How to “Perso-Nose-Lize” Your Google Home

Yes, “perso-nose-lize.” That is not a typo.

Hey Google, you’re looking swell today. I love your nose.

I wanted to see whether I could give my Google Home a little more personality, so I created a collection of nose images that rotate across the screen. Every 30 seconds or so, a new nose appears — and, combined with the permanent eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and optional mustache, gives the display a completely different facial expression.

It’s silly. It’s unnecessary. It makes me laugh every time I walk past it.

What you’ll need

• A Google Nest display — or Google Home with a screen
• Two googly eyes
• One or two small zip ties
• Some tape
• A piece of paper
• A Sharpie / black pen
• A red colored pencil for the lips
• Scissors
• The nose-image collection: download it here
• Optional: one Screamin’ Sicilian calzone

Why the calzone? The box includes a pop-out mustache that you can wear yourself — or, obviously, repurpose for your Google Home. The calzone is pretty good, too.

How to make it

1. Cut the eyebrows and mouth out of paper.
2. Add details with the Sharpie, then use a colored pencil to give the lips a little color.
3. Position the googly eyes around the screen. Use the zip ties to help hold the eyebrows in place, then secure the paper features with tape.
4. Add the cardboard mustache, if your chosen personality demands one.
5. Download the nose images and save them to their own album in Google Photos. I named my album “Noses”.
6. In the Google Home app, open your display’s settings, choose Photo Frame, select Google Photos, and choose your new nose album (see Google’s instructions here)
7. Adjust the slideshow speed so the noses change about every 30 seconds.

That’s it. The eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and mustache stay in place while the noses cycle onscreen, randomly generating a new facial personality throughout the day.

It’s a cheap, easy way to add a completely unnecessary — and therefore essential — bit of silliness to your Google Home.

If you make one, please share the face it ends up with. 👀👃🥸