How to use Gemini hands-free on your phone

Using Gemini hands-free through voice commands helps when driving, doing chores, or working. By adjusting a few settings in the Gemini app, users can control their phone, manage alarms, place calls, and dictate text messages without typing commands or navigating multiple menus.

Managing phone settings and utilities

Device Assistance, formerly called Utilities, lets Gemini control different parts of the phone through voice commands. To enable this feature, open the Gemini app, go to Settings > Personal Intelligence, and select Connected Apps. Find Device Assistance and toggle it on.

After enabling it, voice commands can manage the phone, set timers, control media playback, and perform other actions. For example, saying “Hey Google, turn on the flashlight” helps when looking for something in a dark room. Voice commands can also enable Bluetooth before connecting earbuds, activate Battery Saver when the phone is running low, adjust the volume, change screen brightness, and open specific apps or settings menus.

Running assistant tasks from the lock screen

Gemini can also handle tasks without unlocking the device. To enable this feature, open the Gemini app, go to Settings > Device controls, open Gemini on lock screen, and turn on Use Gemini without unlocking.

While the phone remains locked, Gemini can answer general questions, set or cancel alarms, start timers, pause music, turn on the flashlight, adjust the volume, and enable Battery Saver. Users can also ask for directions through Google Maps and control smart home devices.

Gemini may still ask users to unlock the phone before handling requests involving personal information, such as accessing calendar details. This prevents someone from picking up a locked phone and freely accessing sensitive information through voice commands.

Placing calls, sending messages, and changing voices

Gemini also lets users place calls and dictate text messages using voice commands. Saying “Call Mom” starts a phone call, and Gemini can also call a business or dial a specific phone number.

Sending messages works similarly. Users can ask Gemini to send a message and dictate its contents in the same request, such as “Hey Google, send Sarah a message saying I’ll be 15 minutes late.” Gemini uses the default messaging app to handle the request, and it also supports WhatsApp on Android. To set this up, open Gemini, go to Settings > Personal Intelligence > Connected Apps, and ensure Phone and Messages are connected. Users may also need to grant the Google app permission to access contacts and the phone.

Google offers several voice options for Gemini. To change Gemini’s voice, open the Gemini app on the phone, go to Settings > Voice > Gemini’s voice. Tap the voice names to preview them, select one, and tap Confirm.

Using Gemini hands-free allows users to complete tasks without interrupting what they are doing. Spoken commands can change a device setting, set an alarm, call a contact, draft a message, or start a timer. While typing remains useful for giving detailed instructions, speaking to Gemini is often faster and more convenient for quick questions and everyday tasks.