Skip to main content

How to add multiple users to Google Home

smart speaker home security google thumb
Google
Google Home, Google’s intelligent voice-activated assistant, isn’t all that different from Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Amazon’s Alexa. But it’s superior in at least one major regard: Multi-user support. Thanks to sophisticated artificial intelligence, Google Home can distinguish between multiple voices. That way, your roommate doesn’t get your upcoming calendar appointments when he asks about his agenda, and you don’t get his Creed albums when you tell Google Home to play music.

Setting up multiple users on Google Home is easier than you might think, but not entirely obvious. We’ve put together a step-by-step walkthrough to help guide you through the basics.

How to set up Google Home

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’ve already set up your Google Home, you can skip to the next section. If you’re unboxing a brand-new Google Home, though, you’ll have to follow a few setup steps. Luckily, they’re a cinch.

  1. Plug your Google Home into a power outlet using the included cable.
  2. Download the Google Home app from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, depending on if you have an Android phone or an iPhone.
  3. Ensure that you’re connected to your home Wi-Fi network, and then sign in with your Google account (or create a new one)
  4. Tap the setup icon in the upper right-hand corner, and then tap Sign In. Specify your local weather and commute time preferences.
  5. Link your streaming music accounts by heading to the Music tab in the left-hand slide-out menu. Tap the Link button beneath each service you wish to authenticate.
  6. Customize Google Home by tapping on the three-line icon in the upper left-hand corner, and selecting More settings from the drop-down menu. From here, you can change the news sources included in the “daily briefing,” a digest of updates; link smart home appliances like Philips Hue bulbs; and log into services like Lyft and Uber.
  7. Change your commute preferences by tapping Personal Info, then Home & work locations. Enter your home and office’s address to get real-time traffic updates.
  8. Change what Google calls you by choosing Personal Info, then Nickname.

How to add multiple users

To set up multiple accounts, you’ll need to use the Google Home app.

  1. Once you’ve installed the Google Home app, look for the card that says Multi-user is available. (If you don’t, tap the icon in the top-right to see all of your connected services.)
  2. Tap Link your account. From there, you’ll teach the Google Assistant to recognize your voice by repeating short phrases like, “OK Google,” and “Hey, Google.”
  3. Repeat as many times as necessary. You can add up to six different accounts.

Next time you say, “Hey, Google,” Google Home will analyze your speech patterns to verify it’s you. You’ll get your music, your commute information, your daily brief, and more upon request. To learn more about how this works, read our post here.

Editors' Recommendations

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
The best smart home tech for your dorm
Dorm room appliances in a bedroom.

Your dorm is the home base for absolutely everything you do in college. It’s probably a bit cramped, however, and you probably don’t have enough space to bring all your gadgets from back home. But with a bit of ingenuity – and the help of smart home devices – it’s possible to piece together a dorm room that’s perfect for studying, relaxing, and hanging out with friends.

From smart speakers and smart light bulbs to power strips and smart plugs, here’s a look at the best smart home tech for your dorm room.

Read more
U.S. government to launch a new cybersecurity program for smart home devices in 2024
The US Cyber Trust Mark logo on an off-white background.

Smart home devices are only becoming more popular, and it seems they’ve now piqued the interest of the U.S. government. On July 18, the Biden administration announced a new cybersecurity certification and labeling program for smart devices that will help customers find devices that are “safer and less vulnerable to cyberattacks.”

The so-called U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program is intended to get manufacturers thinking more carefully about the cybersecurity of their products and ensure they’re safe for the general public to have in their homes. It’s not expected to roll out until 2024, but the program would cover a wide range of products, including smart refrigerators, smart microwaves, smart televisions, smart thermostats, fitness trackers, and more.

Read more
The best Google Home tips, tricks, and Easter eggs
google home tips and tricks top

Google Home is one of the best smart home platforms of 2023. Some of its benefits are obvious -- such as being able to dish out voice commands or check in on all your gadgets in one location using the smartphone app -- but others are a bit more obscure. In fact, some of the best Google Home features can’t be found without a bit of digging.

To help you get the most out of Google Home, here’s a long list of tips, tricks, and even a few Easter eggs to maximize the system’s potential. Whether you’re looking to easily connect all your smart home gadgets or just want a funny trick to show off at your next party, there’s bound to be something you didn’t know about Google Home listed below.
'Hey, Google'

Read more