How to Make 19 Harry Potter Spells Your Android Wand Can Use Using Google Assistant

Apple’s Siri is well versed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter spells, but Android users aren’t Muggles. Google Assistant, Android’s virtual concierge, can cast multiple spells right out of the box and learn spells it doesn’t know in less time than a year at Hogwarts.

If you want to use your Android smartphone like a magic wand with Google Assistant, check out what it can do below and how you can program it to perform even more spells. If you already know how to set up and use Google Assistant on your Android device, feel free to skip these sections.

Setting up the Google Assistant

Many Android devices come preinstalled with the Google app, which houses the Google Assistant. All Google Pixel models do this, as well as most new Android phones. If your phone meets the Google Assistant requirements listed below, Google Assistant is probably waiting for you.

• Android 5.0+ with at least 1 GB of available memory.
• Or Android 6.0+ with at least 1.5 GB of available memory.
• Google app version 6.13 or higher.
• Google Play Services.
• Screen resolution 720p or higher.
• Your device language is set to the supported language: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Malayalam, Marathi, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese.

Most Samsung Galaxy models already have Google Assistant, as well as many LG, Motorola, Nokia, OnePlus, Oppo, Tecno, Vivo and Xiaomi models. Android devices (Go edition) must use Google Assistant Go. If your device does not have the Google app installed, but it meets the requirements listed above to run Google Assistant, you can download the Google app from Google Play:

• Installation Link: Google App via Google Play (Free)

While not required, you can also install the Google Assistant or Google Assistant Go app, which gives you faster access to your Google Assistant settings from your home screen or app drawer.

• Installation Link: Google Assistant App via Google Play (Free)
• Installation Link: Google Assistant Go App via Google Play (Free)

Google Assistant Spell

Once you know you have Google Assistant on your phone, launching it is relatively easy, but how you do it depends on your settings, device model, Android version, etc. Try one or more of the methods below, but be aware that not everything will work for your particular device. If the Google Assistant is turned off, it may ask you to turn it on when you use some of the options below.

• Use your voice: Just say the wake-up phrase “Hey Google”or “OK ​​Google”followed by your command. You can even use it from the lock screen if you’re running Android 8.0 or higher.
• Squeeze your Pixel. On Pixel models 2 through 4, pinch the bottom of your phone and say a command. Other Android devices may have a similar feature.
• Swipe: Swipe up from the bottom left or right corner of your phone screen, then speak a command. While it’s definitely on pixels, you can use it on other Android devices.
• Tap in the search bar: If you see a search bar widget on your home screen, tap its microphone or assistant icon, then speak your command.
• Press and hold the power button or side button. On many Pixel models, press and hold the power button, then say a command. This gesture is already enabled on Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a, but you can also enable it via Settings -> System -> Gestures on Pixel 3 or later running Android 12.0 or higher. Other Android devices may have a similar feature. Some, like the newer Samsung Galaxy phones, require a third-party key remapping app to open Google Assistant.
• Press and hold the Home button. On many non-Pixel phones, press and hold the home button, then say a command. You may need to select Google as your assistant in your device settings. For example, on Samsung Galaxy phones, search for and open “Device Assistance App”or “Phone Assistance App”, then select “Google”as the default digital assistant app.
• Press and hold or double-tap the Bixby key: Older Samsung Galaxy phones have a dedicated key for Bixby, Samsung’s digital assistant, and you can press and hold or double-tap it to invoke Bixby. However, in the Bixby settings, you can tap “Bixby Key”and open Google Assistant with any gesture that Bixby doesn’t use.
• Use other gestures: You can create procedures or quick actions that open Google Assistant on your Android phone whenever you complete a given trigger.

Casting Known Spells with Google Assistant

Wizards from the Google Assistant development team have already taught the virtual concierge a few spells.

1. Okay, Google, Lumos

Lumos, the wand illumination spell, illuminates the end of the wizard’s wand. As a Google Assistant command, it turns on the flashlight function by illuminating your device’s rear camera flash. (Note that Samsung Bixby can also use this command.)

• Spell: OK Google, Lumos
• Pronunciation: /loo mows/
• Example: Harry says “Lumos” in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film, 2009)

2. Ok Google, Knox

Lumos’ counterspell, Nox, extinguishes the end of the wizard’s wand. Similarly, this command for Google Assistant will turn off your flashlight. (Oddly, Samsung Bixby doesn’t seem to support this and often confuses it with Samsung Knox.)

• Spell: OK Google, Nox
• Pronunciation: /näks/ /noks/ /naaks/ /knocks/
• Example: Harry says “Knox” in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004 film)

3. OK, Google, Silencio

Silencio’s muting spell lowers the media volume to 0% while bringing up the volume slider for additional settings.

• Spell: OK Google, Silencio
• Pronunciation: /si len cio/ /see lehn thyoh/ /si len? jo/
• Example: Hermione Granger says “Silencio” in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (novel, 2003)

Exposing the classy clown Google Assistant

Several other charms, incantations, and phrases elicit a cheeky Google Assistant response. This will almost certainly annoy Professor Snape during class.

Most phrases have more than one answer, so keep playing to hear what the Assistant has to say. After you cast one of these spells, Google Assistant will suggest other phrases and you can tap them without speaking. It understands the following links.

4. OK Google, Avada Kedavra

5. OK Google, Wingardium Leviosa

6. Okay, Google, Crucio

7. Okay, Google, Expelliarmus

8. OK, Google, Alohomora

9. Okay Google, I solemnly swear I’m up to no good.

10. Okay, Google, the prank was successful.

11. OK Google Lemon Sherbet

Creating Spell/Charm Routines for Google Assistant

As for spells that Google Assistant doesn’t know, you can teach it to them with your “if this, then that”programming kit called Routines. It’s a lot like teaching Siri on your iPhone to cast unfamiliar Harry Potter spells using shortcuts.

The easiest way to get started is to say “OK Google Subroutines” and click the Subroutine Settings button. You can also get there by long-pressing the Assistant app icon, tapping Settings, then Routines.

On the “Subroutines”settings page, click the “+ New”button, and then click the pencil icon on the “New Subroutine”page to rename it; the name of the spell/amulet would probably be the best one here.

Every subroutine needs a start trigger and a result action. Click “Add Starter”to specify a trigger; according to the theme, all of these routines will use voice commands, so tap the first option “When I say Google Assistant”. On the next page, enter a spell or charm. You can use more than one start phrase if you like. When you’re done, click “Save”to continue.

Once the starter is installed, you determine the action. There are several action categories to choose from, and each category has different action options. If what you are looking for is not listed among these categories, you can select the “Try adding your own”category, which allows you to enter a command. You can specify multiple actions for one starter. When you’re done, click “Save”to commit the spell to memory.

With Routines, you are only limited by your imagination. Here are some ideas to get you started (thanks to Oprah Daily for the list of spells).

12. OK, Google, Accio [app name]

Since Accio is a summoning spell, we can use it to open almost any application. Set the initial value to “Accio”plus an application name or codename of your choice (e.g. “Accio Pikachu”to open Pokémon Go, or “Accio Hogwarts”to open Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery). Then set the action to a custom option with the phrase “open”and the actual name of the app you want to open.

13. Okay, Google, Avis

Avis conjures up a small flock of birds. Maybe we can use it to launch Angry Birds? Use the same formula as in the Accio program.

14. Okay, Google, Aparecium

The aparecium spell reveals secret written messages. This is very similar to unread text messages, so let’s use a spell to catch up. Select the “Communicate and announce”category for the action, then “Read unread texts”. (See screenshot below.)

15. Okay, Google, Bombardo

Your Android phone can’t cause explosions, but your Google Assistant can play Rage Against the Machine’s “Bombtrack”or other incendiary tracks. Set Bombardo as your starting trigger. For the action, select the Media Playback and Control category, then Music, then the title and artist of your fire track. (See screenshot below.)

16. OK, Google, Muffliato

A silencing charm prevents others from hearing your conversation. We are going to use this to disable notifications. Select “Adjust phone settings”and “Turn on Do Not Disturb on Android devices”.

17. Okay, Google, Protego

Here is the smart home spell. Because the protego creates an invisible shield around the user, those with a security system can use this spell to arm them. Select Set up home devices and Turn on security. You can add the “Lock doors”action from the same category if you have smart locks. (See screenshot below.)

18. Okay, Google, Stupefy

Since the stun spell renders the target unconscious, we can add it as a starter to the existing Sleep routine, which turns off the lights, plays sleep sounds, and turns the ringer volume down to zero.

19. Other possible procedures

Because Android routines are much like shortcuts on iOS, many of the same custom Harry Potter spells for Siri can be converted to custom Harry Potter spells for Google Assistant. So be sure to check out our complete Harry Potter spell guide for iPhone for some more ideas.