# We tried Gemini’s new Device Help feature on the Pixel 11, and the results were mixed > Source: > Published: 2026-08-25 09:02:04+00:00 Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. [Learn more.](https://www.androidauthority.com/external-links/) # We tried Gemini's new Device Help feature on the Pixel 11, and the results were mixed Aug 25, 2026 — 5:02 AM ET - Gemini’s experimental Device Help feature is appearing in the Gemini app on Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro devices, letting you troubleshoot your phone using natural language. - It can diagnose battery and Wi-Fi issues, open specific settings, change things like brightness and dark mode, and explain Pixel features without making you hunt through Settings. - It’s still a Labs feature and can get things wrong. Our testing produced inconsistent instructions for Magic Capture, so it isn’t completely reliable yet. A few days ago, we [spotted](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-gemini-device-help-on-pixel-3695104/) Google testing a clever new Gemini trick that could save [Pixel users](https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-exclusive-features-survey-3694810/) from digging through the Settings app every time something goes wrong. That feature, called Device Help, is now appearing directly inside the [Gemini app](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-gemini-ui-update-chat-filters-notifications-3702443/) on some of our [Pixel 11 series](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-11-series-3693865/) devices. First spotted by [ 9to5Google](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/24/pixel-11-pro-gemini-device-help/), Device Help is currently showing up on Pixel 11 and [Pixel 11 Pro](https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-11-pro-one-week-later-impressions-3699430/)models we’ve checked, including our [Pixel 11 Pro XL](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-11-pro-xl-durability-test-3702439/)units. It still has a “Labs” badge attached, though, which is Google’s way of telling you things may not always work as expected. And after putting it through a few tests, that’s exactly what we found. The idea behind Device Help is genuinely useful. Instead of figuring out which corner of Settings contains the thing you’re looking for, you can tell Gemini what you want in normal language. For example, you could say, “My battery has been terrible lately,” and it could help you locate some battery-related settings. I started with something simple on my Pixel 11 Pro XL: I asked Gemini to take me to Developer Options. It immediately understood what I wanted and gave me an “Open System Settings” button. One tap later, I was exactly where I needed to be. Things got more interesting when I asked whether there was anything wrong with my Pixel’s battery. Instead of throwing a generic battery-saving checklist at me, Gemini actually looked at information about my phone. It pointed out that I’d only been using the device for six days and that it had gone through just two charging cycles, so nothing obvious in my usage history suggested I’d already done something to hurt its battery. It then suggested checking Adaptive Battery and, once again, gave me a button that took me directly to the relevant setting. That’s the part of Device Help I find most exciting. Gemini isn’t just explaining what a setting does; it can help you understand what’s happening on your phone and then get you closer to fixing it. I pushed it a little further by asking Gemini to change a few things for me. It switched my phone from light mode to dark mode and adjusted the display brightness when asked. Device Help can also assist with Wi-Fi problems, help you look into potentially troublesome apps, and explain features on your phone. That ability could be especially handy whenever Google adds another Pixel feature with a name that doesn’t immediately tell you what it actually does. For example, I asked Gemini how to use Magic Capture on my Pixel 11 Pro XL. Instead of dumping a long list of instructions on me, it explained how the feature works and what to expect. Since Magic Capture is designed to automatically capture photos and video while you stay focused on what’s happening, Gemini didn’t have much setup to walk me through. Once it had explained everything, it gave me an “Open Camera” button so I could jump straight in and try it. Unfortunately, this is also where the “Labs” badge started earning its keep. *Android Authority* Managing Editor, Adamya Sharma, tried the same Magic Capture request on her device (Pixel 11 Pro XL), and Gemini gave her completely incorrect instructions. That means two people can ask Device Help essentially the same question and walk away with very different answers. That’s a big problem for a feature that’s supposed to help you troubleshoot your phone. If Gemini confidently sends someone hunting for a setting or option that doesn’t exist, Device Help becomes untrustworthy. Still, I really like where Google is going with this. Android’s Settings app has grown enormous, and finding one obscure toggle can sometimes feel like a scavenger hunt. Being able to say, “Why is my battery draining so quickly?” or “Take me to the setting that controls this,” and have Gemini inspect the problem and drop me in the right place could make troubleshooting a Pixel considerably easier. Device Help could become a genuinely useful Pixel feature, but Google needs to iron out these inconsistencies before we can trust it to troubleshoot our phones. Thank you for being part of our community. Read our [Comment Policy](https://www.androidauthority.com/android-authority-comment-policy/) before posting.