Here’s everything you need to know about Routines and how you can use them to your advantage.
What Are Routines?
A Routine is one of the best Google Home tips and tricks you need to know. It’s a set of multiple tasks that Google Home will automatically do with just a single command or trigger. For instance, you can create a Routine activated by the phrase, “Hey Google, let’s get sweaty,” and does the following:
Turns the air purifier on Switches the lights on Tells you a random joke Play your favorite workout song
What sets a Routine apart from the typical Google Home commands is that you no longer have to say the commands one at a time. It does everything you want it to do with only one phrase. Aside from a custom voice command, you can also configure your Routine to activate using any of these starters:
A specific time and day of the week At sunrise or sunset After an alarm on the Google Home speaker or display is dismissed After a specific smart home device does something (e. g. , when the smart lights turn on or off) When presence in the home is detected or absent
If you want to test out your Routine without having to wait for the specific trigger, you can also start it from your Google Home app.
Right out of the box, you have six pre-made Routines ready for use. There’s the Good Morning Routine that tells you about the weather, today’s calendar, reminders, upcoming birthdays, phone battery status, and the news as you get ready for school or work.
You also have the Bedtime Routine that sets an alarm for you, tells you about your phone battery status, and plays some white noise to help you fall asleep. Other available Routines are Commuting Home, Commuting to Work, I’m Home, and Leaving Home. Although pre-made, you can easily edit these Routines to meet your needs.
How to Use Google Home Routines
Here’s how to create a Routine to use.
Create a New Personal Routine
Personal Routines are personalized to you. You can use it to access personal information from Google Home, such as appointments from your Google Calendar and notes from your Google Keep.
Even though you might share a Google Home household with other family members, only you can make, edit, see, and start your own personal Routines. To create a personal Routine, here’s what you need to do:
Launch the Google Home app on your Android or iOS device. Tap on Routines on the home screen. Select the plus icon in the bottom-right corner. Choose Personal. Tap on the title of the Routine and enter a name for it. Tap on the Add starter button. Select a trigger for your Routine. Tap on the Add action button. Select your actions of choice from the list. If you didn’t find one, you can add a custom action by selecting the Try adding your own button. Once done, select the Save button.
Create a New Household Routine
A household Routine, on the other hand, is primarily for Routines involving shared smart home devices. Unlike the personal type, any family member with manager access can create and edit a household Routine, and every member of the Google Home household can check when it starts.
The best part about household Routines is that anyone can activate them, even visiting guests. However, household Routines can’t provide personal results like reminders for specific persons or events from anyone’s calendar.
To create a new household Routine, follow these steps:
Open the Google Home app. Select the Routines icon on the home screen. Tap the plus icon on the bottom right. Choose Household. Select the title of the routine and rename it. Tap on Add starter. Choose from the triggers on the list. These are almost the same as the ones from the personal Routines, except for the new trigger, When a device does something. Select Add action. Pick at least one action from the list. You can also add a custom command by tapping Try adding your own. Once done, tap on Save.
Edit a Routine
You can edit a Routine anytime you want. Simply go to Routines on the home screen of your Google Home app. Tap on the Routine you want to change. If you want to change the starter or add a new one, simply select the buttons under Starters. The same goes for the actions. Once you’re happy with the changes, tap on Save.
Pause a Routine
If you made a non-voice-activated Routine like one that automatically starts at sunset, you might want to pause it while you’re away on vacation. To do so, you just need to go to Routines on your Google Home app and select the specific Routine you want to switch off temporarily. Under the name of the Routine, turn off the Activate Routine toggle switch. Then, hit Save.
Delete a Routine
If you want to permanently remove a Routine from your list, you can easily do so from the Google Home app. Go to Routines and tap on the Routine you want to delete. In the top-right corner of the screen, select the trash icon. Choose Delete routine in the pop-up box to confirm. Take note that you can’t retrieve a Routine once it’s deleted.
Streamline Your Daily Routine With Google Home Routines
Google Home Routines are a terrific way to save time and effort as they automate your day-to-day activities and make your life more convenient. In just a few easy steps, you can have a Routine ready to turn on your coffee maker, switch off the lights, and greet you with the morning news, all with one simple trigger.
Whether you’re just getting started with Google Home or already have it for a few years, it’s useful to know how to make and manage Routines to get the most out of your smart home devices.
