your assistant, consider these advanced features:

  • Change the name the assistant calls you with: “Ok Google, call me Chief” or any other custom nickname.
  • Assign relationships and nicknames to your contacts: "Ana is my sister," "Miguel is my boss," "María is my partner," "My dog's name is Rocky." This way, you can use natural commands like "Call my mother."
  • Set multiple languages ​​at once: You can interact in two different languages ​​without manually changing settings (e.g., Spanish and English).
  • Adjust the equalizer from the Google Home app to enhance the music and content experience on compatible speakers.
  • Turn on night mode to reduce the volume and brightness of the device's LEDs at a specific time.
  • Delete your voice activity with commands like “Ok Google, delete what I just said” or “Delete today’s activity.”
  • Announce personalized messages on all Google Home devices in the house with “Ok Google, announce.”
  • Activate advanced accessibility features and user customization (Voice Match, contextual responses, family mode, etc.).
  • Integrates with IFTTT and other external services for high-level automation and unlimited connectivity.

Remember, you can modify most device names, groups, routines, and shortcuts to suit your language and family habits.

Extra utilities, mobile location, touchpad and device groups

In addition to the usual commands, there are lesser-known but very valuable tools and utilities:

  • Find your mobile: “Ok Google, find my phone.” Even if it’s on silent or vibrate, it will ring so you can locate it.
  • Create and manage device groups: From the Google Home app, set up groups of speakers or rooms for collaborative actions like “Play music throughout the house.”
  • Use the touchpad on Google Home and Nest speakers and displays to pause/resume music and adjust the volume with gestures, without using your voice.
  • Transfer media playback: Switch music, radio, or podcasts from one device to another by saying “Switch music to bedroom.”

Useful commands for travel, mobility and localization

Google Assistant is your ideal ally for commuting, traveling, planning, and mobility queries:

  • “How to get to”
  • “How much traffic is there downtown?”
  • "Where is the nearest gas station?"
  • “Tell me restaurants near me”
  • “Take me home” / “Take me to work”
  • “What are the Prado Museum’s opening hours?”
  • "What flights are there from Madrid to Paris on Thursday?"
  • “I want a train to Barcelona”
  • “Where can I have dinner today?”

Activate routes in Google Maps, receive real-time schedules, and view points of interest, pharmacies, ATMs, supermarkets, museums, and any other useful information near your location. You can also request detailed maps, transportation and traffic information, and local recommendations.

Calendar, agenda, and event management: personal and professional organization

Beyond alarms and reminders, Google Home and Assistant can manage your Google Calendar and integrate with work and personal events:

  • «Create a calendar event for the at «
  • "What's on my agenda today?"
  • "When is my next appointment?"
  • "Add a note for Thursday's meeting"
  • "What are my plans for tomorrow?"

Events and appointments are automatically synced across all your devices and can be shared with family or team members.

Calculations, science, cooking and everyday solutions

Google Assistant acts as a scientific calculator, dictionary, unit converter, and interactive recipe book. Try these commands:

  • "What is 82 x 17?"
  • "How many liters are 8 gallons?"
  • "How many calories does an apple have?"
  • "Tell me the lasagna recipe."
  • «Define parasynthesis»
  • "How do you spell 'immeasurable'?"
  • "Tell me synonyms for 'boring'"
  • "Who invented electricity?"
  • "Why is the sky blue?"
  • "Tell me the recipe for yogurt cake."
useful Google Assistant commands
Related article:
The Ultimate Guide to Google Now Commands for Android: Get the Most Out of Your Voice Assistant