11 Ways to Get More From Your Google Nest Hub
Google currently sells two smart displays: the seven-inch second-generation Nest Hub and the 10-inch first-generation Nest Hub Max—both packed with so many features that you may not have had time to take full advantage of them. potential.
If you’ve been using the Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max to simply check the time and weather, watch YouTube clips, and chat with Google Assistant about random trivia, read on to learn a few useful commands to add to your rotation. (These were tested on the second generation Nest Hub, but should also work on the Nest Hub Max unless otherwise noted.)
1. Wake up carefully
One of the reasons you can set an alarm on the Nest Hub rather than on your phone is that you get more options for a gentle wake-up call: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, tap the alarm icon (the clock symbol), then select ” Set an alarm” and select a time.
On the next screen, you can select a gentle alarm tone, but there is also a Sunrise Alarm menu. Open it and you can choose the soothing gradient effect shown on the display (and any connected smart lights), as well as turn on a soothing pre-alarm sound.
2. Stream any media
Your Nest Hub comes with Chromecast built-in, so you can stream virtually any video and audio from your phone as long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Just press the cast button on your phone’s app of choice—you can, for example, send movies from Plex or podcasts you play in Pocket Casts .
3. Use gesture controls
Sometimes it is more convenient to use gesture controls, for example, when you are dozing in bed or when you have some things in your hands. In the Google Home app on your phone, open the Hub tab, then tap the gear icon (top right) and select Quick Gestures to set everything up.
For example, to pause media playback, lift your palm up (Nest Hub Max) or touch the air in front of the display (Nest Hub). Alarms can be turned off by raising your palm up (Nest Hub Max) or waving your hand (Nest Hub). You’ll see a full list of supported gestures in the Google Home app.
4. Sending a message
If you have multiple Nest speakers and displays in your home, you can broadcast a message (such as “dinner is ready” or “we’re leaving in two minutes”) to all of them at the same time. On your smart display, open Communications and select Broadcast , then speak your message. If you want to speak directly to a specific speaker at home, select Call Another Room .
5. Make the hub recognize you
Set up voice recognition (Nest Hub) or facial recognition (Nest Hub Max) to get personalized results—for example, asking questions about your Google Calendar schedule or listening to your own YouTube Music playlists. This is useful if you live with several people who use the same center.
This can be set up through the Google Home app by tapping the Nest Hub you want to work with, tapping the gear icon (top right), and then selecting Recognize & Share . You can choose which Google accounts are linked and how recognition works.
6. Turn on dark mode.
Your Nest Hub has a dark mode that you can use if you find it easier on your eyes. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, tap the gear icon to open Settings, and then tap Display. You can select Light , Dark , or Auto —the latter will automatically adjust the screen based on the time of day and lighting conditions in the room.
7. Connect to other smart devices.
Any Google Assistant-compatible device you can add to the Google Home app can also be controlled through the Nest Hub. If you go to the Home control screen on your smart display, you’ll see all your connected devices and their controls.
You don’t get as much control as you do in the individual companion apps for these devices, but there’s still plenty to play with: With smart lights, for example, you can turn them on and off, and change their brightness and color levels.
8. Create a digital photo frame
To turn your Hub into a digital photo frame, select the device in the Google Home app, then tap the gear icon (top right) and select Photo Frame . Here you’ll be able to choose the images shown on your smart display: you can choose from images created by Google or from images stored in your Google Photos library (sorted by album or specific people).
9. Discover Google Assistant
Don’t neglect the Discovery tab on the right side of the Nest Hub home screen. It demonstrates some useful questions you can ask Google Assistant: You can open recipes, find nearby restaurants, open your photo library, and more.
However, these are just suggested examples. Say “Hey Google” and then ask anything you want to know—from how long the drive will take to any sporting event start times—and Google Assistant will give you the answer right on the screen.
10. Connect a larger speaker
The Nest Hubs have decent built-in speakers, but you can also pair them with larger Bluetooth speakers if you need more sound. Swipe up from the bottom of the display, tap the gear icon to open Settings, then select Bluetooth to pair with a new device. To establish a connection, you need to put the individual speaker into pairing mode.
11. Track your sleep
This only applies to the Nest Hub because it has a tiny built-in radar that can track your tossing and turning in bed. To get started, tap Calibrate Device to get your sleep data from the Health screen, then follow the instructions to set it up.
For this to work, the Nest Hub needs to be close enough to your bed, so a nightstand is ideal. Over time, you’ll be shown detailed information about the duration, pattern and quality of your sleep – highlighting areas where you can improve your sleep patterns.