Google Home - Voice control smart home

Transform Your Smart Home with Google Home

The Google Home app is your all-in-one solution to seamlessly set up, manage, and control your smart home. Whether you're using Google Nest, Wifi, Chromecast, or a wide range of compatible smart devices, the Google Home app makes it effortless to customize and organize your living space.

Key Features

🏠 Personalize Your Home Setup

Favorites Tab: Pin your most-used devices, automations, and tasks for quick access as soon as you open the app.

Live Monitoring: View live feeds from Nest cameras and doorbells, and easily navigate through event logs.

Automations: Create and manage Routines to automate your home, streamlining daily tasks and enhancing convenience.

Consolidated Settings: Access and adjust permissions for all your devices in one unified area for simplified management.

📳 Stay Informed About Home Activities

Instant Insights: Get real-time updates on your home’s status, ensuring you are always aware of what’s happening.

Recent Events Summary: Quickly check recent activities and receive a summarized report to stay in the loop.

⌚ Remote Control at Your Fingertips

Wear OS Integration: Control compatible smart home devices directly from your wristwatch.

Quick Actions: Turn on lights, adjust the thermostat, or get notifications when someone is at your door—all from your watch.

Favorites Tile: Pin a device to your watch face for instant access and easy management with just a tap.

🔒 Privacy and Security at the Core

Advanced Security: Your privacy is protected by one of the most sophisticated security systems, built into all Google products.

Data Usage: Google only uses data from your compatible devices to enhance your home experience, always respecting your privacy preferences.

Google Nest Safety Center: Learn more about how we protect your data and uphold your privacy by visiting the Google Nest Safety Center at safety.google/nest.

Why Choose Google Home?

All-in-One Control: Manage all your smart devices from one app, simplifying your smart home experience.

Personalized Setup: Tailor your home environment with customizable features and quick access to your favorite devices.

On-the-Go Management: Use your watch or phone to control your home remotely, keeping everything just a tap away.

Secure and Private: Rest easy knowing that your home and data are protected with Google’s industry-leading security measures.

FAQ

How does Google Home work?

If you’re an Android user, all it takes to start a smart home is an app and a speaker.

The smart home system market includes endless standards, some of which are complex integrations. On the other end of the spectrum is Google Home: the one that seems the most accessible.

It works on Android and iOS platforms and probably has the biggest pool of smart home devices on the market, including those at the lower end of the price spectrum. All one needs is a smartphone, smart home gadgets and a hub – which may cost as little as €30.

Google Home vs Hey Google vs Nest

Around the smart home universe from Google, you may see a couple of specific terms that seem similar but are just specific pieces of an integrated system.

In its purest form, Google Home is the Android app that allows central control and automation of various smart home devices. It works as a platform that connects all your smart home devices on the cloud – online Google servers.

For it to work, a Google Nest central hub must be installed, connected to the internet at your place and integrated with other devices.

In Google Home, you have multiple features for creating automated scenes, and you may access all your devices in one place or share the control over your home with others.

But you can also ask Hey Google for help.

Hey Google means the voice control of Google Assistant. You can use Hey Google on all compatible devices, including smartphones, smart watches, displays, speakers etc.

Google Assistant is the automation system that connects operations executed by your various Google services. It is also responsible for the automatic routines of devices integrated into Google Home.

To sum up: you use Hey Google to ask the Google Assistant to control Google Home. 

Nest is a line of smart home devices from Google. These are not the only products compatible with the system, but you do require a Google Nest speaker or smart display to start using the Google Home system at your place.

What can I do in Google Home?

    You can control all of your compatible devices in a single app.

    You can organize your devices into different rooms or locations.

    You can share the control over your home by inviting other users.

    You can create automated routines.

    You can control your smart home devices using Google Assistant on compatible devices.

How does automation work in Google Home?

Google Home offers a limited automation feature compared to other smart home systems.

One can create only automated routines: sequences of operations, executed one after the other but launched manually by the user – in the app or by asking the Google Assistant.

It does not support an automatic schedule of devices or independent interaction of smart gadgets.

Does Google Home work on iPhone?

Google Home is a natural extension of Google’s Android mobile system.

Interestingly, you can download the app and configure your Google Home, even on an iPhone.

You need to know that the range of smart devices working with Google Assistant is bigger than that compatible with Apple HomeKit. This situation gives you a wider choice of equipment to use with your iOS gadgets at lower prices.

However, when using Google Home on iOS, the automation opportunities will be different, and the voice control will require using Google Assistant – not Siri.

Do I need a smart home hub?

Yes, you need a smart central hub compatible with Google Home – one of Google Nest speakers or smart displays.

Why? The speaker works as a proxy between the Google system and your devices.

First, smart home equipment connects to the Google Nest hub, which accesses the online Google Home cloud.

Then Google Home cloud automates or controls your devices via the internet, through the hub.

How does adding devices to Google Home work?

Devices connect to your Google Home account in the cloud – they do not just work offline.

So, to do that, Google Home integrates with the accounts of your particular devices.

Whenever you install a smart home device, whether it’s a speaker, lighting system or thermostat, you’re asked by its manufacturer to make a dedicated account in their app.

Adding the device to Google Home means it asks you to log in to the account of a device manufacturer to connect them both.

Smart home tips for stress-free school breaks

There’s nothing quite as magical to kids as the words “no school.” For parents, it’s not as simple: The disruption of routines, the constant demand for activities, and the juggle of work and childcare can leave even the most mentally prepared parent feeling overwhelmed. Google Home is here to help – think personal assistant, camp counselor, and DJ all rolled into one. Here's how you can make the most of your smart home to stay organized, provide some much-needed structure, and even remind you to actually leave the house once a while.

Key takeaways

Want to keep the household running smoothly during the break? Google can help with that.

Shared Family Calendar

Field trips, playdates, swimming lessons, and more. Make sure everyone is on the same page (and in the right place!) by sharing your family calendar so it’s easily accessible on your compatible smart displays and speakers.

Tasks

Prioritize making memories, not wrangling to-do lists. Quickly add tasks or reminders as they occur to you, and just as quickly move on to something more fun. They’ll automatically sync to your Google Tasks so you can stay organized without missing a beat.

Timers

The classic lifesaver for managing screen time, transitioning between activities, or even those inevitable sibling squabbles. Every parent knows the power of the timer; with Google Home, setting one up any time you need it is as easy as saying “Hey Google.”

Kids are often happiest when they're outside in the sun and fresh air. Nest Wifi and Fitbit can help get them there.

Family Wi-Fi

Need to peel everyone away from screens? Family Wi-Fi is a parental control feature that lets you pause the Internet to any device on your Nest Wifi Pro, Nest Wifi, and Google Wifi networks. Schedule Internet time-outs in advance or pause Wi-Fi access on demand to encourage the whole family to head outdoors for a backyard adventure.

Shop Nest Wifi Pro

Fitbit Ace LTE

Fitbit Ace LTE is designed to get kids moving with daily goals and games that reward them for being active. And with its LTE data plan, kids can still stay in touch with calls and messaging - no Wi-Fi required.1

Shop Fitbit Ace LTE

Smart home automations help your household maintain structure. But they can also be a lot of fun. It's easy to set up automations in the Google Home app. If you're looking for something more advanced, the script editor on Google Home for web allows for even more customization.2

Naps can be a daily challenge with your toddler. Make sure the odds are always in your favor with an automation that closes the blinds and turns on the night light at the same time each day to help your little one wind down.2

Easy

    Naptime cheat code

        - Starter

        - Actions

            Noah’s room blinds

            Close 100%

            Play white noise

            Noah’s Nest Mini

Try entering this prompt into the script editor’s “Help me script” panel:

Everyday at 2pm if I’m home, 
close the blinds in Noah’s room, turn on the night light, and play white noise on the speaker.

Tidying up and putting toys away at the end of each day isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. But it can be. Why not set an automation to encourage kids to race to clean up and get to the dinner table first?2 The winner gets a prize, like extra dessert or the chance to choose the after-dinner board game.

Advanced

    The clean-up game

        - Starter

        - Actions

            Kids' room lights

            Flash 3 times

        - Broadcast

            “Clean-up challenge time! Get ready!”

            Kids’ Room Nest Audio

            Play Kids’ Music playlist

            Kids’ Room Nest Audio

Try entering this prompt into the script editor’s “Help me script” panel:

At 6pm on weekdays, flash the kids’ room lights 3 times, broadcast “Clean up challenge time! Get ready!” and play the Kids’ Music playlist

Want to relieve the stress of a long day? When you can see a squabble brewing, or the kids are about to climb the walls, kick start an impromptu dance party to lift the mood.2 It's a surefire way to encourage everyone to let loose, dance, and shake out the sillies together.

Easy

    Instant dance party

        - Starter

            “Hey Google, let’s get dancey!”

            Custom query

        - Actions

            Living room lights

            Turn on, set to purple

            Play Dance Break playlist

            Living room speakers

Try entering this prompt into the script editor’s “Help me script” panel:

When I say “Hey Google, let’s get dancey!,” set the living room lights to purple and play my dance break playlist.

Google Home isn't just a smart home platform; it's your partner in parenting, your source of fun, and your ticket to a break filled with laughter, connection - and maybe even some precious moments of peace and quiet.

Explore how Google Home brings more comfort, 
safety and convenience to your everyday life.

1

Google Account and Ace Pass data plan required. Works with most phones running Android 11.0 or newer or iOS 15 or newer. Requires parent’s help and Wi-Fi for setup. Setup for users under 13 requires parent and child Google Accounts and parent’s use of Fitbit Ace app on parent’s compatible phone. See g.co/fitbitace/info for more information. Fitbit Ace Pass is a paid data plan that is required to access most features. Compatible LTE service (included with paid data plan) not available on all carrier networks or in all areas. LTE service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration, network traffic, data use, location, signal strength and signal obstruction. Roaming not included. Actual results may vary.

2

Home automations require additional enrollment and setup, and depend on working internet, Wi-Fi and service availability from Google and third parties that manufacture devices included in the automations. Requires a compatible smart device.

App Support

Need help or have questions? Reach out to us via email at apps-help@google.com for assistance.