Google has updated its Home app with a series of new features that target the most basic but crucial thing: making it easier to control your entire smart home from a single place. You no longer need to jump between apps to manage your lights, cameras, alarms, sensors, or locks. Everything is centralized, accessible, and more intuitive than ever.

One of the most notable new features is the full integration of Nest Protect, Google's smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Until now, this device could only be managed from the Nest app. With the update, you can now receive alerts, silence alarms, check battery status, and even call 911 directly if you have Nest Aware (currently, this last feature is available in the US). Having all of this within the same app is a clear advantage, especially in times of emergency, where every second counts.

Another feature that simplifies life is support for Matter smart locks. Now, in addition to locking and unlocking doors from the app, you can also create and manage access codes, control automatic locking, receive real-time notifications about who enters or leaves, and more. This integration not only makes everyday use easier, but also improves home security.

Visual feedback and smoother navigation

The Google team also addressed something many users had been asking for: a better way to view and navigate recordings from Nest cameras. Now, on devices with Google TV, you can use Picture-in-Picture (PiP) to keep a camera open in a floating window while you watch something else. Want to see who's at the door without pausing your series? Now you can.

Plus, on the mobile app, video clip navigation now lets you skip forward or back 10 seconds with a simple double-tap on the edges of the screen. It's a small but handy, YouTube-esque improvement that makes reviewing long recordings much more convenient.

There's more: Google is integrating Gemini, its AI-powered assistant,to help you find key moments in your recordings using text. For example, you can search for "person at door" and jump directly to that point in the clip. You'll also be able to use Gemini to issue voice commands from Nest speakers and send spoken messages to connected devices at home. All without touching your phone.

Smarter Automations and Full Customization

The automations section has also gotten some love. It's now easier to set up routines that respond to specific conditions. You can trigger actions based on your presence (via GPS location or Soli sensors built into devices like the Nest Hub). For example, lights can turn on when you arrive or turn off when you leave.

A powerful new feature is that these automations can also be tied to critical events, like alerts from the Nest Protect. Imagine there's smoke in the kitchen and all the lights in the house automatically turn on and electrical devices turn off. That kind of integration is now possible.

The Favorites section in the app has also become more flexible. You can now pin new quick controls like Wi-Fi status, indoor temperature, motion sensors, and a button to turn off all your lights with one tap. Best of all, you can have different favorites depending on your device, whether it's a phone, tablet, or smartwatch.

Also coming to Android is an Android widget that lets you access your favorites right from your home screen, and the same goes for Wear OS watches. You don't even need to open the app: you can turn on lights, change the temperature, or lock your door from your wrist.

A new widget called "Home Summary" is also being tested, exclusive to Pixel phones. It shows a full rundown of your smart home's status right on your home screen, adding an extra layer of convenience.

Finally, Google has also launched a web version of the Home app, ideal for those who work a lot from a browser. This version, although still in preview, lets you control lights, locks, and the thermostat from any computer, without needing to have your phone nearby.