Top 10 Google Home Commands to Simplify Daily Life

We choose to run an ad-free site, so this post may contain affiliate links. If you wish to support us and use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission. Learn more here.

Using voice commands with Google Home can help with regular tasks around the house. You can ask it to play music, set reminders, control lights, or check your calendar. These voice commands can make your day go smoother, especially when your hands are full or you just want things to be a bit easier. If you want to see how you can use your Google Home every day, keep reading. This post covers ten helpful commands you can try right now.

Set Reminders with Google Home

Close up of a stopwatch in a human hand
Set timers and reminders easily with your voice assistant.

One helpful feature of Google Home is the ability to set reminders using just your voice. You can ask Google to remind you about an appointment, a task, or even something simple like taking out the trash. Just say, “Hey Google, remind me to call Mom at 3 PM,” and the device will notify at the right time. This can help keep you on track with daily chores, work deadlines, or anything else you might forget. Setting reminders with Google Home is a hands-free way to stay organized without needing to look at your phone or write things down.

Check Your Calendar Events

Calendar with important day circled.
Use Google assistant to check your events for the day and manage your calendar.

Google Home can help you keep track of your plans by checking your calendar events with a simple voice command. You can say “Hey Google, what’s on my calendar today?” to hear your schedule for the day. If you want to know what is coming up later, try asking, “Hey Google, what’s on my calendar for tomorrow?” or “Hey Google, what’s next on my calendar?” This makes it easier to stay on top of meetings, reminders, birthdays, or any event you have added. You do not need to look at your phone or computer to check your plans. This command works with Google Calendar and can help you get quick updates while you are busy with other things.

Control Smart Lights

Front entryway of house at dusk with lights turned on.
Turn smart lights on, off, and more with Google Home.

One helpful way to use Google Home is to control smart lights with your voice. You can turn lights on or off in different rooms, dim them, or change colors if your bulbs support it. For example, saying “Hey Google, turn on the living room lights” or “Hey Google, dim the bedroom lights to 50 percent” will adjust the lighting right away. You can also set routines, like saying “Hey Google, good night” to turn off all the lights at once. These commands can help make it easier to manage lighting without needing to get up or use a phone app.

Adjust Your Thermostat

Nest learning thermostat on the wall.
Use your voice with Google Home to control your smart thermostat .

One of the most used Google Home commands is for adjusting your thermostat. You can say things like “Hey Google, set the thermostat to 72 degrees” or “Hey Google, raise the temperature by two degrees.” These commands help you change the temperature in your house without needing to get up or use your phone. If you have a compatible smart thermostat, you can also check the current temperature by asking Google. This can save energy and keep your home at a comfortable temperature throughout the day. Many people find it easy to add this routine to their daily habits, especially when waking up, going to bed, or leaving the house.

Play Music from Your Favorite Services

Speakers playing music on a white background.
You can use Google Home to play music.

As part of the most useful Google Home voice commands, playing music from your favorite services stands out. You can ask Google Home to play songs, albums, or playlists from apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, or Pandora. For example, you can say “Hey Google, play my workout playlist on Spotify” or “Hey Google, play jazz music.” This command saves time and lets you start music hands-free while you do other things. You can also adjust the volume, skip songs, or pause the music with simple voice requests, making it easy to keep your day moving without having to use your phone or computer.

Get Weather Updates

Field with flowers and sun shining, thermometer in the foreground.
Google Home can tell you about the weather.

One of the most common uses for Google Home is getting weather updates. By saying, “Hey Google, what’s the weather today?” users can hear a quick summary of the current weather conditions, including temperature and if it is going to rain. You can also ask for a forecast for the week or for a specific day by asking, “Hey Google, what’s the weather this weekend?” This helps people plan for commutes, outdoor activities, or trips. If you want to know the weather in another city, just ask about that location. Google Home can give information for almost any place you mention. This command can save time and help with daily planning.

Make Hands Free Calls

Woman cooking in kitchen, smart speaker in the foreground.
You can use Google Home to make hands free calls while you’re busy.

One helpful feature of Google Home is the ability to make hands-free calls. You can place a call to friends, family, or local businesses by saying “Hey Google, call Mom” or “Hey Google, what’s the nearest pizza place.” then “Call them.”. This is useful when you are busy cooking, cleaning, or doing other tasks and cannot reach for your phone. Google Home will use your contacts and can even call numbers you say out loud. This command helps you stay connected without having to stop what you are doing. It is especially helpful for people who need to multitask throughout their day.

Set Timers for Cooking

Kitchen timer on a grey stone countertop.
Google Home is great for making cooking timers hands free.

Setting timers for cooking is one of the most common uses for Google Home. By saying “Hey Google, set a timer for 10 minutes,” you can keep track of how long your food has been cooking without using your hands. This is helpful when your hands are dirty or you are busy preparing other parts of the meal. You can set more than one timer at once by naming them, such as “Hey Google, set an 8 minute timer for pasta.” Google Home will let you know when each timer is done, making it easier to avoid overcooking or burning food. This feature is useful for anyone who wants to manage time in the kitchen without needing to stop and use a phone or oven timer.

Ask for News Briefings

Cell phone in jeans pocket dis[playing the word News on it.
Get news updates from Google Home just by asking it to tell you the news.

Asking Google Home for news briefings is a simple way to stay updated while you go about your day. You can say, “Hey Google, tell me the news,” and the device will play a summary from your chosen sources. It can be set up to pull updates from local outlets, national channels, or even specific topics like sports or technology. This command can be useful during your morning routine or while you are getting ready for work. With news briefings, you hear headlines and updates without needing to pick up your phone or turn on the TV. This command helps you keep up with current events in a hands-free way.

Control Your TV with Voice Commands

Family watching sports on TV
Control your TV with your voice with Google Home.

Google Home can help make watching TV a bit easier by letting you use voice commands. If you have a smart TV or a streaming device like Chromecast, you can ask Google Home to “Turn on the TV.”, play a specific show or movie, pause or resume what you are watching, or adjust the volume. You can also switch between apps or channels with simple requests. This lets you handle your TV without needing to search for the remote. For people who watch a lot of streaming content, using Google Home for TV control can save time and keep things simple.

Summary

Google Home has many commands that help with daily tasks. You can set reminders, check your calendar, control smart lights, change your thermostat, play music, get weather updates, make calls, set timers, hear news briefings, and control your TV. These voice commands can make things easier when you are busy or just want to use your voice instead of your hands. Trying out these commands is one way to see how smart speakers can fit into your daily routine. If you use Google Home, these ten tasks can help you save time and keep your day running smoothly.

Latest News