How to Set Up and Use “Routines” in Google Assistant

Author: Cameron Summerson / Source: howtogeek.com

Google recently announced that Assistant would be getting “Routines” that let people execute multiple actions with a single phrase. Routines are now live, and here’s how to use them.

Understanding What Routines Can and Can’t Do

While we initially presumed you would be able to add any action to a routine, that’s actually not the case.

In fact, it’s fairly limited in this initial implementation.

In ithe current state, you can only use six, predefined routines:

Each of these routines offers a limited set of options, and each set depends on the particular routine. Here’s a look at each one:

Good Morning
- Take your phone off silent (Android) and set ringer /media volume
- Adjust light, thermostats, and more
- Tell you about the weather, your commute, calendar, and reminders
- Play music, news, radio, podcast where you left off, or audio book where you left off
Bedtime
- Put your phone on silent (Android)
- Tell you about tomorrow’s weather and first calendar event
- Set an alarm
- Adjust light, thermostats, plugs, and more
- Adjust media volume
- Play music with a sleep timer, or sleep sounds
Leaving Home
- Adjust lights, thermostats, and more
I’m Home
- Adjust lights, thermostats, and more
- Broadcast to Google Homes that you’re home
- Tell “home” location reminders
- Adjust media volume
- Play music, news, radio, podcasts, audiobooks
Commuting to Work (Android/iOS Only)
- Tell you about today’s commute, weather, calendar events, and reminders
- Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats, and more
- Adjust media volume
- Play music, news, radio, or podcasts
Commuting Home (Android/iOS Only)
- Tell you about your commute
- Adjust lights, plugs, thermostats, and more
- Send texts
- Read unread texts