The Best Tips and Tricks With Google Assistant!

I think this is the best voice assistant on the planet, and when used with some of the best hidden tips and tricks, the Google Assistant is extremely powerful. Today's video will take you through Google Assistant routines, as well as powerful word combinations with Google Chrome, Google's camera on your phone, the calendar, reminders, and for you iPhone users I'll even show you how the Google Assistant and Siri can work together!
Links to other resources for today's video:
Google Home Routines - • NEW Google Home Routin...
Using Siri and Shortcuts With Google Assistant - • How To Control Google ...
Google Assistant Tips and Tricks Part 2 - • Hidden Google Assistan...
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Thanks for watching, and Don't Hate, Automate.
Brian

[@ddhsd]

Love your videos deep diving into Google Assistant I will be using it so much more often instead of just timers and the weather.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Great to hear! That Google Assistant is so much more than timers and weather!

[@Sandman1803]

Great video and well researched as usual. Are you going to get involved in Wear OS? would be interesting in understanding the use of Wear OS with home automation

[@AutomateYourLife]

Definitely!

[@vinamrajeet]

Thanks a lot for man ! LOVE YOUR VIDEOS 👍

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thank you!👍

[@lany_07gaming]

Great info and review as always.👍

[@AutomateYourLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@genoc66]

SO amazed at the quantity of information you gave me! I can now configure my assistant to my needs. The reason I stumbled upon you is because of a long winded search to find out why I'm not able to use the assistant WHILE on a phone call. For example, I would be, say, on the phone with my partner and a question would come up between the two of us like "how old is so and so". While on the conversation, I used to be able and tap the mic icon and ask "Hey Google, how old is so and so?" and the assistant would answer. It no longer works for me. Even more frustrating is when I'm on a phone call cooking and ask Google to set a timer...it doesn't work 😑

[@AutomateYourLife]

Hmmmm, I don't know that you can do it anymore. I tried this yesterday and couldn't. Must have been a change. I'm betting it's related to newer privacy settings on the phones, as they're trying to make sure you know which app is using your mic.

[@Joseph-ko2kl]

Thanks! I had no idea I could all that with voice and I have had Pixel phones since the start!

[@AutomateYourLife]

So glad to hear that!

[@TechWithBrett]

This is next level stuff, as was that photo 😀.

[@AutomateYourLife]

You're next level! But thanks Brett! And thanks for happily being featured in my video many times ;)

[@MeepMeep88]

12:02 I had to do that once when it was super sunny outside. Couldn't find the damn brightness bar so I just said "hey google turn the brightness level to 100%" lol

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's a good tip for others!😃

[@PatHiggins-Mayo]

This is great,thanks

[@AutomateYourLife]

Glad you like it! Thanks Pat!

[@coy9898]

My google speakers seem worse lately for understanding commands, eg. I am 2ft away from kitchen speaker and it sets timer on the bedroom speaker. I’ve even corrected it several times

[@AutomateYourLife]

Ditto. Totally.

[@ronm6585]

Thank you sir.

[@AutomateYourLife]

oh thank you sir!

[@Matt369oi]

Appreciate the video! Unfortunately, Google Assistant has been pretty useless lately. It doesn't wake up to my response unless I restart my phone, it also gets text to speech wrong quite often. It didn't used to be like this, but from what I read online, some update that they did, completely destroyed it. I've also went through all the steps of making sure to retrain, give it full access, make sure Bixby isn't activated, etc...

[@AutomateYourLife]

They're certainly messing it all up

[@monicamcdonald5474]

Brian, when I take a screen shot with the phone keys (Samsung Note 9) it saves it to my Gallery. When I TELL my phone to take a screen shot, it does but it doesn't save it or give me the options at the bottom to share, etc.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Did you check and see if there are other folders it's maybe saving it in? If not, I'd definitely be sending Google that feedback or chatting with them. That's a bad bug if so

[@monicamcdonald5474]

@@AutomateYourLife I didn't but I will AFTER THE SUPER BOWL... GOOOO KANSAS CITY, er, BENGALS!

[@monicamcdonald5474]

Found them Brian. They were in my Samsung folder. Thanks once again!

[@AutomateYourLife]

@@monicamcdonald5474 😜

[@BookTube0ne]

I have The Blend on Sirius XM play overnight to help me fall asleep, but haven't found a way to set a timer for it. accept by telling my device to stop playing in 3 hours. Any tips?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Start a routine with a Wait in it for 3 hours, or set 2 routines! One does the stop with a "Create your own" command as "Stop" Should work! Didn't try it obviously.

[@BookTube0ne]

@@AutomateYourLife Thank you Brian

[@SmarthomeRiggs]

Once again, you show me how I'm under utilizing my Google... And off topic, but "Red Swan Pizza"? Never heard of it, how is that?

[@AutomateYourLife]

It's not where I live either...it's where my "address" is in Google for videos like this. Soooo lemme know!!

[@raimond2308]

Home/away can be handy, but at the moment it only works for my NEST CAMS. Further I can only add lights and switches. Why isn't it possible to add a thermostat??? You can add it in normal routines, but not in the home/away.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Tell me about it. You can add outlets or plugs I think too, but that's about it.

[@hannahabdullah5997]

Hi I liked your video can you tell me how to get the little Google button on my phone

[@AutomateYourLife]

Not sure what you're asking here. You could look at a widget?

[@paulclark2410]

All of my google nest mini 2nd gens constantly need to be power cycled to become responsive again. Factory reset doesn't fix this. Other google products like OG google home and hub max work fine. Anyone else have this issue? I'm on wifi 6 FYI, with good coverage.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Could it be power related? WiFi at WiFi 6 doesn't help a Nest Mini as it's best is WiFi 5, but that's same for all Nest speakers/displays. I'd test maybe putting them on a UPS or battery backup if you have one just to see what happens. If you get a good result, maybe you can just replace a power supply.

[@pepper419]

I know this is pretty stupid question but the one I asked Google is " do I have to have google home unit in order to make google assistant function. My "HOME" unit won't connect with my phone. And I don't have assistant. I assume they don't work together because I never have had assistant and I've had HOME for years. I now bought some lights that work with assistant and want to know if I have to buy another HOME unit just to make the lights work.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Assistant can work, just get the Google Home app. Just think of a Google nest speaker like the Google Assistant on your phone, with a bigger speaker

[@SonicFanaticEthan]

I guess I will try some new features :)

[@AutomateYourLife]

Enjoy!

[@garethjones5068]

Wasn’t aware that Google Assistant now has Shortcuts, I’ve been using the Apple Shortcuts a lot since I jumped over to an iPhone, including ones that invoke Google Assistant

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yeah it's a good little feature they added a while ago. It's not as good as Apple Shortcuts by any means, but better than a poke in the eye.

[@garethjones5068]

@@AutomateYourLife It’s good that the smart assistants are all taking good practice from eachother, that way it’s the consumer who wins

[@gibbo271]

Okay so the read aloud feature on the chrome browser with ga does not work here in denmark.. allround all the commands do not work here in denmark with the danish assistant..

[@AutomateYourLife]

Sadly, there is a difference with languages and countries. That's probably going to happen for quite a bit. Sorry!

[@bobbieker8915]

How come on my Note 10 Plus I don't have the Google Assistance app? But when I go into settings I find a featured that says digital assistants app!

[@AutomateYourLife]

I think you should be able to just download it Bob!

[@bobbieker8915]

@@AutomateYourLife Ok thanks 👍

[@SonicFanaticEthan]

I do have a pixel 6 and it does the same thing as shown in the video.

[@AutomateYourLife]

It should! Great!

[@MeepMeep88]

For my samsung note 10+ I hold the home button. Lol don't know how to switch it to the side button unfortunately which would be better since it'd be one click instead of 3 (double tap to wake screen and tap+hold home button).

[@MeepMeep88]

1:46 I brought up google assistant while on the chrome app, none of those options came up lol. Even after clicking the keyboard. Lol this is frustrating, cause that'd be a cool feature to mess around with.. Having google read the web page quickly 🤣

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yeahhhh, I figured a few of these would be a problem on Samsung's stuff. Maybe try adding Google Lens the app? See if that helps. Also, did you just try to say "read this page" by bringing up G.A. in Chrome?

[@carldimmock]

Double press side key advance features On the Samsung s20 ulta and I could also do this with my note 9. It won't let you open the Assistant but you can open google home and click the speaker Settings > advance features > side key > double press and change that to the app.

[@MeepMeep88]

@@AutomateYourLife That worked! I was on a Lowes page when I did it the first time. I guess that confused it. Then I went to a random normal web page, and it read it just fine. Thank you! Time to tinker some more with this then lol

[@AutomateYourLife]

Enjoy!

[@RicolaMint]

I configured the 'at home/away' feature to turn on (or off) lights in my appartment. But this is not very smart. It turn all my lights on even if it's a sunny Day at 3pm. I don't know if i need to configure the 'turn Light on sunset' but this is also à bad feature. I live in a place surrounding by mountains and the 'sunset time' is clearly not the same as the sun is behind the mountain. I think 'sunset time' is base on earth curve and not the 'real' place. I think Google can do better. They know mountains elevations with Google Maps so they 'just' have to integrate both feature in one (earth curve + mountains elevation)

[@AutomateYourLife]

Those are 2 details that current home automation can't deal with really well. This is where we need triggers in Google Home Routines, because then you could just base it on a lux sensor.

[@daneo617]

Now the dedicated assistant button on newer phones makes much more sense 👍🏼✌🏼

[@AutomateYourLife]

Peace and love

[@EsotericArctos]

Samsung tried that with the Bixby button - we all know how that ended lol. I have no problem in having the power button or a swipe up do the Assistant as a shortcut. A lot of people still won't want to use the assistant so a dedicated button may not appeal to the masses as much as a shortcut that can be set if needed. :) Just my view on this one

[@michelebruni5454]

OOOOOOOOH THE ZIGBEEEEE!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Ooooooh the Gooogleeeyyyyyyy?

[@cjcottell]

Haha, on the S10 you can create a Bixby command to "open Google assistant" and then assign to the Bixby button on one click. It's under settings>advanced features>Bixby key This took an age to faff with as Samsung have disabled the ability to directly apply the assistant app.

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's a really great one Chris! Thank you for sharing!

[@pfurrie]

Video idea: how to make a smart home that doesn't look like a smart home (no obvious sensors, no visible robot vacuum, switches that work like ole school switches, etc).

[@AutomateYourLife]

Interesting thought! Lemme ruminate on that one and see what I can put together.

[@juliopiche5008]

I installed the door sensors but I can get any signal from them, I think was a waste of money

[@AutomateYourLife]

Depends on what you picked up

[@Devo_gx]

Just remember: your phone isn't in a set room, so "turn on the lights" will turn on ALL lights in your home! (I've done that more than once)

[@AutomateYourLife]

ahahahhaa, yeah...that's an ugly little bug there eh?

[@paulm9374]

when i search my photos, google assistant says "showing photos" but google photos app does not open on android phone

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's an odd one. Seems like maybe you have a different default or are having a problem with the app. I think get some support for that

[@paulm9374]

@@AutomateYourLife wow quick response. Thanks I will follow up

[@Ilovecats55635]

I download it Google Lens app

[@AutomateYourLife]

😃

[@idlesurfer214]

Google Assistant leaves Siri trailing in its dust. *SIRIously*

[@AutomateYourLife]

ba dum tssssssss!

[@idlesurfer214]

@@AutomateYourLife LOL. I just couldn't resist it.

[@davidjamgochian]

Android version 12

[@32121132]

You are press the buttons way to fast, can't see what you're selecting.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Good news! You can slow down the speed of certain parts. On YT there's a play speed setting in the gear icon

[@alwaysright3718]

No "shortcuts" in Australia Google Home

[@AutomateYourLife]

Try changing Google assistant to English US and see on reboot of app after a bit

[@AutomateYourLife]

Oh and go through Google assistant

[@alwaysright3718]

@@AutomateYourLife Already set to English US and not there going through Assistant...

[@alwaysright3718]

@@AutomateYourLife No "Your Apps" no "Presence Sensing" either... I'm using iPhone...

[@CharlesReiche]

I ask my phone that I have unlocked and holding in my hand to take a screen shot and the google home speaker across the room tells me that it can't take a screenshot. Thanks Google.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Lol...there I can't help! Unless you turn down sensitivity on that one?