I don’t always have time or the inclination to type out a prompt when I want help from Gemini. Sometimes I’m driving, doing chores, or working. That’s when Gemini’s hands-free features come in handy.
I can ask Gemini to call someone, control my phone, manage alarms, and help with everyday tasks without typing commands or navigating multiple menus.
A few settings make these hands-free interactions even more useful, and after I got them working, I found myself reaching for the keyboard far less.
Here are the features I use to get more out of Gemini without typing a single word.
I let Gemini handle quick phone tasks with my voice
Device Assistance controls my phone
Gemini can handle several everyday phone tasks without making me navigate through menus or tap multiple buttons. Its Device Assistance feature (formerly called Utilities) lets me control different parts of my phone using voice commands.
To enable this feature, open the Gemini app, go to Settings > Personal Intelligence, and select Connected Apps. Find Device Assistance and toggle it on.
After enabling it, you can give Gemini voice commands to manage your phone, set timers, control media playback, and perform other actions.
For instance, I say “Hey Google, turn on the flashlight” when I’m looking for something in a dark room. I can also enable Bluetooth before connecting my earbuds or activate Battery Saver when my phone is running low.
I can also adjust the volume, change screen brightness, and open specific apps or settings menus.
I use Gemini even when my phone is locked
It can handle tasks from the lock screen
I don’t always want to unlock my phone to ask a quick question or carry out a simple task. Gemini has a lock-screen setting that lets me access certain assistant features without unlocking the device.
To enable it, open the Gemini app, go to Settings > Device controls, and open Gemini on lock screen. Turn on Use Gemini without unlocking.
Gemini can do several things while the phone remains locked. You can ask general questions, set or cancel alarms, start timers, pause music, turn on the flashlight, adjust the volume, or enable Battery Saver. You can also ask for directions through Google Maps and control smart home devices.
Gemini may still ask you to unlock your phone before handling requests involving personal information, such as accessing calendar details. This prevents someone from picking up your locked phone and freely accessing sensitive information through voice commands.
I call people and send messages without typing
For hands-free operation
Sometimes, I may need to call someone but don’t want to stop what I’m doing to open the Phone or Messages app. Gemini makes this easier by letting me place calls and dictate text messages using voice commands.
For example, I can say, “Call Mom” to start a phone call. I can also ask it to call a business or dial a specific phone number.
Sending messages is just as straightforward. I can ask Gemini to send a message to someone and dictate its contents in the same request.
For instance, I can say, “Hey Google, send Sarah a message saying I’ll be 15 minutes late.” Gemini uses my default messaging app to handle the request. It also supports WhatsApp on Android.
To set this up, open Gemini and go to Settings > Personal Intelligence > Connected Apps. Make sure the Phone and Messages apps are connected.
You may also need to grant the Google app permission to access your contacts and phone.
Change Gemini’s voice to make conversations feel more natural
Customize how it speaks
Since I use Gemini hands-free often, I don’t want every interaction to sound like I’m talking to the same default assistant. Google offers several voice options, so I can pick one that I find more pleasant to listen to.
To change Gemini’s voice, open the Gemini app on your phone, go to Settings > Voice > Gemini’s voice. Tap the voice names to preview them, select one, and tap Confirm.
Get more out of Gemini without touching the keyboard
The biggest benefit of using Gemini without typing is that I can get things done without interrupting what I’m doing.
I can ask Gemini to change a device setting, set an alarm, call a contact, draft a message, or start a timer.
I still type when I need to give detailed instructions, but for quick questions and everyday tasks, speaking to Gemini is often faster and more convenient.
