Google shopping list not working

How to Choose Your Shopping List App in the Google Home App

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Google Assistant and Nest smart speakers (aka Google Home) make it easy to add items to shopping lists with just your voice. If you dont want to use Googles built-in list, you can connect your device to a third-party app. Heres how.

You can simply add things to a shopping list using the Assistant or your Nest speaker by saying, Okay Google, add milk to my shopping list. If you have a Google Nest speaker or display, you dont even need to pull out your phone. Selecting a preferred shopping list is the first step in getting the most out of this feature.

Choose a Shopping List App on Google Home

Open the Google Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device, and tap the Settings gear icon in the top section.

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Scroll down to the Services section, and tap Shopping List.

Navigate to the Select your notes & lists provider section, and you will see a few different apps to choose from. Select the app you wish to use.

After selecting an app, a pop-up message will tell you that all future notes and lists created with Google Assistant will be visible in the selected app. Tap Continue.

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You will be redirected to sign in to the selected app. Follow the steps outlined by your selected app.

Setting up AnyList for the first time
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Once finished signing in, you will be brought back to the Notes & Lists page in the Google Home app. Now, whenever saying something like Okay Google, add milk to shopping list, the Google Assistant will add the item to your chosen shopping list app.

Using voice commands with AnyList

Do I Have to Use One of the Included Notes and Lists Apps?

There are only a handful of notes and lists apps that can integrate deeply with the Google Assistant. The difference between the apps listed in the Google Home app and other apps that advertise Google Assistant support is the commands.

For apps listed in Google Home, you only need to say, Okay Google, add milk to shopping list. Apps without the deep integration require lengthier commands, such as Okay Google, ask [APP NAME] to add milk to shopping list.

As mentioned above, Google Assistant includes its own basic shopping list. This list is used by default if you dont select a different shopping list app. The shortcut to Googles shopping list is only present in the Google Home app on Android devices, not iPhone or iPad.

Shortcut to the Google Assistant shopping list in the Google Home app for Android.
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However, the add to shopping list commands works with Google Assistant on all devices, and the list itself can be accessed through any web browser atshoppinglist.google.com.

Built-in Google Assistant shopping list.

If you want to use Googles built-in shopping list option, open the Google Home app on your smartphone, and tap the Settings gear icon in the top section.

Scroll down to the Services section, and tap Shopping List.

Navigate to the Select your notes & lists provider section. Make sure Do not sync with other services (on iPhone and iPad its simply Dont Sync) is selected.

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Now, whenever saying Okay Google, add [BLANK] to shopping list, the Google Assistant will add the item to your list atshoppinglist.google.com.

Joe Fedewa
Joe Fedewa is a Staff Writer at How-To Geek. He has close to a decade of experience covering consumer technology and previously worked as a News Editor at XDA Developers. Joe loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer at heart. He has written thousands of articles, hundreds of tutorials, and dozens of reviews. Read Full Bio »