When your Pixel Buds are connected to a phone or tablet using Gemini, you can chat with Gemini through your earbuds.
To use Gemini on your Pixel Buds, you will need:
- Pixel Buds, Pixel Buds Pro, Pixel Buds Pro 2, or Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds
- Gemini set as your primary Google assistant on an eligible device
- To unlock your phone or tablet once after connecting your Pixel Buds
We’re gradually releasing Gemini on Pixel Buds wherever the Gemini mobile app is available, so it might not be available to you just yet.
Set up and use Gemini with your Pixel Buds
When you choose to use a digital assistant with your Pixel Buds, Gemini will respond when Gemini is set as your primary assistant on your phone or tablet. Learn how to get started with the Gemini mobile app.
To turn your digital assistant off on your Pixel Buds:
- Connect your Pixel Buds. If this is your first time using your Pixel Buds, follow the on-screen setup instructions.
- Open your device settings. Tap Connected devices
Pixel Buds settings
If your digital assistant is off for your Pixel Buds, tapping Digital assistant will show options to turn it on for your Pixel Buds.
Tip: If you already use Google Assistant with your Pixel Buds, when you switch to Gemini as your default digital assistant, you may get a notification to use Gemini with your Pixel Buds.
Chat with Gemini on your Pixel Buds
To chat with Gemini, connect your Pixel Buds then say “Hey Google.”
Important: To talk to Gemini with your voice, make sure “Hey Google & Voice Match” is turned on for the phone or tablet connected to your earbuds or headphones. Learn how to turn on “Hey Google & Voice Match.”
You can also chat with Gemini by touch when you customize the touch gestures. When you chat with Gemini on Pixel Buds, if you take out one earbud, it will pause Gemini’s response. Gemini will resume when you put your earbud back in.
To chat with Gemini on your Pixel Buds with a touch, customize the touch gestures on your Pixel Buds:
- Connect your Pixel Buds
- Open your device settings. Tap Connected devices
.
- Tap Touch controls
- Choose how you want each earbud to respond when you touch and hold.
Use Gemini with your Pixel Buds when your screen is locked
To talk with Gemini without unlocking your phone every time, connect and put on your Pixel Buds, and then unlock your phone. After that, you can talk to Gemini as if your phone is unlocked until you take out your Pixel Buds.
If this doesn’t work, check your “only require one unlock” setting:
- Connect your Pixel Buds
- Open your device settings. Tap Connected devices
- Tap Digital assistant
Get Gemini to read your notifications out loud
When you have your Pixel Buds in, if you want Gemini to read notifications like text messages, say “Hey Google,” then ask Gemini to read your notifications. To have Gemini read notifications to you when your Pixel Buds are connected, make sure Gemini has permission to access any apps that you want to receive notifications from, like Messages or Whatsapp.
You can also allow Gemini to read your notifications out loud by default:
- Connect your Pixel Buds
- Open your device settings. Tap Connected devices
- Turn Announce notifications on, then choose which apps you want to hear notifications from.
To stop Gemini from reading a single notification, when Gemini is speaking, double tap an earbud to stop. To stop Gemini from reading all of your messages out loud, turn on Do Not Disturb.