100 new ways to make your day easier with Gemini for Home voice assistant

The Google Home Speaker is officially available to purchase, so we wanted to share more ways that people are using Gemini for Home – getting answers, playing music, organizing to-dos, controlling smart home devices and more. Check out 100 ways you can use Gemini to make your day easier, or just ask, “Hey Google, what can you do?” For even more help, going live with Gemini, or searching what your cameras are seeing just by asking, upgrade to Google Home Premium starting at $10 a month.

Morning: Start your day right

Wake up the home ¹

1. Control only the lights you want to: “Hey Google, turn on all the lights, except for the bedrooms.”
2. Easily correct a command mid-sentence if you change your mind: “Hey Google, turn off the coffee maker, actually, I mean on.”
3. Get the temperature just right: “Hey Google, it’s a little chilly this morning, can you heat things up?”
4. Check the camera history for what happened last night: “Hey Google, I heard a noise in my backyard last night. Was it an animal?” ²

Get fueled for the day

5. Reach your wellness goals: “Hey Google, suggest a smoothie recipe that’s high in fiber and will keep me going until lunchtime.”

6. Start a new breakfast routine: “Hey Google, add all the ingredients to make strawberry overnight oats to my shopping list.”

7. Hone your culinary techniques: “Hey Google, how do I cook my eggs over-easy without breaking the yolk?” or “How can I prevent the avocado in my sandwich from going brown by lunchtime?”

8. Broadcast announcements to keep the home running on schedule: “Hey Google, let everyone know it’s time for breakfast.”

Catch up on world events

9. Get a conversational overview of today’s headlines: “Hey Google, what’s the news today?” Follow up: “Tell me more about the second story.”

10. Discover what’s happening in your local area: “Hey Google, what’s the local news this morning?”

11. Explore topics that interest you: “Hey Google, tell me the latest news about the space station mission.” Follow up: “What are the main scientific goals?”

12. Understand how the news affects you: “Hey Google, can you explain what inflation actually means for my wallet?”

Get ready for the day

13. Prepare for the day: “Hey Google, do I need a jacket today?”

14. Beat the morning traffic: “Hey Google, how is the traffic to work right now?”

15. Get a summary of your plans for the week: “What’s on my calendar for the week?”

Mid-day: Multi-tasking

Knock-out multiple chores at once

16. Do even more with one command: “Hey Google, set a 20-minute timer for the chicken, start the vacuum cleaner, and play some relaxing music.” ¹

17. Conquer your to-do list: “Hey Google, remind me to clean out the freezer and take out the trash when I get home from work today.”

18. Lock up and tidy the house as you walk out the door: “Hey Google, turn off all the lights, close the garage door, and start the robot vacuum.” ¹

Manage your to-dos

19. Recall the lists you’ve made in Google Keep: “Hey Google, what lists do I have?”

20. Get all the recipe ingredients added to your grocery list just by describing it: “Hey Google, I want to make chicken piccata – can you add the ingredients to my grocery list?”

21. Quickly remove a category of items from your list: “OK Google, remove all vegetables from my shopping list.”

22. Manage a category of items in bulk: “OK Google, move all the gardening supplies from my shopping list to a new gardening list.”

23. Add to an existing note: “Hey Google, add ‘Meeting went well’ to my Journal note.”

Master your calendar

24. Get a summary of upcoming events: “Hey Google, what summer camps does Olivia have scheduled in July?”

25. Move an event on your calendar: “OK Google, move back volleyball practice by an hour.”

26. We’ve improved how Gemini handles recurring and all-day events. And, you can now simply ask about your upcoming events or move them around: “OK Google, set a reminder to water the plants every two weeks.”

27. Check your availability: “Hey Google, which Saturday afternoons are free this month?” Follow up with “Can you add ‘play date with Scarlett’ to the next free Saturday afternoon?”

Check-in on what’s happening around the house ²

28. Pinpoint exactly when someone left without scrolling through video footage: “Hey Google, when did the white Honda leave the driveway?”

29. Check in on after-school routines: “Hey Google, did the kids play in the backyard this afternoon?”

30. Confirm security: “Hey Google, did the garage door close after the delivery truck left?”

31. See what needs to be done: “Hey Google, are the garbage cans still out front?”

32. Confirm if help has arrived. Once you’ve tagged a familiar face, Gemini automatically checks your doorbell history to answer your questions directly: “Hey Google, when did the nanny arrive yesterday?”

33. Know the kids got home safely: “Hey Google, what time did the kids get home from school?”

Stay focused and productive while working from home

34. Learn time-management strategies: “Hey Google, explain the Pomodoro Technique to me.”

35. Get tips for a midday work break: “OK Google, give me some quick ways to relieve eye strain.”

36. Organize your tasks: “Hey Google, what are the best ways to organize my daily to-do list?”

37. Cut down on distractions: “Hey Google, how can I reduce screen time and stay focused while working from home?”

38. Incorporate mindfulness into your day: “OK Google, what are some simple breathing exercises to reduce stress?” Follow up: “Set a daily reminder to do this at 12 p.m.”

Put on your favorite background music

39. Find some music to support your flow: “Hey Google, what’s the best kind of music to listen to while studying?”

40. Can’t remember your playlist’s exact name? Just ask: “Hey Google, play my jams playlist.”

41. Hear new music from your favorite artists: “OK Google, play the latest album by [insert artist name].”

42. Stream the top tracks from an artist: “Hey Google, play the best songs by [insert artist name].”

43. Look up the story behind the lyrics: “OK Google, what do the lyrics from this song mean?”

Evening: The dinner rush

Get inspiration for dinner

44. Whip up a fast weeknight meal: “Hey Google, what’s a good 20-minute recipe that uses ground turkey?”

45. Find cozy, seasonal comfort food: “Hey Google, give me an idea for a refreshing summer soup.”

46. Cook with what’s already in your pantry: “Hey Google, what can I make for dinner using a can of black beans, and dry pasta?”

47. Reach your health goals: “Hey Google, teach me a low-sodium marinade for grilled chicken.”

48. Turn something simple into a dinner the whole family will enjoy: “Hey Google, I’m just making ham sandwiches for dinner, but what can I do to make it special and delicious so my kids will eat it?”

Prep in the kitchen

49. Improvise while you’re cooking: “Hey Google, I don’t have pine nuts, what else can I use for pesto?”

50. Take on new culinary challenges: “Hey Google, what’s the best way to prepare a 3-pound tomahawk steak? I like it medium-rare.”

51. Follow up on active timers naturally: “OK Google, how much time is left on my timer?” “How about now?”

52. Control multiple timers at once: “Hey Google, pause all my baking timers.”

53. Keep your preparation on schedule by saying: “Hey Google, preheat the smart oven to 350°.” ¹

Set the ambiance ¹

54. Light up your rooms by describing the look you want: “Hey Google, set the living room lights to the color of the ocean.”

55. Control your smart home more naturally: “Hey Google, turn off the dining room lights, actually, just dim them.”

Make family routines easier

56. Assign chores to family members: “Hey Google, add ‘feed the dog’ to Leo’s chore list.”

57. Keep track of what still needs to get done: “OK Google, what’s left to do on the family chore list today?”

58. Stay on top of time-sensitive school paperwork: “Hey Google, remind me to sign the permission slips by Friday.”

59. Deliver a message to a specific room: “Hey Google, broadcast to the kitchen, when do we leave for dinner?”

60. Choose which rooms don’t hear the announcement: “Hey Google, broadcast it’s dinner time except for the baby room.”

Help with homework

61. Tackle tough questions from curious kids: “Hey Google, how do I explain black holes to a kindergartener?”

62. Look up quick facts: “Hey Google, why is the ocean salty?”

63. Explore nature’s wonders: “Hey Google, how does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?”

64. Settle a debate: “Hey Google, my friend said time moves slower if you travel faster. Is that true?”

65. Demystify complex science: “Hey Google, how exactly does gravity bend light?”

66. Master tricky grammar rules: “Hey Google, how do I know when to use ‘who’ versus ‘whom’?”

Nighttime: Wind down the day

Create a relaxing environment

67. Get more accurate controls for your entire room: “Hey Google, turn off the kitchen.” ¹

68. Make follow-up adjustments to get your home just right: “Hey Google, set the thermostat to 72 degrees.” Follow up: “Make it a little warmer.” ¹

69. Fall asleep without playing media all night: “OK Google, set a sleep timer for 45 minutes.”

Decompress and rest

70. Get a solid documentary recommendation: “Hey Google, suggest a highly-rated documentary about nature.”

71. Look for a quick TV show to stream: “Hey Google, what’s a good comedy series with 30-minute episodes?”

72. Look up recent sci-fi favorites: “Hey Google, what are the top-rated sci-fi books released in the last five years?”

73. Get recommendations on good biographies: “Hey Google, suggest biographies of interesting but mostly unknown women in history.”

Find peace of mind ²

74. Keep an eye on live movement on your property: “Hey Google, is anyone in the backyard right now?”

75. Close up the home before bed: “Hey Google, make sure all the doors are locked and the garage door is closed.”

76. Double-check your home’s security: “Hey Google, did the lawn care team close the side gate when they left?”

77. Catch up on your household while you were out: “Hey Google, what happened in my home today?”

Prepare for tomorrow

78. Ask about your day ahead: “Hey Google, what’s my schedule for tomorrow?”

79. Make sure you don’t oversleep: “Hey Google, I have an early meeting tomorrow and need to wake up 30 minutes earlier.”

80. Plan your outfit or commute with a quick weather check: “Hey Google, will I need an umbrella tomorrow?”

Say goodnight

81. Ask for a bedtime story: “Hey Google, tell me a bedtime story about a dragon who is afraid of fire.” Follow up: “Add a friendly knight who teaches him how to roast marshmallows.”

82. Do even more within one seamless command: “Hey Google, shut off all the lights, set the thermostat to 68 degrees and turn off the living room TV.” ¹

83. Find energy savings by switching your thermostat’s settings: “OK Google, set the thermostat to Eco mode.” ¹

Weekend: Upgrade your activities

Plan a family outing

84. Brainstorm weekend plans: “Hey Google, let’s chat about what to do this weekend.” ³

85. Pick the perfect day for your outdoor plans: “Hey Google, is Saturday or Sunday better for a hike in Muir Woods?”

86. Make sure you’re prepared: “Hey Google, what’s a delicious healthy trail mix I can make for my hike?” Follow up with: “Make a note of that, and add the ingredients to my shopping list.”

87. See how the conditions look before you make plans: “Hey Google, what’s the surf forecast at Ocean Beach for tomorrow?”

88. Make sure it’s nice out: “Hey Google, will it be sunny enough for a picnic in Dolores Park on Sunday?”

89. Plan your watch parties for major events: “Hey Google, when is the next lunar eclipse?” Follow up with: “Put it on my calendar, and remind me the week before so I can make plans.”

90. Find activities close to home: “Hey Google, what farmers’ markets are happening around town this Sunday?”

91. Make the most of your trip to the market: “Hey Google, move all of my fresh produce from the grocery list to the ‘farmer’s market’ list.”

Pick up a new hobby

92. Get started on learning your favorite instrument: “Hey Google, what are the basic chords I need to learn to play the acoustic guitar?”

93. Find out how to take better photos: “Hey Google, how can I improve my photography skills using just my smartphone?”

94. Pick an easy first project: “Hey Google, let’s chat. What’s a good beginner project for someone learning how to knit?” ³

95. Find beginner-friendly classics: “Hey Google, give me a list of classic literature that’s actually an easy read.”

96. Manage your niche hobby gear: “Hey Google, turn on the monstera grow light.” Follow up with: “Dim the lights a little bit.” ¹

Host a gathering

97. Get the right amount of food: “Hey Google, how many pounds of tri-tip do I need for a BBQ with six people?”

98. Get your recipe quantities exactly right: “Hey Google, how many avocados should I buy to make a large bowl of guacamole?”

99. Design the perfect spread: “Hey Google, plan a vegetarian brunch menu for six people featuring seasonal spring produce.”

100. Keep your preparations on schedule: “Hey Google, guests are arriving at 6:30 p.m., and I want to serve dinner at 7:15 p.m. When do I need to put the chuck roast in the oven?”

For even more ideas, check out our previous list of 100 things to try with the Gemini for Home voice assistant.