The Download
- Google does not offer any official way to change the wake word for Google Home devices.
- There were unofficial apps that let you change your Google Assistant wake word, but most are no longer supported.
- You can activate your Google Home using the wake word ‘Ok Google’ or ‘Hey Google.’
In this article, you’ll learn more about the Google Home wake word, including some handy variations and whether or not you can customize it to something else.
How Do I Change the Responses From Google Home?
While you can’t change the Google Home wake word, you can set custom responses for your Google Assistant. When activated, your Google Home device can start custom routines, which you can use to turn on lights, change the air conditioning temperature, and more, depending on the other smart devices you have in your home.
To set custom responses, follow the steps below.
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Open the Google Home app on your smartphone and tap Routines to open the routines menu.
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Use your finger to select the Add Routine button, which looks like a multicolored plus sign in the bottom right.
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Tap Add Starter to choose how you want to activate the routine. You can activate it based on a voice command, a particular time of day, or even based on when the sun sets and rises.
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After setting the starter method, tap Add Action to set up the different things you want Google to complete when commanded to.
FAQ
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Can I change ‘OK Google’ to something else?
There’s no official way to change the Google Home wake word. Some third-party apps have popped up over the years that let you customize the wake word (i.e., rename Google Assistant), but it only affects the assistant on your phone and won’t change how your Google Home reacts at all.
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Why can’t I rename Google Assistant?
Google hasn’t given any official reasoning behind why it won’t allow users to change the wake word for Google Home, other than to say that there hasn’t been enough of a push for it. Despite not being able to change the wake word, there are a few variations you can make use of, including Hey Google and OK Google.
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