The fastest way to open Google Assistant
On most Android phones, press and hold the home button (the circle at the bottom center of your screen) until Google Assistant appears. On iPhones with Google Assistant installed, open the Google app and tap the microphone icon at the bottom. On computers, go to google.com, click the microphone icon in the search box, or say "Hey Google" if your device has a microphone and you've turned on voice activation.
The method changes slightly depending on your device type and what you've already set up. The sections below cover the specific steps for phones, tablets, and computers.
Key Takeaways
- Android phones: press and hold the home button to open Google Assistant instantly.
- iPhones: open the Google app and tap the microphone icon to use Google Assistant.
- Computers: visit google.com and click the microphone icon, or say "Hey Google" if voice activation is on.
- You can change how you open Google Assistant in your device settings if the default method doesn't work for you.
- Google Assistant works best when you're signed into your Google account.
Opening Google Assistant on Android phones
The standard way to open Google Assistant on Android is to press and hold the home button — the circular icon at the bottom center of your screen. Hold it for about one second until you see the Google Assistant interface appear, usually with a colorful circle or wave animation at the bottom of the screen.
If pressing the home button doesn't work, your phone may have a different setup. Try saying "Hey Google" out loud if you've turned on voice activation in your settings. You can also swipe diagonally from the bottom corner of your screen toward the center — this gesture opens Google Assistant on some Android devices.
If none of these methods work, open your phone's Settings app, search for "Google Assistant," and check whether it's turned on. Some phones require you to enable it before you can use the home button shortcut.
Opening Google Assistant on iPhones and iPads
iPhones don't have Google Assistant built in, but you can use it through the Google app. Open the App Store, search for "Google," and download the official Google app if you don't already have it. Once installed, open the app and tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the search box.
You can also say "Hey Google" if you've turned on voice activation in the Google app settings. To do this, open the Google app, tap your profile picture in the top right, go to Settings, then Search settings, and toggle on "Voice Activation." After that, you can say "Hey Google" to open the assistant without tapping anything.
On iPad, the process is identical — download the Google app from the App Store and tap the microphone icon to start using Google Assistant.
Opening Google Assistant on computers
On a desktop or laptop, go to google.com and look for the microphone icon inside the search box. Click it to open Google Assistant. Your computer's microphone will activate, and you can speak your question or command.
If you have a Google Home device or a computer with Google Assistant built in (like some Chromebooks), you can also say "Hey Google" out loud to activate it. This requires voice activation to be turned on in your Google account settings.
On a Chromebook, press the search key (usually in the top left of the keyboard) and then the space bar, or just say "Hey Google" if voice activation is enabled.
Changing how you open Google Assistant
If you want to use a different method to open Google Assistant, you can change your settings. On Android, open Settings, search for "Google Assistant," tap it, then look for "Shortcuts" or "Voice activation." From there you can choose whether to use the home button, voice command, or gesture.
On iPhone, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then Voice, and adjust your voice activation preferences. You can turn voice activation on or off, or change how sensitive it is to the "Hey Google" command.
On a Chromebook, open Settings, go to Search and Assistant, and choose your preferred activation method from the options listed.
Troubleshooting when Google Assistant won't open
If Google Assistant isn't opening when you try, first check that you're signed into your Google account. Open your device's Settings, go to Accounts, and make sure your Google account is listed and active. Google Assistant won't work without an account.
Next, make sure Google Assistant is actually installed and turned on. On Android, go to Settings and search for "Google Assistant" to see if it appears. If it doesn't, your phone may not support it — most Android phones from 2016 onward do, but some older or budget models don't.
If the home button or voice command isn't working, try restarting your device. Close all apps, turn your phone or computer off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try opening Google Assistant again using the method for your device type.
What to do once Google Assistant is open
Once Google Assistant opens, you can ask it questions, set reminders, control smart home devices, play music, or search the web. Speak clearly into your device's microphone or type your question if you prefer not to use voice.
Google Assistant learns from your questions and can remember context from previous conversations in the same session. If you ask "What's the weather?" and then say "What about tomorrow?" it will understand you're asking about tomorrow's weather in the same location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my phone say "Google Assistant is not available in your country or language"?
Google Assistant is not available in all countries or languages yet. If you see this message, your device's language or location settings may not be supported. Try changing your language to English in your device settings, or check Google's support page to see if your country is listed as supported.
Can I use Google Assistant without saying "Hey Google"?
Yes. On Android, press and hold the home button. On iPhone, open the Google app and tap the microphone icon. On computers, click the microphone icon on google.com. You don't need to use voice activation at all if you prefer to use buttons or taps instead.
Does Google Assistant work offline?
Google Assistant works best with an internet connection, but some basic commands like setting alarms or timers work offline on Android phones. Most features — like answering questions, playing music, or controlling smart home devices — require internet access.
What's the difference between Google Assistant and Google Search?
Google Search is a search engine that finds information on the web. Google Assistant is a voice and text helper that can answer questions, set reminders, control devices, and do tasks. Google Assistant uses Google Search to find information, but it can do much more than search alone.
Can I use Google Assistant on a tablet?
Yes. On an iPad, download the Google app and tap the microphone icon. On Android tablets, press and hold the home button or say "Hey Google" if voice activation is on. The steps are the same as for phones.