- The Google Home app will soon support the Nest Protect smoke detector
- You will be able to receive alerts and adjust settings via Google Home
- Google Home also gets better support for Matter-compatible smart locks
The Google Home app is getting a major update that will add support for the Nest Protect smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. This will also improve support for Matter-compatible smart locks, allowing you to use more of their functions through Google Home.
The Nest Protect was launched in 2013, shortly before Google’s acquisition of Nest, and until now, owners of the smart smoke detector could only use it through the Nest mobile app. Now everything changes and, as The Verge explains, you will soon be able to receive detection alerts, perform security and sound checks, and change options through Google Home.
Google has been phasing out users from the Nest app for a long time, and last year gave Google Home a much-needed overhaul to make the switch easier. The changes included changing the interface so that some key features associated with smart thermostats are no longer hidden behind icons, making it less streamlined but more intuitive to use.
The update arrived just before Google released the 4th generation Nest Learning Thermostat, but it wasn’t exclusively aimed at owners of the new hardware. People using older Nest thermostats have also noticed the changes intended to push them toward Google Home.
Unlocked Features
Google Home also gets improved support for Matter-compatible smart locks. Most of the best smart locks now support Matter, but using an app that isn’t the manufacturer’s can mean missing out on some important features. Following the update, options such as the ability to set one-time passcodes for visitors will be available from Google Home.
Android users enrolled in Google’s Public Preview program will be the first to receive the Smart Lock update. To sign up, open the Google Home app, go to the Settings menu and select Public view under General. Tap “Request an invitation” and you will receive an invitation to install a beta version of the app. You can exit the program at any time.
The update is expected to roll out to iOS devices later this year.
