The popularity of voice commands has increased significantly in recent years. Consequently, we have seen the rise of virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa. Seeing as there is a lot of buzz surrounding these apps at the moment, it’s no surprise Google did not want to be outdone in this department. Hence, the Google Assistant. Naturally, your Pixel 2/2 XL can make full use of this tremendously handy app, including the eponymous “Ok Google” function.
There are several ways to use Google Assistant, such as pressing and holding the home button. This will cause the interface to pop up and you can proceed with your requests. However, the most convenient way, and certainly the most fun, is by using the “Ok Google” voice command. This allows you to access your phone even when the device is completely out of reach, as no physical contact is required. As a result, this opens up many new and intriguing ways for you to use your Pixel 2/2 XL.
Taking advantage of this feature is very easy. It needs to be that way or nobody would use it. Therefore, setting up Ok Google is a pretty straightforward and hassle-free process and we’ll guide you through it.
Setting up Ok Google
Before we begin, make sure your Google app is updated to the latest version. This should happen either automatically or you’ll receive a prompt to do so. Alternatively, you can also find the app on the Play Store and update from there. Either way, ensure you’re up to date.
Next, you need to open the aforementioned Google app. The icon you need to tap is located somewhere on your home screen, depending on how you like to organize the layout.
Once you launch the Google app, enter the Settings menu by tapping the icon with the three horizontal lines, located in the corner of the screen.
The option we want is right at the top, under “Google Assistant”. From here, you’ll be able to turn it on, as well as enable “Ok Google detection”. There are other options as well and we highly recommend you tap through everything. It will allow you to get a better idea of all the interesting things you can do with your virtual assistant.
Using Ok Google
Now that you’re set up, you’ll want to know how you can use your new tool. The abilities of Google Assistant aren’t limitless, but it’s pretty smart when it comes to recognizing what you want. Simply start with the phrase “Ok Google” to prime it and speak away.
You can ask it questions, tell it to play music, make calls, set alarms, launch apps, and many other functions. You can find lists of the commands it can recognize online, but it’s also fun to experiment.
For example, we found “Ok Google” to be very useful when taking group photos. Just place the phone in the appropriate position, take all the time you need to set up, and tell it to take a picture. No need to deal with timers and no one needs to be left out.
Conclusion
Ok Google presents you with the opportunity to use your Pixel 2/2 XL in innovative ways. The things you can tell your phone to do seemed like science fiction until recently, yet now they are mere two words away. This function can help you save a lot of time and it’s immensely fun to boot.
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