Set up Google Assistant on headphones

• For wireless headphones, you need a phone with:
  • Android 6.0 or up
  • Google app 7.0 or up
  • Google Play services
  • 1.5 GB of memory
  • An internet connection
  • Wireless headphones optimized for Google Assistant
• For wired headphones, you need a phone with:
  • Android 9.0 or up
  • Google app 11.24 or up
  • Google Play services
  • 1.5 GB of memory
  • An internet connection
  • Any 3.5 mm wired headphones

Before you start, to find the button or touch area used to talk to Google Assistant, refer to your headphone’s instruction manual or packaging.

1. On your headphones, press and hold the button or touch area to talk to Google Assistant.
   • Tip: When you turn on Google Assistant, you’ll hear a tone. You don’t have to wait until you hear the tone to start talking.
2. Ask a question or say a command.
3. After you talk, release the button or touch area.

If Google Assistant doesn’t respond when you touch your headphones, follow these steps to fix the problem.

Step 1: Make sure that your headphones are connected to your phone

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google app .
2. Tap your Profile picture or Initials Settings Google Assistant.
3. Configure "Hey Google & Voice Match" as you like.

Step 2: Check if Bluetooth is turned on

1. On your Android phone, from the top of your screen, swipe down.
2. Make sure that your Bluetooth is turned on.
3. Touch and hold Bluetooth .
4. Make sure your headphones are connected, or show as “Active.”

Step 3: Restart your headphones

On your headphones, turn the power button off and then on.

Step 4: Reset your headphones

To factory reset your headphones, refer to your headphone's instruction manual or packaging. After you reset your headphones, you must set up your headphones again.

Important: Not all headphones have Voice Match.

When you turn on “Say ‘Hey Google’” for your headphones, you can use Voice Match to talk to Google Assistant. If your headphones support Voice Match, but your Assistant doesn’t respond when you say "Hey Google," follow these steps.

Step 1: Check if Google Assistant responds to gestures

1. Use a gesture to check if Google Assistant responds.
   • If available, you can touch and hold the Google Assistant button on your headphones.
2. If Google Assistant doesn’t respond to gestures, follow the steps for when Google Assistant isn't responding to gestures.

Step 2: Check if “Say ‘Hey Google'” is turned on for your headphones

1. On your Android phone, say “Hey Google, open Assistant settings.”
2. Tap Devices your headphones.
3. Make sure “Say ‘Hey Google’” is turned on.

Step 3: Check if Voice Match works on your phone

Your headphones and phone share a voice model. If your phone doesn't respond to Voice Match, you can teach Google to recognize your voice again.

1. Disconnect your headphones from your phone.
2. On your phone, say "Hey Google."
3. If Google Assistant doesn't respond, teach Google to recognize your voice again.

Important: From September 2024, Google Assistant no longer reads notifications on Pixel buds when you press to activate your Assistant. You can still say, “Hey Google, read my notifications.” Learn more about the change.

Step 1: Check if Google Assistant notifications are turned on

1. On your Android phone, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings."
2. Tap Devices your headphones Spoken notifications.
3. Make sure "Spoken notifications" is turned on.

Step 2: Check if you’re connected to the internet

You must be connected to the internet to get most notifications.

1. On your Android phone, from the top of your screen, swipe down.
2. Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Step 3: Check if "Do not disturb" is turned on with Media sounds turned off

If you have "Do not disturb mode" turned on, you can still hear most notifications unless you blocked Media sounds.

1. On your Android phone, open your Settings app .
2. Tap Sound & vibration Do Not Disturb Alarms & other interruptions.
3. Make sure "Media sounds" is turned on.

1. On your headphones, press the button or touch area to ask Google Assistant to read notifications.
2. Google Assistant will read any notifications you have.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings."
2. Tap Devices.
3. Under "Personal," tap your headphones Spoken notifications.
4. Turn Spoken notifications on or off.
   • Tip: You can also turn off spoken notifications-specific apps.

• If you don't want to hear chimes for new notifications on your phone, turn on Do Not Disturb.
• If you turned off Do Not Disturb and still don’t hear chimes for notifications:
  • Make sure your media volume is turned up.
  • Check if your phone isn’t on silent

When you get a new message, Google Assistant can let you quickly speak a response that’ll be returned to the sender.

1. After you get a new message, wait until you hear a "blip" sound. To initiate a gesture, Google Assistant will pause for a few seconds.
2. While you hear the “blip” sound:
   • Trigger the gesture that you use to start a conversation with Google Assistant.
   • Speak the reply that you want to send
3. The message will be read aloud by Google Assistant, followed by a prompt to send it or change it.

If you have multiple languages set up on your phone and in your settings, Google Assistant reads your notifications in the language in which they’re received. For the best experience, set your primary Assistant language and your phone's system display language to be the same language.

Touch and hold the action button until you hear a chime, release, then speak.