"Ok Google" voice search & actions: You can use your voice on the Google app or Chrome to do things like search, get directions, and create reminders.

"Ok Google" voice search & actions

You can use your voice on the Google app or Chrome to do things like search, get directions, and create reminders. For example, say "Ok Google do I need an umbrella tomorrow" to see if there's rain in the weather forecast.

Turn on voice search

Android

Change your voice search settings

1. Open the Google app .
2. In the top left corner of the page, touch the Menu icon  > Settings > Voice > "Ok Google" Detection.
3. From here, you can choose when you want your phone to listen when you say "Ok Google."

Learn more about the options for turning on "Ok Google" on an Android device

Start a voice search

1. Open the Google app .
2. Say "Ok Google" or touch the microphone icon .

iPhone or iPad app

Change your voice search settings

1. Open the Google app .
2. In the top left corner of the home screen, touch your photo. (If you're looking at Now cards, scroll up to the top of the page.)
3. Touch Voice Search.
4. From here, you can change settings like your language and whether you want to have a voice search start when you say "Ok Google."
5. Touch Done.

Start a voice search

1. Open the Google app .
2. Say "Ok Google" or touch the microphone .

Chrome & Chromebooks

Turn "Ok Google" on or off

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. In the top right corner, click the Chrome menu  > Settings.
3. In the "Search" section, check Enable "Ok Google" to start a voice search. To turn Ok Google off, uncheck this box.
4. If you're on a Chromebook, you may be asked to turn on the Voice & Audio Activity setting.
5. Under Enable "Ok Google" to start a voice search, you'll see where you can use "Ok Google." In Chrome, it's usually on google.com or a new tab. On some Chromebooks, you can say "Ok Google" from any page if your screen is on and unlocked.

Learn how the Voice & Audio Activity setting works, including what's recorded and how you can manage your history.

How to tell if the microphone is listening

"Ok Google" only works on a new tab page. Look at the microphone icon in the search box to see whether it’s listening for the phrase "Ok Google" or not:

Troubleshoot if you don't see the microphone icon

1. Update to the latest version of Chrome: If you already have Chrome installed, you can check for a new version by clicking the Chrome menu  > About Google Chrome.
2. Set up a microphone on your device: While some laptops and desktops have built-in microphones, others require external ones. You should be able to test the microphone in your computer’s audio settings in system preferences or control panel.

Ways to use your voice

If voice search is available in your language or your country, you can say most of these examples but some aren't available in every language.

Android

Note: You need to have Google Now turned on for some of these examples to work.

Calendar, alarms, reminders, & information

Set an alarm: "Set an alarm for 7 AM" or "Set an alarm for every Friday morning at 7 AM."

Set a reminder: "Remind me to call John at 6 PM" or "Remind me to buy Belgian chocolate at Ghirardelli Square."

See SMS (text) messages: "Show me my messages from Brian about dinner."

Create a Google Calendar event: "Create a calendar event for dinner in San Francisco, Saturday at 7 PM."

See your upcoming bills: "My bills" or "My Comcast bills 2013."

Check your schedule: "What's my day look like tomorrow?" or "When's my next meeting?"

Communicate with friends & family

Call a friend: "Call Lindsay Hampson" or "Call Mom."

Text a friend: "Text Jason that I'm running 5 minutes late."

Send a Hangouts chat message: "Send a Hangouts message to Bob" or "Start a Hangouts chat."

Start a Hangouts video call: "Start a video call" or "Video call Jane using Hangouts."

Send an email: "Send an email to Kristin, subject new shoes, message, I can't wait to show you my new shoes, full stop."

Check your voicemail: "Listen to voicemail."

Post to a social network: "Post to Google+ that I'm going to be in Seattle for the weekend."

Entertainment (music, movies, TV, books & pictures)

Directions & travel

Get directions: "Navigate to Safeway" or "Directions to 1299 Colusa Avenue Berkeley California."

Find nearby places: "Where's the closest coffee shop?"

Plan your trip: "What are some attractions in New York City?"

Look up travel plans: "Show me my flights" or "Where's my hotel?"

Book a table: "Book a table for 2 at Cascal on Wednesday night."

Facts & quick answers

Change your device's settings

Wi-Fi: "Turn on Wi-Fi" or "Turn off Wi-Fi."

Bluetooth: "Turn on Bluetooth" or "Turn off Bluetooth."

Flashlight: "Turn on my flashlight" or "Turn my flashlight off."

More apps you can use "Ok Google" with

You can say "Ok Google" to do voice actions with other apps on your device. This is currently only available on certain apps, and only certain phrases work.

More apps that work with "Ok Google"

• Flixster: "Show me Inception on Flixster."
• Instacart: "Show instacart availability."
• Lincoln: "Start my Lincoln MKZ."
• NPR One: "Listen to NPR."
• NextPlus: "Send a message with NextPlus."
• Realtor.com: "Show rentals near me on Realtor."
• Shazam: "Shazam this song."
• Telegram: "Send a Telegram message to Mom."
• TripAdvisor: "Show attractions near me on TripAdvisor."
• Trulia: "Show homes for sale in Boston on Trulia."
• TuneIn Radio: "Open TuneIn in car mode."
• Walmart: "Scan my receipt on Walmart."
• ​WeChat: "Send a message to Kate with WeChat."
• WhatsApp: "Send a WhatsApp to Joe."
• Wink: "Activate home mode on Wink."
• Viber" "Send a message with Viber."
• Zillow: "Show me open houses nearby on Zillow.

See more voice action examples.

Google learns some of your preferred apps

For some of these voice actions, when you don’t mention the app name in your request (for example, you only say “scan my receipt”), you’ll see a card in the search results with a button that will allow you to launch the app. If you request this action several times and tap the button each time, Google will learn that you prefer launching the app and will not ask you again.

If you prefer to be asked each time before launching the app:

1. Say or type the voice action.
2. Cancel by touching   .
3. Repeat a few times.

The app will no longer launch automatically, and will appear in search results again, in some cases after a few minutes.

Availability

These actions are available in English in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Singapore, and South Africa.

Your device needs to have the Google app 4.0 or higher with Web & App Activity turned on.

iPhone or iPad app

Calendar and reminders

Set a reminder: "Remind me to call John at 6 PM" or "Remind me to buy Belgian chocolate at Ghirardelli Square."

Create a Google Calendar event: "Create a calendar event for dinner in San Francisco, Saturday at 7 PM."

Check your schedule: "What's my day look like tomorrow?" or "When is my next meeting?"

Entertainment (music, movies & images)

Find new music: "What songs do Mumford and Sons sing?"

Find a movie: "What movies are playing tonight?" or "Where's Hunger Games playing?"

Search for images: "Show me pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge."

Travel and navigation

Get directions: "Navigate to Safeway" or "Directions to 1299 Colusa Avenue Berkeley California."

Find nearby places: "Where's the closest coffee shop?"

Plan your trip: "What are some attractions in New York City?"

Facts and quick answers

Find the time: "What time is it in London?"

Check the weather: "Do I need a jacket today?" or "What's the weather like tomorrow morning?"

Answer trivia questions: "Where was Albert Einstein born?" or "How old is Beyonce?"

Calculate the tip: "What's the tip for 42 dollars?"

Translate words or phrases: "How do you say cucumber in Spanish?"

Define a word: "What does gluttony mean?"

Convert between units: "What's 16 ounces in pounds?"

Solve a math problem: "What's the square root of 2209?"

Track a package from your Gmail order confirmation: "Where's my package?"

Chrome

Find a movie: "What movies are playing tonight?" or "Where's Hunger Games playing?"

Find nearby places: "Where's the closest coffee shop?"

Find the time: "What time is it in London?"

Answer trivia questions: "Where was Albert Einstein born?" or "How old is Beyonce?"

Calculate the tip: "What's the tip for 42 dollars?"

Translate words or phrases: "How do you say cucumber in Spanish?"

Define a word: "What does gluttony mean?"

Convert between units: "What's 16 ounces in pounds?"

Solve a math problem: "What's the square root of 2209?"

Book a table: "Book a table for 2 at Cascal on Wednesday night."