Routines is a powerful automation feature in the Google Home app. They make it easy to perform multiple Google Assistant commands together. You can even start these routines with sunrise and sunset times. We’ll show you how.
There are several ways to start a Google Assistant routine. You can use your voice to say a command, choose a specific time, or use the dynamic sunrise and sunset times. The latter is especially useful for automating lighting, but it can be used for many other operations.
You need the Google Home app for iPhone, iPad or Android to get started. Open the app and select ̵
Then tap the floating “+” button to create a new routine.
First we have to decide how to start the routine. This is where sunrise and sunset arrive. Tap on ‘Add Starter’.
Now we can select ‘Sunrise / Sunset’.
Choose whether you want the routine to start at ‘Sunrise’ or ‘Sunset’.
To let Google know when sunrise and sunset occur, you must first choose your location.
You can choose from your saved locations or enter a new one. When you have made the selection, tap “Done”.
Then you can decide how exactly to use the sunrise / sunset time. Select ‘When the Sun Sets / Rises’.
Then choose one of the sunrise or sunset times from the list and select ‘Done’.
The next thing to do is decide on which days the routine will run. Tap the days to select them.
Finally, if your routine includes an audio element, you can choose a device and you will be notified when the routine starts. When you are satisfied with all your choices, tap “Done”.
At the time of writing, Google requires a voice command to associate with each routine. You don’t have to use it, but one must be entered. This is also what will be the name of the routine. Tap on ‘Add voice starter’.
Enter a command phrase and tap Done.
Now we can decide what will happen when sunrise / sunset time comes. Tap “Add Action” to get started.
You will see a list of categories with different actions to choose from. Tap one of the categories and select any actions you want to use.
If the categories don’t meet your needs, you can select “Try to add your own” and manually enter a command that you would normally give to Google Assistant.
Add as many actions as you want and tap “Save” when you’re done.
The Google Assistant routine is now ready to run at the time you selected. As sunrise and sunset times change throughout the year, so will the start time of your routine!
