YOUR Android phone is more powerful than you realize – but only if you unlock one of its biggest upgrades.
Google has hidden a powerful set of tricks inside millions of Android phones.
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We’re talking about the Google Assistant, which has dozens of life-changing perks.
It’s easy to think of the voice-controlled virtual assistant as a gimmick – but it can totally transform the way you use your Android phone.
It was introduced in 2016 for Pixel devices, but rolled out more widely on Android in 2017 – so you almost certainly have it.
We’ve picked out some of the very best Google Assistant commands that you absolutely must try.
#1 Search what you see
If you’ve spotted something interesting or exciting in the real world, you can use Google Assistant to identify it.
It’s part of the Google Lens Search What You See feature.
Maybe you’ve spotted an amazing desk you’d like to buy, a spider you want to identify, or a famous landmark that you’re not sure about.
Simply say “Hey Google, open Google Lens” and then use the viewfinder to snap what you’re looking at.
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You’ll then be able to get more info about whatever is in front of you.
#2 Open an app
If you’ve had an Android phone for a while, it’s likely that you’ve got loads of apps.
That can make it difficult to find some apps, especially if you don’t use them often.
But Google Assistant can instantly find the app you need with a simple voice command.
Simply say something like “Hey Google, open Uber”.
Some apps will even allow you to launch specific actions using Google Assistant.
For instance, you could say “Hey Google, play Abba on Spotify”.
#3 Read the page
If you can’t be bothered to manually read what’s on the page, get Google to do it for you.
Yes, you can ask Google Assistant to read an article, web post or something else.
Just make sure that you’re in Google Chrome, the Google app, or Google News.
Then simply ask “Hey Google, read this page”.
Google Assistant will read the page out loud, which can be very helpful.
#4 Language interpreter
Google has a live-translation skill that lets you talk to someone in a foreign language.
It means you can speak into your phone and output a foreign language of your choice.
And another person can speak in their language back to you – with Google Assistant translating in real time.
Simply say something like “Hey Google, be my Spanish interpreter”.
Google Assistant supports 44 different languages for this incredibly useful feature.
#5 Find your parked car
If you’ve ever forgotten where you’ve parked your car, you’ll know it’s a nightmare.
But Google Assistant is here to help.
Simply say “Hey Google, I parked here”.
Then when you need to find your car, you can simply ask Google where you parked.
You’ll be directed to the exact spot so that you can find your car in seconds.
