Things to check before you can make calls on Google Home

Here’s a list of things you’ll need to check if you’re an Android user:

• Make sure you have the latest version of the Google Home app.

• Check that the Google Home firmware version is 1.36.141215 or higher.

• Ensure the Google app version is 7.17 or above. To check your Google app version number:

  • Open the Google app > Menu > Settings > About > Version number. (If you need the latest version, go to the Google app page on the Play Store and tap Update.)

• Make sure your Google Account is linked to your Google Home.

• You will need to be located in the U.S, UK or Canada to use this service.

• Set the language of your Google Assistant to English UK, English US, Canadian English, or French Canadian.

Here’s what you’ll need to check if you’re an iPhone user:

• Make sure you’ve got the latest version of the Google Home app.

• Check that your Google Home firmware is 1.36.141215 or higher.

• Make sure your Google Account is linked to your Google Home.

• These services are only available in the U.S, UK and Canada.

• Make sure your Google Assistant language is set to English UK, English US, Canadian English, or French Canadian.

Who you gonna call...with Google Home?

Whether you’re using an Android or iPhone, you probably won’t be able to reach Ghostbusters, but you’ll be able to make calls to:

• UK phone numbers from a UK number

• US or Canada phone numbers from a US or Canada number

At the moment, you can’t make calls to emergency services so if you need assistance, you’ll need to use your phone as normal.

Does it cost anything?

Because this feature uses Wi-Fi to make calls, they are free to most US, UK, and Canada numbers.

Setting up your Google Home to make calls

Follow these steps to set up voice calls on your Google Home.

Setting up voice calls for Android

Here’s how to set up your Google Home to make calls from an Android phone.

• If you want to call your Google Contacts, you’ll need to turn on ‘personal results’ (found in the settings for your voice assistant).

• To be able to call contacts saved on your Android phone or tablet:

  1. Open the Google Home app.

  2. Choose Account in the bottom-right corner.

  3. At the top, make sure the name of your Google Account is showing. To switch accounts, tap the down arrow.

  4. Go to Settings > Accounts & privacy > Google activity controls > Device Information.

  5. Turn on Device Information.

If you have quite a lot of contacts or you’ve added any new ones, it can take a few minutes for them to sync.

Setting up voice calls for iPhone

This is how to set things up so you can make calls through your Google Home with your iPhone.

• If you want to be able to call your Google Contacts, turn on ‘personal results’. This will be found in the settings for Siri.

• To be able to call contacts saved on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Turn on Device Information.

2. Download and set up the Google Home app from the app store.

3. Open the Google Home app.

4. Tap Account > More settings > Services > Voice and Video calls.

5. Under ‘Contacts Upload’ choose Upload Now.

Contacts from your iPhone will now sync with the Google Assistant automatically over time, so you shouldn’t need to worry about syncing them again. If you have a lot of contacts or have recently added some new ones, it can take a few minutes for them to be available for calling.

Using your Google Home to make calls

Now that everything is set up, these are the voice commands you can use to make calls using your Google Home, whether you’re on iPhone or Android.

Start as usual by saying "Ok Google" or "Hey Google", then:

• “Call [name of the contact]”.

• “Call [name of a business]”.

• “What is the nearest [business]?”. When the result has been found, you can then say, “Call them.”

• “Call [phone number].” (You’ll need to say the full telephone number.)

• "Redial." (This will redial the last number you called.)

When you’re done, you can end the call by:

• Tapping on the top of Google Home. For Google Mini, press and hold one of sides (9 o’clock from where the charger plugs in at the top).

• Say "Hey Google, stop/disconnect/end call/hang up."

If the other person puts the phone down, you'll hear the end call tone.

That should be everything to make sure you’re set up and ready to use voice calling on your Google Home. If you haven’t got one yet, or fancy upgrading from a Google Mini to a Google Home take a look at our full range.