How to unlock Google Assistant's most advanced Android shortcuts - Computerworld

Google Assistant's got each sorts of time-saving smarts connected Android. That overmuch we each know by now, right?

But get this: Assistant's astir utile Android superpower is thing that's wholly retired of show and up to you to excavation up and activate. (And no, I'm not talking astir its freshly expanded Android automation station — though that's beauteous sweet, too.)

This superpower is an intricate web of precocious Assistant commands connected to the circumstantial apps and services you use the astir connected your Android device. And yet, if you didn't fig retired wherever to look and past instrumentality the clip to tick disconnected each the close toggles, those commands would ne'er beryllium disposable oregon immoderate successful mode evident to you.

Not to worry, though: I've got ya covered. Just travel the speedy 'n' elemental steps below, and you'll ne'er miss a thing.

Speaking of which, if you're bare for adjacent much Android shortcut magic, head implicit to my escaped Android Shortcut Supercourse next. It'll thatch you each sorts of time-saving tricks for your telephone — nary substance what benignant of Googley gizmo you're using.

The Google Assistant Android shortcut secret

First things first, immoderate bully news: Getting into Assistant's Android shortcut mecca couldn't beryllium overmuch easier. And whether you had nary thought that country existed oregon you conscionable hadn't thought to cheque up connected it lately, it's good worthy your portion to peek successful and spot what possibilities it presents.

So present we spell — a whopping 3 steps:

1. Summon Assistant connected your phone, either with the Hey Google voice bid oregon with immoderate of the disposable on-screen Assistant icons, and say Assistant settings.
2. Tap "See each Assistant settings."
3. Scroll waaaaaaay down toward the bottommost of the database and find the enactment labeled "Shortcuts."

And that's it: All that's near is to pat that "Shortcuts" option, accidental "hocus pocus" for bully measure, and past feast your eyes upon Assistant's astir awesome Android shortcuts of all.

JR

Holy moly! And what you spot determination is lone the start.

Scroll down a bit, and you'll find an app-by-app database of all the precocious Assistant shortcuts that are sitting successful hold and not yet functional connected your phone. For instance:

• Mosey into the Chrome conception of that Assistant settings area, and you tin alteration dependable commands for launching a caller tab oregon caller incognito tab successful the browser.
• Tap the Google Photos line, and you tin adhd successful a adjuvant customized dependable bid for jumping straight into Photos' "Screenshots" conception and seeing immoderate screenshots you've captured.
• If you usage Google Messages, Assistant volition connection to make customized dependable shortcuts for opening conversations with immoderate of your astir commonly contacted contacts.
• With the Play Store, you tin springiness yourself a elemental Assistant bid for going consecutive into the "My Apps" country to spot and use immoderate pending app updates.
• And with Google Drive, you tin springiness yourself caller spoken shortcuts for opening the app's "Downloads" area, hunt function, oregon papers scanning instrumentality without immoderate other steps.

The database conscionable keeps going from there. And it isn't lone Google-made apps successful the mix, either:

• LinkedIn, for instance, has hidden Assistant options for opening your notifications, your messages, oregon your profile, among different things.
• WhatsApp offers options for opening radical chats you entree often.
• And Twitter provides the quality to make customized dependable shortcuts to commonly accessed contacts connected that network on with a immense database of circumstantial functional commands.

JR

Oh, and here's 1 more neat touch: In summation to activating immoderate items successful Assistant's precocious shortcut area, you tin really customize the dependable commands associated with immoderate of those items and marque 'em thing you want.

After you've added a shortcut, conscionable pat the "Your shortcuts" tab wrong that aforesaid country and past find the shortcut there. Tap it, pat "Edit," and — well, well. Wouldya look astatine that?!

JR

Pretty nifty, no?

All you've gotta bash is instrumentality the clip to sojourn this country of Assistant's Android settings to spot what's disposable — past retrieve to really commencement using all the customized app-specific commands you create.

That past portion is admittedly the toughest portion of the puzzle. But hey, if each fails, you tin ever make an Assistant reminder to help.

Get adjacent much precocious shortcut cognition with my escaped Android Shortcut Supercourse. You'll larn tons of caller tucked-away time-savers!

Contributing Editor JR Raphael serves up tasty morsels astir the quality broadside of technology. Hungry for more? Join him on Twitter oregon motion up for his play newsletter to get caller tips and penetration successful your inbox each Friday.