• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Google Home Guides

  • About
    • What is Google Home?
    • Google Home Mini vs Google Home
    • Google Nest Mini vs Home Mini: what’s new and what’s not changed?
    • Nest Audio vs Google Home: new features and improvements
    • Contact Us
  • How-to
    • How to create and use Google Home speaker pair (stereo pairing)?
    • Google Home layout and buttons
    • How to factory data reset Google Home?
    • Meaning of Google Home LED lights (and colors)
    • 3 methods to change Google Home volume and how to silence Google Home
    • How to set up Google Home with Google Home app?
    • How to rename Google Home?
    • How to find and redeem Google Home promotional offers?
    • How to customize Google Home settings?
    • How to use Google Home as a Bluetooth speaker?
    • How to change Google Home WiFi network settings?
    • How to adjust alarm volume and timer volume in Google Home, Google Home Mini, Nest Audio and Google Home Max?
    • How to adjust the equalizer (EQ) of Google Home, Google Home Mini and Google Home Max?
  • Home Mini
    • How to connect Google Home to a Bluetooth speaker?
    • Meaning of Google Home Mini LED lights and Google Home Max LED lights
    • How to use touch control for Google Home Mini?
    • How to reset Google Home Mini?
    • How to reset Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen)?
    • Google Home Mini layout and buttons
    • Layout of Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen)
    • Google Home Mini vs Google Home
    • How to adjust alarm volume and timer volume in Google Home, Google Home Mini, Nest Audio and Google Home Max?
    • Google Nest Mini vs Home Mini: what’s new and what’s not changed?
  • Nest Audio
    • Nest Audio Layout
    • How to Factory Data Reset Nest Audio?
    • How to control Nest Audio?
    • Meaning of Nest Audio LED lights
    • Nest Audio vs Google Home: new features and improvements
  • Buyer Guides
    • Google Home Mini vs Google Home
    • Google Nest Mini vs Home Mini: what’s new and what’s not changed?
    • Nest Audio vs Google Home: new features and improvements

How to customize Google Home settings?

This guide shows you how to customize Google Home, and what can be customized for all Google Home devices and what can be customized for individual Google Home devices.

Why you need to customize Google Home settings?

Contents hide
1) Why you need to customize Google Home settings?
2) What are the options to customize Google Home settings?
3) How to customize Google Home settings?
4) What can you customize for Google Home?
5) How to customize Google Assistant settings for Google Home?
6) How to customize Google Home news feed?
7) How to customize My Day for Google Home?
8) Can you customize Google Home settings now?

After settings up Google Home, you can start to use it immediately.

But you may not know you can customize Google Home settings to meet your needs and to get more from your Google Home.

All customization for Google Home settings can (and must) be done through Google Home app.

In this guide, I will show you how to customize Google Home settings (and Google Assistant settings), and what the options are for all Google Home devices and what are for individual Google Home devices.

What are the options to customize Google Home settings?

Google Home is actually powered by Google Assistant as explained in this page.

So, to customize Google Home settings, you have the following two options to:

  • customize Google Assistant, which is tied to your Google account for all Google Home devices.
  • customize Google Home (and Google Assistant) settings for individual Google Home device.

These two options to customize Google Home settings work to compliment each other, both from Google Home app.

Some Google Assistant settings and customization will affect all your Google Home devices using Google Assistant.

This means if you have more than one Google Home device, you only need to customize Google Assistant for Google home once. The customization will be applied to all Google Home devices automatically.

Some Google Home settings and customization are tied to individual Google Home device. For example, you can turn on or off  personalized results in individual Google Home.

In short, some settings may affect other Google Home devices and some settings (customization) only work in individual Google Home device.

This is actually convenient for most Google Home owners.

You only need to customize some common settings once and therefore, it is not necessary to repeat the process for all new Google Home devices. At the same time, privacy settings can be turned on/off in individual Google Home device.

How to customize Google Home settings?

To customize Google Home settings, you have to use Google Home app.

In addition, the specific Google Home device whose settings are to be customized should be powered on and connected to the WiFi network.

In Google Home app, as shown below, you can access the Google Home device either:

  • from navigation menu (Hamburger menu marked as A in screenshot below) —Devices
  • or, from device shortcut (marked as B in the screenshot below)

The result of these two ways to access Google Home device in the Google Home app is identical.

How to customize Google Home settingscustomize Google Home settings

customize Google Home settings customize Google Home settings

As shown above, in the device list, you should be able to find the Google Home device.

If you cannot find your Google Home in the list, you should check the LED lights color in the device.

As shown above, you can tap the menu button (3 vertical dots), then tap Settings to access Google Home settings.

You can then start to customize Google Home settings.

What can you customize for Google Home?

In the device settings, you can find the items(aspects) for customization.

1. Linked account (s)

Google Assistant requires a Google account. You can link a Google Account to this Google Home device.

If you have more than one Google account in the mobile device, you can select it here.

2. Music

You can set the default music service provider from Google Play music, YouTube Music, Spotify or Pandora.

As explained in Google Home setup guide, you can only choose one from the list because this will be the default one.

Other service providers can be used if you specify it in voice command. For example, you can ask Google Home to  “play XXX on Spotify”.

3. Home control

You can use Google Home to control linked smart devices, e.g., Nest Thermostat, Philips Hue.

If you do not have any such smart devices, you can ignore it.

4. Shopping list

By default, Shopping list is linked to your shopping lists in Google Keep app.

5. More Google Assistant settings

As there are many settings related to Google Assistant, Google decides to move other Google Assistant settings to a dedicated page.

Tap this button to jump to that page (discussed later).

As shown in the screenshot below, items 2-5 are under Google Assistant.

6. Name

When you set up Google Home the first time, or after you factory data reset Google Home, the default name of the Google Home name is always XXXX room Home.

Of course, you can change the name for the Google Home as you want so that it is easy to know who is who.

7. WiFi

The current WiFi network name is listed here.

You can tap it to change WiFi network for Google Home (if both WiFi networks are accessible).

8. Guest mode

Google Home guest mode works identically to guest mode in Chromecast.

Your guests can use certain features of Google Home, e.g., casting audio to Google Home, if guest mode is enabled in Google Home.

You may refer to this guide on how to use Google Home guest mode.

customize Google Home settings customize Google Home settings

customize Google Home settings customize Google Home settings

How to customize Google Assistant settings for Google Home?

As mentioned above, from Google Home device settings page, tap More (marked as 5 in the screenshot above) to enter Google Assistant settings page (shown below).

You can also access Google Assistant settings from Google settings in any Android phones as well. However, the specific devices can only be found in Google Home app.

As shown in the two screenshots below, Google Assistant Settings are arranged in two levels:

  • Device type level (Google Home or Pixel phones currently).  For example, Tap Google Home as shown above, you can find you can switch to Google Assistant settings for Pixel phones if you want.  Different types of devices may have slightly different Google Assistant settings.
  • Individual device level. You can further customize Google Assistant settings for individual devices. In this guide, for example, you are trying to customize Google Home settings for a device named Family room Home.

Under device type level settings (marked as 9-16 in the screenshot below), you can change Google Assistant settings for all Google Home devices.

9. Music

This is identical to #2 mentioned above.

10. Home Control

This is identical to #3 mentioned above.

11. News

You can customize news feed for your Google Home devices.

We will discuss it later.

12. My Day

You can customize the summary info for you, including weather, traffic, schedules and other important info.

Read on for details on how to customize My Day in Google Home.

13. TV and speakers 

You can cast and control music and videos on Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices.

It essentially makes Google Home a voice controller for Chromecast and Chromecast Audio.

14. Shopping list

This is identical to #4 mentioned above.

15. Services

Google Home allows you to access many third-party services.

This is the most interesting (and underused) features of Google Home.

16. Videos and photos

You can select Google Photos or Netflix videos to cast to Chromecast and Chromecast Audio.

Individual device settings work only on this specific device. In the screenshot below, Google Assistant settings #17-20 only work on the Google Home named Family room Home.

In other words, items #9-16 discussed above customize Google Assistant on all of your Google Home devices; while items of #18-20 customize Google Assistant on this specific Google Home device.

17. Device address

You can customize Google Home address to get localized weather and traffic info.

18. Personal results

Google Home can offer your personal results like calendar events, reservations, orders and many more.

But this requires Google Assistant to scan your emails and calendar.

You can turn on such info in individual Google Home device.

19. YouTube Restricted mode

YouTube restricted mode allows you to filter out some contents.

Again, you can turn on/off this mode on individual Google Home devices.

20. Assistant language

Currently, Google Assistant is available for US English only.

In the future, you may have options to choose other languages.

customize Google Home settings customize Google Home settings

You may also notice that there are some Google account settings (marked as 21 and 22 in the screenshot above) related to Google Assistant.

These settings are your Google account settings that are used by Google Assistant.

You can, of course, customize these settings. But this will affect all your Google products.

For example, under Personal info (marked as 21 in the screenshot above), you can change home and work address.  Such changes will affect other services that use this info, for example, Google Maps.

How to customize Google Home news feed?

As mentioned, you can customize Google Home news feed.  And any changes would affect all Google Home devices.

In other words, you cannot customize news feed for individual Google Home devices.

You can choose news feed source and arrange the order of the feed.

To customize news feed order, you can tap and hold a feed and move it up and down, then drop it in the desired location.

For example, as shown below, you can hold the BBC Global News (marked as 1), then move it up. Once you drop it above Fox News, you will get BBC Global news before Fox News.

Tap Customize (marked as 2 in the screenshot below), you can find all available feeds.

To enable or disable a news feed, you can tap the selection icon. If there is a check mark, it means it is enabled. If it is an empty square, it means it is disabled.

customize Google Home settings customize Google Home settings

customize Google Home settings customize Google Home settings

How to customize My Day for Google Home?

You can bring up My Day with voice command  Hey Google, what’s my day? or Hey Google, Good morning!  or some other similar commands.

As mentioned above, you can customize My Day for Google Home.

To customize My Day for Google Home, you can tap My Day in Google Assistant settings page (marked as 12).

In the My Day page as shown above, you can enable/disable weather, work commute, next meeting and reminders.

You can also customize weather info and work commute settings.

After the summary, you can optionally enable or disable news feed.

Can you customize Google Home settings now?

If you have any questions on how to customize Google Home settings or customize Google Assistant, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

Please check other Google Home guides here.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol says

    December 28, 2017 at 9:53 am

    Not making calls searched followed steps but calls not in my settings

    Reply
    • simon says

      December 28, 2017 at 3:27 pm

      It is mainly for US only.


      Our Facebook page || Galaxy S6 Guides || Galaxy S7 Guides || Android Guides || Galaxy S8 Guides || Galaxy S9 Guides || Google Home Guides || Headphone Guides || Galaxy Note Guides || Fire tablet guide || Moto G Guides || Chromecast Guides || Moto E Guides || Galaxy S10 Guides || Galaxy S20 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

  • View gadgetguideonline’s profile on Facebook
  • View MadeBySimonMa’s profile on YouTube
  • View +SimonMaSg’s profile on Google+

RSS Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides

  • How to use Galaxy S21 camera quick launch?
  • How to charge Galaxy S21 battery properly?
  • Layout of Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra
  • How to migrate to Galaxy S21 with Samsung Smart Switch?
  • Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S21+ vs Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • Top 6 disappointments of Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • Official Samsung Galaxy S21 User Manual

RSS Galaxy S20 guides

  • How to Use Enhanced Processing on Galaxy S20 with Android 11 update?
  • How to access, use, and customise widgets on Galaxy S20 lock screen and AOD screen with Android 11 update for Galaxy S20?
  • How to update Galaxy S20 to Android 11?
  • How to use Galaxy S20 lockdown mode?
  • Top 11 new features in Galaxy S20 Android 11 update
  • How to use Galaxy S20 recovery mode?
  • How to use 5 different shooting methods for Galaxy S20 camera?
  • How to use and customize power mode on Galaxy S20?

RSS Galaxy10 Guides

  • Top 10 new features in Android 10 update for Galaxy S10
  • Top 5 new features added in Galaxy S10 September Update
  • How to move apps to the micro SD card to free phone storage on Galaxy S10 ?
  • Galaxy S10 wireless charging guide
  • How to use app folders on Galaxy S10 Home screen and Apps screen?

RSS Galaxy S9 Guides

  • How to lock Galaxy S9 home screen layout on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?
  • How to use Galaxy S9 camera Pro Mode on Galaxy S9 and S9+?
  • How to use Multi Window on Galaxy S9 and S9+?
  • How to reset Galaxy S9 and S9+? What is Galaxy S9 factory data reset?
  • How to use micro SD card on Galaxy S9 and S9+?
  • How to use dual aperture to manually switch Galaxy S9 camera aperture in Pro mode?

RSS All About Chromecast

  • How to use Chromecast to stream music to dumb speakers (as Chromecast Audio does)?
  • Chromecast Ultra vs Chromecast 2nd Gen
  • How to launch Videostream (and other Chrome apps as well)?
  • Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth: advantages and disadvantages of Chromecast Audio

RSS Moto G Phone Guide

  • Moto G8 vs Moto G8 Power vs Moto G8 Power Lite vs Moto G Power vs Moto G Stylus vs Moto G Pro vs Moto G fast: What are the differences?
  • Moto G8 User Manual for Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Play
  • Moto G8 Plus vs Moto G8 Play: Differences and common features

RSS Android Guides

  • How to use notification history and notification logs in Android 11?
  • How to use native screen recorder in Android 11?
  • How to use dark theme scheduling in Android 11?
  • How to play Android 11 Easter Egg game (Android Neko Cat game)?

RSS Drive in Singapore

  • Top 5 rules of driving in Singapore safely and legally during COVID-19 Circuit Breaker period
  • Understand COE Price by 10 Simple Questions
  • How to convert a foreign driving license to a Singapore driving license?
  • How to get a Touch ‘n Go card as a Singapore driver?
  • What is covered in the car warranty in Singapore? What is not?
  • What is the Singapore Road Speed Limit?
  • How to register, collect and use Malaysia Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP)?
  • Why are cars in Singapore are so expensive?
  • Drive to Malaysia
  • Car Maintenance and Servicing in Singapore

RSS Headphone Guide Pro

  • Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds Live: what’s new in Galaxy Buds Pro?
  • Samsung Galaxy Buds Live vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus vs Apple AirPods Pro
  • A Complete Guide for Jabra Elite Sport
  • 5 best new features and improvements of Galaxy Buds Plus (Galaxy Buds+ vs Galaxy Buds)
  • Top 10 new features of AirPods Pro (vs AirPods 2)

Top Google Home Guides

  • Meaning of Google Home Mini LED lights and Google Home Max LED lights
  • How to change Google Home WiFi network settings?
  • How to set up Google Home with Google Home app?
  • How to reset Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen)?
  • Layout of Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen)
  • How to factory data reset Google Home?
  • How to reset Google Home Mini?
  • How to use Google Home as a Bluetooth speaker?
  • Google Home layout and buttons
  • How to use touch control for Google Home Mini?

Footer

RSS Galaxy S6 Guide

  • Android Nougat Update Guide for Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6 edge+
  • how to use widgets in Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge?
  • Galaxy S6 auto factory reset in Android Marshmallow update
  • FAQs on Android Marshmallow update for Galaxy S6

RSS Galaxy S7 Guides

  • Top 7 new features in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge
  • Official user manual for Galaxy S7 with Android Nougat update
  • Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge Android Nougat update guide
  • How to access and use Galaxy S7 developer options?

RSS Kindle Fire For Kid

  • The ultimate guide of USB-C fast charging on Fire HD 10 2019, Fire HD 8 2020, and Fire HD 8 Plus
  • Fire HD 8 Plus (2020) vs Fire HD 8 2020 (10th Gen) vs Fire HD 8 2018 (8th Gen)
  • How to use the micro SD card on Fire HD 10 2019 (9th Gen), Fire HD 8 (8th and 10th Gen) and Fire 7 (9th Gen)?
  • Fire HD 10 2019 (9th Gen): everything you need to know
  • How to install Google Play Store on Amazon Fire Tablet: Fire 6, Fire 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10?

© 2015–2021 · GadgetGuideOnline.com is a online community for Gadget Owners! · Hosted by PTRHosting
Google Home guides, tips and tricks for Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, Google Home Hub, and Google Nest Hub.
Powered by Genesis framework for WordPress
Disclaimer: Google, Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, Google Home Hub, and Google Nest Hub are trademarks of Google. This website is NOT affiliated with Google in any ways. All the information provided on this website is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis and you agree that you use such information entirely at your own risk.