How to Make Calls With Google Home

Each smart speaker found in the Google Home line of products allows you to control connected appliances, play music, participate in interactive games, shop for groceries, and more. You can also make hands-free phone calls to the United States and Canada over a Wi-Fi network.

While you cannot call 911 or emergency services with Google Home, you can call any of your contacts, as well as any business listing maintained by Google. Short of those requirements, you can place a call by reading the digits aloud to Google Home.

Several prerequisites must be met before you can use Google Home to make phone calls. The first is to make sure you have the latest version of the Google Home app on your Android or iOS device.

Next, confirm that the Google account containing the contacts you'd like to access is linked to your Google Home device. To do so in the Google Home app, tap Devices (the button in the upper-right corner) > Settings (the three vertically-aligned dots) > Linked account(s).

Finally, check the device's firmware version to confirm that it is 1.28.99351 or higher. Tap Devices > Settings > Cast firmware version. Firmware is updated automatically on all Google Home devices. If the version that appears is older than the minimum requirement needed to make phone calls, contact a Google Home support specialist before continuing.

You can choose the language that Google Home communicates in.

To access your contact list with Google Home, the Personal results setting must be enabled using the following steps.

All contacts stored within your Google account are now accessible by Google Home for making phone calls. You can also sync contacts from your smartphone or tablet so that those become available as well. This step is optional.

Your device's contacts are synced to your Google account and your Google Home speaker. This can take some time if you have a large number of contacts stored on your phone.

Before placing any calls, it's important to know which incoming number will display on the recipient's phone or Caller ID device. By default, all calls placed with Google Home are made with an unlisted number—typically showing up as Private, Unknown, or Anonymous. Follow the steps below to change this to a phone number of your choosing.

The change is reflected instantly within the Google Home app, but it may take ten minutes to take effect in the system. To remove or change this number at any time, repeat the steps above.

You're now ready to place a call through Google Home. This is achieved by using one of the following verbal commands following the Hey Google activation prompt.

• Call [contact name]: Initiate a call to the personal contact you specify.
• Call [business name]: Call a particular business based on its name in Google's listings.
• What is the nearest [business type]?: Locate a nearby business (for example, a gas station) and follow up with a call if you wish.
• Call [phone number]: Make a call the old fashioned way through Google Home by speaking its digits aloud.
• Redial: Redial the last number called through your Google Home speaker.

To end a call, either tap the top of your Google Home speaker or speak one of the following commands:

• Hey Google, stop.
• Hey Google, hang up.
• Hey Google, disconnect.
• Hey Google, end call.

While most calls placed with Google Home to the United States or Canada are free, those made using your Project Fi or Google Voice account may incur charges based on the provided rates of those services. To link a Project Fi or Voice account to your Google Home, follow these steps.