Most people who have used Android devices will already be familiar with Google Now, the personal assistant AI. It was Google’s answer to Apple’s Siri.
First launched for Android 4.4 KitKat, Google Now has developed over the years to become a rather valuable part of the Android experience.
Google has ensured that this feature has been integrated deeply into the Android user interface allowing people to complete a range of tasks with their voice alone.
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The Basics of Google Now
In order to access Google Now with your voice, you will have to enable voice detection first.
Once enabled, you can tell ‘OK Google’ followed by a command to your phone and Google Now will activate and start the action you commanded it to. Keep in mind that this feature only works when the screen of the phone is active.
Before proceeding, you should know that all of the voice commands you use with Google Now are stored in your linked Google account.
You can access these commands along with their recordings in the audio history of the account.
There are already a huge number of OK Google commands available these days. The number is only going to increase as Google keeps developing the app to make it more helpful.
All of these commands are very useful but there are some which have been included by Google simply for a bit of fun. After all, what’s life without a bit of color?
Google Search
There are various OK Google commands which can be used for making a search through the Google app. Some of the most widely used ones are given below.
- Search for [search term]
- What is [search term]
- Who invented [item name]
- How do you say [phrase] in [language]
- Say [phrase] in [language]
- What is [company name] trading at
- Stock price of [company name]
- How old is [person’s name]
- Who is married to [person’s name]
- Where was [person’s name] born
- Author of [book’s name]
- Define [term]
- What is the meaning of [term]
- Symptoms of [medical condition]
- Show me pictures of [search term]
Calculator
Google is capable of computing a variety of mathematical functions. Therefore, you can use OK Google and then say the function as you would have written it.
- What is [measurement unit] in [unit]: This can be used as “What is 123 miles in kilometers”. It can be used with all kinds of measurements such as length, volume and even currency.
- Convert [number] [unit] to [unit]: This is used as “Convert 100 USD to Euro”.
- What is [number] multiplied by [number]: This can be applied to all mathematical functions.
- Multiply [number] into [number]: You can modify this command to suit other mathematical functions.
- Square root of [number]
Weather
- Temperature in [city]
- ‘Do I need an umbrella today?’ This command is used to fetch the rain forecast in your current region/city
- Humidity in [city]
- How is the weather in [city] on [day] going to be
Maps
- Map of [place or city]
- ‘Where is the nearest [name of service]?’ This option works for restaurants, shops and ATMs among others. You can also make it more specific such as ‘Chinese restaurant’
- Find the [landmark]: Examples include the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower
- Navigate to [place] by car
- What are the attractions in [city]
- Directions to [address]: This option works for businesses, destinations and also specific addresses
- How far is [city] from [city]
When you are using the Navigation feature in Google Maps, you can make use of the following commands.
- Next step
- Mute
- Unmute
- When will I get there?: This option will give your estimated time of arrival
- Show alternate routes
- Resume navigation
- Exit navigation
Entertainment
- Play [song]: The song must be in your Google Play Music or on the device
- Next song
- Pause song
- Send a WhatsApp message to [person]
- [message]
- [yes/no]
Google Apps
- Search for [name of document] on Drive
- Set the temperature to [number] degrees: This command can be used only with Google Nest which has to be integrated to your account.
Other Apps
Google Now supports a range of commands for specific apps. Here are some of the OK Google commands for the most popular apps.
- Shazam this song
- Activate [mode name] mode on Wink
- Show Instacart availability
- Show me [movie name] on Flixster
Reminders and Notes
- Remind me to [action] at [time] on [day]
- Wake me up in [time period]
- Set alarm for [time]
- Note to self [message]
- Remind me [next time I’m at/ when I get] [location/home/work ] [action]
Social Media
- Post to Google Plus [message]
- Post to Twitter [message]
Easter Eggs
Google is well known for hiding fun tidbits in its products and Google Now is no different. You can enjoy a range of OK Google commands that will give you interesting and funny results.
- When am I
- Make me a sandwich!
- Sudo make me a sandwich!
- What is the loneliest number?
- Beam me up, Scotty
- What does the fox say?
- Who are you?
- Lions and Tigers and Bears
- What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?
This is by no means an exhaustive list as there are many other OK Google commands being added from time to time. Nonetheless, they will help you complete some of the tasks that you do frequently.