How to Set Up Google Home for Multiple Users

Customize Google Home for every member of your household

by
Amanda Derrick
Amanda Derrick
Freelance Contributor
Amanda Derrick is a mechanical engineer, business strategist, and former Lifewire writer who has also written for USAF Civil Service, ATK, and Boeing.
our editorial process
Amanda Derrick
Updated on November 30, 2020

Google Home speakers can perform a variety of tasks with simple voice commands, including playing music, delivering weather reports, and placing phone calls. To take advantage of these features, Google Assistant must be programmed to recognize your voice. You can also teach it to recognize multiple voices.

Here's what you need to know to add multiple users to your Google Home devices so that you can access all the best-customized features.

Add Multiple Users to Google Home

You can add up to six users to every speaker or Smart Display in your Google Home set. Here's how:

  1. Open the Google Home app.

  2. In the bottom menu, select the Home icon.

  3. Select the speaker or Smart display that you would like to teach to recognize a user.

  4. Select the gear icon to access Device Settings.

    How to get to the smart speaker settings in the Google Home app.

  5. Select Link your account with Voice Match.

At this point, your Google Home device walks you through the steps to learn your voice. You're instructed to repeat phrases like Ok Google and Hey Google so that the speaker can match your voice every time you address the device.

The latest version of Voice Match keeps the voice model that you create on Google's servers, which means you only have to complete the match process once. After Google captures your voice the first time, it can apply your voice profile to other devices when you go through the setup process above.

If Google doesn't recognize your voice, it treats you as a guest. You get answers to queries like "What's the weather like right now?" but you won't get personalized results like you would with Voice Match. If you have a problem with Google recognizing your voice, re-match your voice to tune up the recognition.

Add and Manage Users and Devices with Google Assistant

Wondering what devices your voice is linked to? Does your Google Assistant need a refresher on what your voice sounds like? You can do both of those things following these steps:

  1. Open the Google Home app.

  2. In the bottom menu bar, tap the Account icon in the upper-right corner.

  3. Select Settings > Voice Match. Here you can choose from:

    • Teach Your Assistant Your Voice Again to have Google re-learn your voice.
    • Invite Others Who Use Your Devices to add access for other users on your network.
    • Shared Devices with Voice Match lets you check what devices your voice is matched to.
    • Remove Voice Match from either an individual device by selecting the X next to it or from all devices with the command at the end of the list.
    How to get to Voice Match options on the Google Home app.

Why Your Kids Need Their Own Google Home User Accounts

It doesn't take long for even young kids to figure out that saying Hey Google makes things happen on your Google Home device. To keep your child from making purchases or accessing music or videos that may be inappropriate, have them use voice matching under their Google accounts. Then Google Assistant recognizes them and behaves appropriately.

To manage your child's Google account, download the Family Link app. You must have a Google account, be over 18, and have an updated operating system for your device. You can also manage some of the settings at families.google.com.

Restrictions are based on the child's age. In the U.S., kids under 13 won't be able to:

  • Play YouTube content (videos or music).
  • Use YouTube Music without a YouTube Music family plan.
  • Make purchases.
  • Use non-Google applications that aren't For Families approved.

There are still plenty of fun things your kids can access on Google Home, like these Disney games designed especially for kids. But you'll know they won't make purchases or cruise YouTube without you.

With multiple users, you can get personalized content through each of your Google Home devices and protect your kids from content that you don't want them to access.

Was this page helpful?