You are now ready to use the Google Assistant’s Family Broadcast feature send messages on Android devices and iPhones with the Google Assistant app. Your family can then reply from their devices, creating a fun little back and forth that is much more convenient than calling someone (at least for small inquiries).
Previously, you could only send these shows to certain Google Home speakers and smart displays on the same WiFi network. Thanks to the expanded device support, broadcasts can communicate effectively with your entire family at all times. Use it to let your family know when dinner is ready, when you are running late, or to send important messages to all devices with a single Google Assistant command.
To use the Google Assistant family broadcast, you first need a Google family group in the Google Assistant settings. Google’s support page provides setup instructions based on the device you are using. Alternatively, you can register Google family website to set up a group, or in the Google app under More> Settings> Google Assistant> You> Your Co-workers> Your Family.
With your family group created, you can now send broadcasts from your Google Home devices, Android devices, or iPhones by saying “Hey Google” then:
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- “Transmission,”
- “Announce,”
- “Scream,”
- or “tell everyone”
Finally, record your message.
You can send to a single device or only to devices in a specific room or location. The Google Assistant also offers a selection of pre-made audio messages that you can send instead of recording your own. This includes:
- “I’m home.”
- “It’s time for bed.”
- “Breakfast is ready.”
- “Food is served.”
- “It’s lunchtime.”
- “Let’s go to the cinema.”
- “I’ll be back soon.”
- “It’s time to leave the house.”
- “The show is about to start.”
- “It’s time to wake up.”
The messages are displayed as notifications on all devices in the family group. Recipients can tap the notification to view the messages and send replies.
Send recurring announcements with Google Home Family Bells
Many of these automated messages can also be used as family bells. Bells are essentially shows that you can set up in the Google Home app to announce at specific times of the day. Bells used to be sent to a single Google Home device or ad, but can now be sent to any supported device connected to your Google Home account. Likewise, bells are currently available in English, but support for Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish will be offered in the coming weeks.
- Open the Google Home app, tap your profile picture, and select “Wizard Settings.”
- Scroll down and tap “Family bell.”
- Choose “Add a bell” to create a new custom bell, or choose one of the pre-made suggestions below.
- Enter the details of the new family bell and tap “Create a new bell” wrap.
- When the time comes, all Google Home devices connected to your account will receive Bell notifications.
