How to Add Apps to Google Home

Evan Gower March 23, 2020

Do you want to keep up with the latest trends? If so, don’t hire a home assistant. Buy a virtual one.

Use your voice to activate your smart speakers and multitask – call your parents while cooking, control other smart devices around your home, play music, and much more. What’s more, you can do all of this without reaching for your touch screen.

There are lots of useful and fun apps available for Google Home, so it’s up to you to personalize it according to your needs. Here’s how to add apps to your Google Home speakers.

Setting Up Apps on Your Google Home

To use Google Home speakers, you need to connect them to your smartphone. After you’ve done that, you can move on to browsing the apps you’d like to try out with your speakers. Google Assistant offers a wide variety of all types of apps, from fun and educational games to business tools and news.

The steps depend on whether you have an Android smartphone or if you’re an iOS user.

For Android Users

You should explore your options every once in a while, because there are a bunch of new apps available for Google Home all the time. Here’s how to start browsing:

Go to the Google Home app on your Android phone.
Tap on your account in the top right corner of the screen.
Make sure your Google account is linked to your Google Home device. If you need to connect another account to the speakers, tap on its name, or choose Add another account.
Return to the home screen, then choose Settings.
Find Google Assistant services and choose More settings.
Choose Services, and from there, tap Explore.
Enjoy browsing through the apps until you find what you like.
Tap on the app card and choose Link.
Log in to the app, but note that this process may be different for multiple apps.

All done, you’re ready to use the app! When you want to talk to a specific app, all you need to do is say, “OK, Google, let me talk to…” and then say the app name. If the connection is made, you’ll be notified with a short chime or an introduction from the app itself. Also, the voice that specific app will use is different from the one your Google Assistant uses.

For iPhone and iPad Users

If you have an iOS device, you can also enjoy the endless opportunities Google Home and Voice Assistant offer you. Here’s how to set up the apps and services. Note that, before you start, you need to have the Google Assistant app downloaded and installed on your phone. If you do, follow these steps:

Go to the Google Assistant app and open your account by tapping the icon in the top right corner.
If you have multiple Google accounts, check if you’ve connected the right one to Google Home. If the account you want to use isn’t on the list, choose Add another account to set it up.
From the home screen, choose Explore from the bottom left corner.
Scroll until you find the desired app.
Tap the app card and select Link.
Sign in and have fun! Just note that the process of signing in may differ from app to app.

Unlinking a Service on Google Home

Whether you use an Android or an iOS phone, here’s what you should do if you want to stop using an app:

Go to the Explore section, where you initially found the apps you wanted to use.
Find the desired app and tap the app card.
Choose Unlink and then tap Unlink again to confirm your choice.

What Are the Best Google Home Apps I Can Use?

Here are a few suggestions if you want to optimize your Google Home experience:

IFTTT is an absolute must-have, as it allows you to teach your Google Home to perform multiple tasks with only one command. IFTTT means “If This, Then That”. You can use it to automate many activities around your home. For instance, you can post to Twitter without typing or call your phone when you can’t find it by simply saying – “Find my phone!”
Video streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube are ideal for Google Home speakers. They’re supported directly by Google Home, and enable you to access an almost endless database of your favorite movies, TV shows, documentaries, and more.
Todoist is an excellent choice for busy people. This app is available for Android, iOS devices, and even Windows, and there’s a Google extension as well. As it covers almost any device you may use, it’s ideal for making sure you’ll stay on track with your errands.
Tasty is excellent for those who love to cook. This app allows you to explore delicious new recipes and ideas for your kitchen every day. Moreover, you can follow the recipe by watching the steps instead of reading what to do next, and you can always go back a few steps if you’re not sure about an ingredient.
Spotify will replace all your music apps, as it can play nearly any song that comes to mind. Whether you want to listen to something new or play your saved playlists, Spotify is there to treat you to the best music experience there is. If you’re not willing to pay for this streaming service, you can use the free version.

Home, Work, and Fun – All in One

Google Home speakers can optimize the time you spend at home by letting you multitask. Automated actions and the voice assistant make your life so much easier, it’s like having a little invisible friend to help you out.

What apps do you use on your Google Home speakers? Share your favorites in the comments section below.