If you have a Charging Speaker Dock and attach your Pixel Tablet to it while it's locked, your tablet is in Hub Mode.
Important: To dock your Pixel Tablet or use Hub Mode, you need a Charging Speaker Dock. You can purchase the Pixel Tablet with or without a dock, or purchase a dock separately.
How to set up Hub Mode on your Pixel Tablet
What is Hub Mode?
In Hub Mode, you can get some of the best features of a smart display when your tablet is locked and docked, like a digital photo frame, smart home controls, Google Cast, and hands-free help from Google Assistant. Just say "Hey Google" to play music and videos, get answers, turn the lights on, set timers, and more.
Tip: For full Hub Mode functionality, unplug the USB-C cable from your Pixel Tablet's USB port when you attach your tablet to a Charging Speaker Dock.
Dock and undock your Pixel Tablet
Your Pixel Tablet attaches magnetically to the Charging Speaker Dock. When it's docked, it charges automatically. Learn how to dock and undock your tablet below.
Dock your Pixel Tablet
Your tablet attaches magnetically to the charging dock. To dock your tablet:
- Place the dock on a flat surface and plug it into a power outlet.
- Grasp the Pixel Tablet and position it so that the camera is on top.
- Line up the back of the tablet with the front of the dock so the connectors align.
- Move the tablet slowly back towards the dock until it attaches.
Dock your Pixel Tablet in the Pixel Tablet Case
To dock your Pixel Tablet when it's in the Pixel Tablet Case (sold separately):
- Hold your Pixel Tablet so that the front camera is on top and facing you.
- Ensure the kickstand is folded flat against the back of the case. The logo and pogo pins should be inside the kickstand's ring when it's in the correct position.
- Position the tablet so that the kickstand ring lines up with the dock face.
- Move the tablet slowly back towards the dock until it attaches.
Set up Hub Mode and Google Assistant
After you set up your Pixel Tablet, you'll be prompted to set up Hub Mode. Setting up Hub Mode requires the Pixel Tablet to be docked to a Charging Speaker Dock.
Learn how to set up Google Assistant on your Pixel Tablet.
Step 1: Dock your tablet and start Hub Mode setup
To dock your tablet and start Hub Mode setup:
- Set up your tablet.
- If your tablet isn't docked, dock it now.
- On the "Set up Hub Mode" screen, tap Continue.
- If prompted, enter your PIN, pattern or password.
Step 2: Choose your screen saver
Step 3: Choose an account to use with Hub Mode
You can choose the primary account you want to use with Hub Mode. This account is used with the Google Home app to control devices and services, and can be used with Voice Match to get personalized results from Google Assistant.
- Tap the account you want to use.
- If your account isn't listed, tap Use another account follow the on-screen instructions.
- Tap OK.
Step 4: Add your docked tablet to a room in your home
- Tap the Home where your Pixel Tablet is located.
- If your Home isn't listed, tap Add another home follow the on-screen instructions.
- Tap Next.
- Select the location where your dock is placed tap Next.
- Before you can access all media and home control features after setting up Hub Mode, you need to add your Pixel Tablet to your home in the Google Home app .
- Only the Pixel Tablet's primary user can get personalized results with Google Assistant.
- When you download the Gemini mobile app and set up Gemini as your primary assistant, it will replace Google Assistant when your tablet is unlocked. Your Pixel Tablet will continue to use Google Assistant when locked, including in Hub Mode.
- If a feature you rely on from Google Assistant isn’t supported in your Gemini mobile app, you can switch back to Google Assistant. Learn how to switch back to Google Assistant.
Step 5 (optional): Share device statistics and reports with Google
Step 6 (optional): Select music and video services
Set up the music and video services you want to use with Google Assistant. For both music and video, you can also select a default service, which will be used if you don't mention one in your voice command.
- To choose a default music service, select it tap Next.
- To choose a default video service, select it tap Next.
- To dock your Pixel Tablet and use Hub Mode, you need a Charging Speaker Dock.
- You might need to unlock the tablet before you can use Google Assistant voice commands to play news, radio, podcasts, or other media from certain apps and services.
- When you download the Gemini mobile app and set up Gemini as your primary assistant, it will replace Google Assistant when your tablet is unlocked. Your Pixel Tablet will continue to use Google Assistant when locked, including in Hub Mode.
- If a feature you rely on isn’t supported in your Gemini mobile app, you can switch back to Google Assistant. Learn how to switch back to Google Assistant.
You can let anyone, including children, say "Hey Google" to speak to Google Assistant and play music, ask questions, control smart home devices, and more:
- Toggle this option to let music, movies and more play when the tablet is locked. This toggle won't appear if you already chose this setting when you first set up your tablet.
- To let anyone talk to Assistant in Hub Mode, tap I agree.
Step 8: Finish Hub Mode setup
- Optional: Select any services you haven't set up and follow the on-screen instructions.
- When you're ready to start using Hub Mode, tap Done.
Learn more about Hub Mode settings you can set up and change.
Show or hide notifications or media on your lock screen
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap Security & privacy More security & privacy tap an option:
- To show or hide notifications on your lock screen, tap Notifications on lock screen.
- To show or hide the media player on your lock screen, tap Show media on lock screen.