What "Hey Google" actually is

Hey Google is a voice command feature that lets you talk to Google devices instead of typing or tapping. When you say "Hey Google" followed by a question or instruction, the device listens and responds out loud. It works on phones, tablets, smart speakers like Google Home, and some other devices with Google Assistant built in.

The feature is always listening for those two words — that is why it is called a "wake word". Once it hears "Hey Google", the device records what you say next and sends it to Google's servers to process your request. You might ask it to play music, check the weather, set a timer, or control smart home devices.

This is different from typing a search into Google.com. Instead of reading results on a screen, you get a spoken answer. The device also stores a record of what you said, which is why privacy matters here — we will cover that below.

Key Takeaways

  • Hey Google is turned on in Settings on most devices, usually under "Voice" or "Google Assistant" depending on what you own.
  • The feature requires the Google Assistant app or a device that has it built in, and it only works when the device has internet access.
  • Google stores audio recordings of your voice commands by default, though you can delete them manually or turn off storage in your account settings.
  • You can change the wake word from "Hey Google" to "OK Google" on some devices, or disable voice set up entirely if you prefer.

Turning on Hey Google on your phone or tablet

On an Android phone or tablet, open the Google app (the one with the colorful "G" logo). Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap Settings. Look for Voice or Google Assistant — the exact name depends on your Android version. Tap it, then find the option that says something like Voice set up or Hey Google detection. Toggle it on.

On an iPhone or iPad, the process is different because Apple controls the voice assistant. You cannot use "Hey Google" as a wake word on iOS devices the way you can on Android. You can still use Google Assistant by opening the Google app and tapping the microphone icon, but you have to tap it manually each time — it will not listen for "Hey Google" automatically.

After you turn on voice set up, the device will ask you to say "Hey Google" a few times so it learns your voice. Speak naturally and clearly. This training step helps the device recognize your voice and ignore other people talking nearby.

Setting up Hey Google on a Google Home or smart speaker

If you own a Google Home, Google Home Mini, or another Google smart speaker, Hey Google is usually on by default. You do not have to do anything — just say "Hey Google" and it should respond. If it does not, the device may not be connected to power or wifi, or the microphone may be muted.

Check the physical mute button on the device itself. On most Google Home speakers, there is a mute button on top that you can press. If the light is off or red, the microphone is muted. Press it again to unmute. If the device is plugged in and the microphone is on, try unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.

If you want to change the wake word from "Hey Google" to "OK Google", open the Google Home app on your phone. Tap the device you want to change, then tap Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down to Assistant voice and sounds or Voice, then look for Wake word. You will see your options — usually "Hey Google" or "OK Google".

Understanding what happens when you use Hey Google

When you say "Hey Google", the device records your voice and sends it to Google's servers. Google processes what you said, figures out what you are asking for, and sends back an answer. The device then speaks the answer out loud to you. This all happens in a few seconds.

Google keeps a record of these voice commands in your Google Account. You can see them, listen to them again, and delete them. To find them, go to myactivity.google.com on a computer or phone. You will see a list of your searches, videos you watched, and voice commands. Click on any voice command to hear the audio.

This storage is on by default. If you do not want Google to keep your voice recordings, you can turn it off in your account settings. Go to myactivity.google.com, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, and select Settings. Under Web & App Activity, toggle off the switch that says Include audio recordings. This stops Google from saving new voice commands, but it also means some features may not work as well.

Privacy and security trade-offs

Using Hey Google means you are trading some privacy for convenience. The device is always listening for those two words, which means a microphone is always on. Google does not send your audio to their servers until it hears "Hey Google", but the device itself is listening constantly.

If you are uncomfortable with that, you have options. You can turn off voice set up entirely and use the Google app by tapping the microphone icon instead. You can mute the microphone on a smart speaker using the physical button. You can also delete your voice history regularly — go to myactivity.google.com, find your voice commands, and delete them one by one or in bulk.

Some people keep Hey Google on for the convenience but delete their voice history every few weeks. Others turn it off completely and only use voice commands when they actively tap a button. There is no right answer — it depends on what feels right for your own situation.

Troubleshooting when Hey Google is not working

If you say "Hey Google" and nothing happens, start with the basics. Make sure the device has power and is connected to wifi or mobile data. On a phone, open the Google app and check that you are signed into your Google Account. On a smart speaker, check that the microphone is not muted.

If the microphone is on and the device is connected, try saying "Hey Google" more clearly and a bit louder. The device may not be picking up your voice if there is a lot of background noise. If it still does not work, restart the device by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.

On a phone, you can also check your settings again. Go back to the Google app settings and make sure voice set up is toggled on. If you recently updated Android or the Google app, the setting may have been reset. On a smart speaker, you can reset it to factory settings by holding down the reset button for about 15 seconds — this erases all your settings and voice history, so only do this if nothing else works.

Changing or disabling Hey Google

You do not have to use "Hey Google" as your wake word. On most Android phones and Google Home devices, you can switch to "OK Google" instead. Open the Google Home app or Google Assistant settings, find the wake word option, and select "OK Google" from the list.

If you want to turn off voice set up completely, go to your Google Assistant settings and toggle off the voice set up switch. This means you will have to tap the microphone icon manually every time you want to use voice commands, but the device will stop listening for the wake word.

You can also disable Hey Google on specific devices while keeping it on others. If you have multiple Google Home speakers, you can mute the microphone on one and leave it on for another. This gives you control over which devices are listening in which rooms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hey Google work without internet?

No. The device needs an internet connection to send your voice to Google's servers and get an answer back. If your wifi or mobile data is off, saying "Hey Google" will not work. Some devices can do very basic tasks offline, like setting a timer, but most features require internet.

Can I delete my voice history?

Yes. Go to myactivity.google.com, find your voice commands, and delete them. You can delete them one at a time or select multiple commands and delete them together. You can also turn off voice storage entirely in your account settings so Google does not save new commands going forward.

Is Hey Google always recording?

The device is always listening for the wake words "Hey Google" or "OK Google", but it does not record or send anything to Google until it hears those words. Once it detects the wake word, it records what you say next and sends it to Google's servers. If you are uncomfortable with this, you can mute the microphone or turn off voice set up.

Can other people use Hey Google on my device?

Yes. Anyone near the device can say "Hey Google" and use it. Google Assistant does not require you to be signed in. If you want to limit who can use voice commands, you can turn off voice set up or mute the microphone when you do not want others using it.

What is the difference between "Hey Google" and "OK Google"?

They are both wake words that do the same thing — they tell the device to start listening for your command. "Hey Google" is the newer default, but many devices still support "OK Google". You can usually switch between them in your settings. The device will respond to whichever one you choose.