Google Home (platform)

Last updated
Google Home
Other namesHome
Developer Google
Operating system Android, Wear OS, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, and iPadOS
Type Home automation
Website https://home.google.com/welcome/

Google Home is a smart home platform developed by Google that lets users configure, communicate with and control smart appliances using devices that run Google-made operating systems. Google Home communicates with devices using HomeKit, the software framework and communication protocol developed by Google, and the open Matter standard. [1] By designing rooms, items, and actions in Google Home, users can enable automations in the home through a voice command to Gemini, through Google's Home app, or third party apps. [2] With Google Home, developers are able to create complex applications in order to manage accessories at a high level. [1]

Contents

Google Home primarily competes with smart home platforms from Amazon and Apple. As of 2024, Google lists over 10,000 devices compatible with Google Home, compared to 1,000 for Apple and 85,000 for Amazon. [3]

Overview

Creation

The platform was initially created to manage only Google's own smart speakers (one of which was also called Google Home) and Chromecasts, but gradually expanded in subsequent years. The Google Wifi app was rolled into the platform in July 2021, and support for the old Nest app is gradually being phased out. [4]

Matter standard

On December 18, 2019, Google announced it would be working closely with Samsung, Amazon, and Apple to create an open standard for smart home automation called Matter. [5] Matter aims to reduce fragmentation across different vendors, and achieve interoperability among smart home devices and Internet of things (IoT) platforms from different providers. [6] The project was delayed to fall 2022 due to "unprecedented interest" by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). [7] Version 1.0 of Matter was published on the October 4, 2022. [8] Matter has been supported in Google Home since Android 8.1 and its forks. [9]

Home app

While the Home app was introduced in 2016, it initally did not offer support for very many smart home functionalities at all. That came later in 2018, with support for devices that were devloped for Google Assistant. [10] More features have since been added, such as Automations in 2022, and Home APIs for developers in 2024. [11] [12]

Google TV & Google Nest speakers

Android TVs with the Google TV interface can control Google Home devices using a home panel. The panel can only show devices marked as "favorites". But voice commands can still be utilized to interact with non-favorite devices. [13]

The Google Home speaker was the first smart speaker to support voice commands for Google Home via Google Assistant. These devices can unlock or open secure appliances like locks, provided a PIN is supplied verbally. [13]

Home hubs

Initially, hubs were not required for the use of Google Home, as it was primarily a cloud-to-cloud-based service, but since the adoption of Matter and Thread to the platform, which utilize local connections, they've become required for users that seek to utilize such standards. Google-made hubs that include both technologies are the Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Nest Wifi Pro, and the Google TV Streamer (4K). [14]

Device categories

"Works with Google Home" badge Works with Google Home badge.svg
"Works with Google Home" badge

Google Home currently supports the following device categories (an extended list): [15]

Device groupDevice typeMatterCloud-to-cloudHome APIs
LightingLightCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
OutletCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
SwitchCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
ClimateThermostatCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Air conditionerDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Air coolerDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Air freshnerDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
Air purifierCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
BlindsCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
CurtainDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
DehumidifierDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
FanCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
HeaterDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
HumidifierDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
RadiatorDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
WindowDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
BoilerDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Bed & bathShowerDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
BathtubDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
BedDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
BlanketDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
ClosetDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
ShutterDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
OutdoorSprinklerDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
AwningDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
MowerDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
PergolaDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Fogli, D.; Peroni, M.; Stefini, C. "Smart Home Control through Unwitting Trigger-Action Progreamming". 22nd International Conference on Distributed Multimedia Systems: 194–201.
  2. Ritchie, Rene (August 27, 2014). "HomeKit in iOS 8: Explained". iMore . Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  3. "Ultimate Smart Lighting System: LED Lights & Bluetooth Switches | Google Home". home.google.com. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  4. "Migrate Google Wifi to the Google Home app". Google Nest Help. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  5. Lovejoy, Ben. "Apple, Samsung, Amazon, more will agree on open standard for smart home security". 9to5Mac.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. Kastrenakes, Jacob (18 December 2019). "Apple, Google, and Amazon are teaming up to develop an open-source smart home standard". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. Pattison Tuohy, Jennifer (17 March 2022). "Matter smart home standard delayed until fall 2022". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  8. Grün, Frank-Oliver (4 October 2022). "Here we go: matter in version 1.0 is ready". matter-smarthome.de. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. "Set up, manage, and control Matter-enabled devices with Google Home". Google Nest Help. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  10. "More control at your fingertips with the new Google Home app". Google. 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  11. "Reimagining the future of Google Home". Google. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  12. "Home APIs: Enabling all developers to build for the home- Google Developers Blog". developers.googleblog.com. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  13. 1 2 "Control smart home devices on your Google TV" . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  14. "Prepare your smart home for Matter" . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  15. "Use Cases". Google Home Developers. Retrieved 2025-10-01.