How to Enable Google Assistant

Last Updated: September 28, 2020 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to set up Google Assistant on an Android, iPhone, or iPad. The majority of Androids come with Google Assistant already set up—just tap and hold the Home button to get started. If you have an Apple product, you'll just need to download and install the Google Assistant app from the App Store.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Enabling Google Assistant on an Android

1
Tap and hold the Home button on your phone or tablet. Since Google Assistant is already enabled on most Androids, this action should launch the app.
- If you are prompted to turn on Google Assistant when pressing the Home button, follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
- If nothing happens when you press and hold the home button, continue with this method.
2
Open the Play Store
on your Android. If you weren't able to start the Assistant, start by making sure you have the latest versions of the Google-branded apps on your Android.
- As long as you're using an Android phone or tablet with Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later and at least 1.0 GB of memory, you can use Google Assistant with the latest versions of the Google and Google Play Services apps.^{[1]
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3
Tap the ≡ menu. It's at the top-left corner of the Play Store.
4
Tap My apps & games. A list of your installed apps will appear.
5
Scroll down and tap UPDATE next to "Google." It's the circle with a multicolored "G" inside. Tapping this button, if it is available, will update the app to the latest version.
- If you see "Uninstall" instead, you're already using the latest version.
6
Scroll down and tap UPDATE next to "Google Play services." It's the multicolored puzzle piece icon. If this button appears next to the app's name, tap it to update the app now.
- If you see "Uninstall" instead, you're already using the latest version.
- If you can't find the "Google Play services" app, you'll need to install it. Type play services into the search bar at the top, select Google Play services, and then tap INSTALL to download it.
7
Press and hold the Home button to launch Google Assistant. This action should now prompt you to enable Google Assistant on your Android.
8
Follow the on-screen instructions to enable Google Assistant. Once you finish setting up the app, you can start using Google Assistant on your Android.
- Open the assistant at any time by pressing and holding the Home button, or by saying "OK Google" while the screen is unlocked. If you're using Android 8.0 or later, this will work even when the screen is locked.
- If you don't want to use voice commands, press and hold the Home button to start the assistant, and then tap the keyboard icon at the bottom to type your commands.
- Check out How to Use Google Assistant to learn more about using the many features of Google Assistant.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Enabling Google Assistant on an iPhone or iPad

1
Install Google Assistant on your iPhone or iPad. You can download it for free from the App Store. Here's how:
- Open the App Store
  .
- Tap Search at the bottom-right corner.
- Type google assistant into the Search bar and tap the Search key.
- Tap GET next to "Google Assistant" in the search results to download the app.
2
Open Google Assistant. It's the white icon with blue, red, yellow, and green circles inside. You should find it at the end of the icon list on the home screen.
- If you're still in the App Store, you can also launch the app by tapping the OPEN button.
3
Sign in to your Google account. If you're already signed into your account in another app (e.g., Gmail, the Google app), tap CONTINUE AS <your name> to sign in. Otherwise, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in now.
- If prompted to check out additional features, follow the on-screen instructions to view them now.
4
Tap TURN ON to enable the full experience. This option gives the app permission to access your calendar, contacts, music, and apps. It also enables the Assistant's voice features, which lets you use voice commands.
- If you don't want to enable these options, tap NO THANKS at the bottom-left corner.
5
Review the Google Partners agreement and tap CONTINUE. This information displays what information Google can legally share with its advertising partners. This step is required to use the Assistant.
6
Tap Allow to enable notifications. This is optional but recommended for the full Google Assistant experience.
7
Select your email communication preferences and tap NEXT.
8
Tap OK to grant access to your microphone. This allows you use voice commands with the Assistant. It also brings you to the main page of the Google Assistant app, which is now ready to use.
- To use Google Assistant with voice commands, tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the app (or say "OK Google" while the app is open), wait for the tone, and then speak your command.
- If you don't want to use voice commands, you can tap the keyboard icon at the bottom of the screen to type what you'd like to do.
- Check out How to Use Google Assistant to learn more about using the many features of Google Assistant.