Pixel Buds' great new voice commands made me fall in love with them again

Published Nov 6, 2026, 7:00 AM EST Rita is a Senior Features Editor at Android Police. Her love story with Android started in 2010 and has been going stronger with every update, device, tip, app, and game. She's a huge Pixel fan and has spent an inordinate amount of time using and testing Google's ecosystem, apps, and services. She lives in France, speaks more than three languages, follows Real Madrid, and spends any free time she has traveling. Once upon a time, she was a pharmacist as well. I have been a Pixel Buds user since the original buds launched in 2017 and won me over with their comfortable design. These days, I cycle between three pairs: The Pixel Buds Pro sit by my bedside, the Buds 2a are at my desk as backup to my headphones, and the Buds Pro 2 go in my pocket any time I leave the house. By now, I've become quite familiar with their strengths and their weaknesses, as well as all the little quirks I have to put up with to keep using them. And one of the biggest quirks is Google's app. Don't get me wrong, the Pixel Buds app is simple and straightforward, but I wouldn't say it's the most intuitive option out there. It takes several taps to get to the equalizer, for example, and the conversation detection toggle is buried instead of being accessible next to other noise cancellation modes. But the buds received an update last month that brings an interesting new feature: Gemini commands. And that has been saving me so much time. Gemini commands change the Buds' settings And you can do it without messing with the app It took a few weeks for software release_6.144 to reach my Pixel Buds Pro 2 and 2a, but now that it's here, I can finally use one of its most useful features: Gemini commands. I've set up Gemini to get triggered when I tap and hold on the right earbud. This lets me quickly talk to it on my phone, ask it questions, start a Live chat, and more. New, now, is the ability to send commands directly to the Pixel Buds app. These include controlling noise cancellation, changing the EQ setting, as well as toggling conversation detection and touch controls. Unfortunately, though, it doesn't seem to work for spatial audio controls, head tracking, head gestures, audio switch, or the live translate mode. What's great about it is that I no longer need to pick up my phone, unlock it, find the Pixel Buds app, go to Sound > Equalizer, and tap the selector to change modes. I can simply say "change the equalizer mode to heavy bass" and Gemini sends the command to the Pixel Buds app. In my tests, both at home with my Buds 2a and while walking out and about with the Buds Pro 2, there have been no hiccups. Gemini seems to understand the command well (even if I phrase it a bit differently) and executes it quickly. This has been such an improvement compared to digging into the Pixel Buds app, especially when I'm walking or riding public transit and don't want to fiddle with my phone. And since Google won't let us completely customize the touch controls, it's the best way to do more directly from the buds. A list of commands that work Start with these, but feel free to rephrase them If you have a pair of Pixel Buds Pro 2 or Pixel Buds 2a and want to give these commands a go, here's how to get started. First, make sure you're on software release_6.144 in the Pixel Buds app under More settings > Firmware update. If you're on an older firmware version, you'll have to wait for the update to reach your earbuds (usually by burning incense and crossing fingers) first. Once you have that, there's nothing to do in the app per se other than make sure that Digital Assistant is properly set up. Then, you can trigger Gemini on your buds by saying "Hey Google" or by tapping and holding one earbud, and saying one of these commands: Turn on noise cancellation. Turn off transparency mode. Is conversation detection on? Turn off conversation detection. Set the equalizer mode to balanced (or default, heavy bass, light bass, clarity, and vocal boost). Change the equalizer preset to vocal boost (or any other preset above). What's the equalizer mode? Are touch controls on? I'm especially a fan of the conversation detection toggle via voice. Theoretically, it's a very useful Pixel Buds feature that switches transparency on and lowers the volume when it detects that you or someone near you is speaking. When it works, it's amazing, but there are certain busy environments where it becomes a nuisance and an annoying interruption. Because I'm too lazy to fiddle with the setting, I've resorted to keeping it disabled most of the time. But now, I can turn it on/off with a few words. A few more goodies in this Pixel Buds update Pixel Watch owners should be happy Besides the new Gemini commands, this Pixel Buds update introduces a few extra features. One of them is a Pixel Watch bedtime option under More settings that disables the buds' touch controls and mutes low-battery warnings when bedtime mode is activated. This ensures your buds won't start doing random things, like playing loud music or reading notifications when you're fast asleep. It's one of a few settings you should change if you often step into Morpheus' arms while wearing your buds. There's also a new enhanced Live Translate conversation mode that works with the Google Translate app that I'm still testing, and the Buds Pro 2 are supposed to have a new "Dynamic Active Noise Cancellation" feature, though I don't see any sign of it yet, unless it's just an invisible improvement. The Pixel Buds keep getting better I love how much Google has been able to bring to its Pixel Buds over the years with software updates. Adding Spatial Audio to the first Pixel Buds Pro was a tour de force a couple of years ago, so was head tracking, and the customizable EQ. Now, the two-year-old Pixel Buds Pro 2 and one-year-old Pixel Buds 2a are getting all these new Gemini controls, bedtime routine, and live translation features without me having to splurge on a new model to try or benefit from them. I know Gemini commands may not be the sexiest thing Google has added, but it's been a big improvement in usability for me. If you ask me, though, starting a Gemini Live chat straight from the buds is the Buds' best productivity hack.