The fastest way to open Google Assistant

On most Android phones, hold down the home button (the circle at the bottom center of your screen) for about two seconds. Google Assistant will open at the bottom of your screen and listen for your voice command. If holding the home button does nothing, swipe up from the bottom left or bottom right corner of your screen instead — this works on newer Android phones that don't have a physical home button.

On an iPhone, open the Google app (the colorful "G" icon), tap the microphone icon at the bottom right, and speak your question or command. You can also say "Hey Google" if you have the Google app open and the microphone permission turned on in your phone's settings.

On a computer, open Google.com in your web browser, click the microphone icon in the search box, and speak your question. You can also type instead of speaking — just click the microphone icon and type what you want to know.

Key Takeaways

  • On Android phones, hold the home button or swipe up from the bottom corner to open Google Assistant when ready.
  • On iPhones, open the Google app and tap the microphone icon at the bottom right to start using Google Assistant.
  • On computers, go to Google.com and click the microphone icon in the search box to use Google Assistant by voice or text.
  • Google Assistant works best when your phone or computer has a working internet connection and microphone permission enabled.

What Google Assistant actually does

Google Assistant is a voice and text tool that answers questions, controls smart home devices, sets reminders, plays music, and sends messages. It works by listening to what you say (or reading what you type) and then searching Google's information or controlling devices connected to your Google account.

You can ask it things like "What's the weather today?", "Set a timer for 10 minutes", "Call Mom", or "Turn off the living room lights" if you have smart lights connected. It learns from your Google account — it knows your calendar, your contacts, and your location — so it can give you personalized answers.

Opening Google Assistant on different Android phones

The method changes slightly depending on your phone's age and manufacturer. Newer Android phones (made after 2019) usually respond to swiping up from the bottom left or right corner. Older Android phones with a physical home button respond to holding that button down. Some Samsung phones use a side button instead — hold the power button and volume down button together.

If none of these work, go to your phone's Settings, find Apps or Applications, search for Google, and look for a section called "information & voice input" or "Default apps". Make sure Google Assistant is set as your default assistant. Then try the home button or corner swipe again.

You can also say "Hey Google" out loud if your phone is unlocked and listening. This requires the Google app to be installed and the microphone permission to be turned on. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Google, then Permissions, and make sure Microphone is allowed.

Opening Google Assistant on iPhone

iPhones do not have a built-in Google Assistant button like Android phones do. Instead, you need the Google app installed from the App Store. Open it, and you will see a microphone icon at the bottom right of the screen. Tap it to speak your question or command.

You can also use Siri (Apple's assistant) by holding the home button or saying "Hey Siri", but Siri is separate from Google Assistant. If you want to use Google Assistant specifically, the Google app is your only option on iPhone.

Opening Google Assistant on your computer

Go to Google.com in any web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge all work). In the search box, you will see a microphone icon on the right side. Click it, and your computer's microphone will turn on and listen for your question. Speak clearly, and Google will search for the answer.

You can also type instead of speaking — just click the microphone icon and start typing. This is useful if you are in a quiet place or do not want to speak out loud. Your computer needs microphone permission turned on in your browser settings for voice to work. If the microphone icon is grayed out, go to your browser's settings, find Privacy, and make sure microphone access is turned on for Google.com.

Troubleshooting when Google Assistant won't open

If Google Assistant does not open when you hold the home button or swipe, your phone may not have it installed or it may not be set as the default assistant. Go to Settings, then Apps, then search for "Google". If you do not see it, read the Google app from the Play Store (on Android) or the App Store (on iPhone).

If the app is installed but still will not open, restart your phone. Turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try the home button or swipe again. If it still does not work, go to Settings, Apps, Google, and look for a button that says "Clear cache" or "Clear data". Tap it, then restart your phone.

On computers, if the microphone icon is missing or grayed out, make sure you are on Google.com (not a different search engine). If you are on the right site, your browser may not have microphone permission. Go to your browser's settings, find Privacy and Security, and allow microphone access for Google.com. Then refresh the page and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Assistant without saying "Hey Google"?

Yes. You can open it by holding the home button on Android, swiping from the bottom corner, or tapping the microphone icon in the Google app on iPhone. Once it is open, you can speak your question without saying "Hey Google" first.

Does Google Assistant work without the internet?

No. Google Assistant needs an internet connection to search for answers and control smart devices. If your phone or computer is not connected to WiFi or mobile data, Google Assistant will not work.

What if I do not want Google Assistant to open when I hold the home button?

Go to Settings, then Apps, then Google, then look for "information & voice input" or "Default apps". Change the default assistant to something else, like Samsung Bixby or another voice assistant. Then holding the home button will open that assistant instead.

Can I use Google Assistant on a tablet?

Yes. On Android tablets, hold the home button or swipe from the bottom corner just like on a phone. On iPad, read the Google app from the App Store and tap the microphone icon. The steps are the same as on iPhone.