Google Home app Archives

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Google just killed a key Home app feature, and parents are going to miss it

Google has removed the "Call Home" button from the Google Home app, a feature introduced in 2019 that allowed users to connect with their smart displays from smartphones. This change disrupts communication for many users, particularly parents, who relied on it to check in on their children. The only alternative now is to use Google Meet, which requires setting up unique Google accounts for each device, making it cumbersome. Google has not provided a clear explanation for the removal, and users are left uncertain about the future of the "Call Home" feature.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Google’s Gemini App Revamp: Inside the Android Redesign Reshaping AI Interfaces

Google has updated its Gemini app for Android, introducing a redesigned homepage, a true black dark theme, and a new ‘My Stuff’ feature. The update aims to enhance user experience by making interactions more intuitive and organized, following a previous redesign in September. The gradual rollout starts with select users on Android. The black dark theme is optimized for OLED screens, reducing eye strain and improving battery efficiency. The ‘My Stuff’ hub centralizes user-generated content, addressing organization issues from earlier versions. The update aligns with Google’s broader AI strategy, integrating with services like YouTube and Google Maps. The app now supports better organization tools, including a refreshed conversation view. Users have praised the dark theme and streamlined interface. Analysts suggest these updates could be pivotal in the AI race, enhancing Gemini's competitiveness against rivals like OpenAI. Some users have noted minor rollout delays, indicating a need for wider availability.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Fitbit App Gets Material 3 Expressive Overhaul with Fluid Animations and AI Health Coach

Google is fully embracing Fitbit following its acquisition, as demonstrated by the announcement of the Material 3 Expressive redesign for the Fitbit app. This update features a streamlined bottom navigation bar, a pull-down sync gesture, a distinctive loading indicator, and a linear progress bar for syncing. The redesign includes visual enhancements such as checkmarks for completed goals, unique sheet designs for Today, Fitness, and Sleep feeds, and detailed cards with color coding. The app does not currently support Dynamic Color, maintaining a default blue accent for certain UI elements. The navigation experience is described as seamless, with smooth loading charts and the introduction of an AI-powered Personal Health Coach. The Material 3 Expressive update is set to launch next year, with a current public preview limited to users in the United States.

AppWizard

October 7, 2025

Google starts rolling out Gemini for Home to early access users

Google has started rolling out Gemini for Home to users in the early access program, which includes features like Ask Home for natural language queries, AI-generated notifications, and a Home Brief feature that summarizes key moments. Users can join the early access program through the Google Home app (version 4.0 and above) by navigating to Settings > Early Access. Some participants have received notifications confirming their access. The rollout began on October 1 for cameras and doorbells in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, with a broader rollout for smart speakers and displays expected later this month in the US and additional countries by early 2026.

AppWizard

October 1, 2025

A new Google Home app, redesigned for Gemini

Google has revamped the Google Home app to enhance speed, reliability, and completeness, aligning it with the capabilities of the Gemini assistant. The app now loads over 70% faster on select Android devices, with app crashes reduced by nearly 80%. Improvements in battery consumption and memory usage have also been made. Camera features have seen a 30% increase in live view loading speed and a 40% reduction in playback failures, with frame rates for historical footage exceeding six times previous performance. The app has received over 100 feature and performance enhancements in the past year. Additionally, the app now fully integrates Nest functionalities, supporting all Nest Thermostat models since 2015, smoke and carbon monoxide alerts from Nest Protect, and passcode management for the Nest x Yale Lock, while improving the control of earlier generations of Nest cameras and doorbells.

AppWizard

October 1, 2025

5 ways your Google Home experience is changing (for the better)

Google is rolling out enhancements to the Google Home app, featuring a redesigned interface organized into three tabs: Home, Activity, and Automations. The Activity tab provides insights into device actions, while Home Premium subscribers receive Home Brief summaries. The Automations tab includes a new editor for creating customized routines, and the app has improved performance, loading over 70% faster on select Android devices and reducing crashes by nearly 80%. Gemini is central to the updates, allowing for more intuitive interactions with smart home devices through natural language commands. Users can express requests without needing precise phrasing, and Gemini introduces ten new voices for a more engaging experience. The integration of Gemini with Nest cameras enhances navigation through footage, with features like responsive jog controls and faster video loading speeds—up to 30% faster and a 40% reduction in playback errors. The Ask Home feature assists users with requests, available to both free and Home Premium subscribers, and Nest functionalities have been integrated into the Home app for managing devices like Nest Thermostats and receiving alerts from Nest Protect.

AppWizard

September 28, 2025

6 crucial features the new Google Home app needs to win me back

Google is revamping its Home app by integrating Gemini, featuring a redesigned interface that consolidates favorites and devices into a Home tab. A new "Ask Home" text box allows users to interact with smart home systems, enabling inquiries about security camera activity and device statuses. Users desire customizable tiles and dashboards, an easier way to build routines, flexible device grouping beyond rigid room setups, broader camera brand support, improved visibility for scenes, and comprehensive logs of device activities.

AppWizard

September 21, 2025

First look at the Google Home app powered by Gemini

Google is enhancing its Google Home platform by integrating Gemini and updating the Google Home app to version 3.41.50.3. The update includes a redesign for improved usability, featuring the new "Ask Home" capability for controlling smart devices through typed or verbal commands and searching home history. The Favorites tab has been rebranded to "Home," and the Devices and Settings tab has been simplified. Users can add outdoor air quality and temperature as favorite tiles, and new icons for video and a thermometer suggest potential upcoming Nest hardware releases. The app's updates are expected to roll out features previously tested in Google's Public Preview program.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Here’s your first look at the redesigned Google Home experience powered by Gemini (APK teardown)

Google is set to unveil a major redesign of the Google Home app, incorporating the Gemini AI to replace the traditional Google Assistant. The new version, Google Home v3.41.50.3, features a streamlined interface with a rebranded "Home" tab and a new search feature called "Ask Home." Gemini Live will enable natural conversations with smart devices, providing AI-generated event descriptions and daily summaries. The redesign removes the Devices and Settings tab for simplified navigation, with device access available through a grid icon in the Home tab. The user interface will have a cleaner aesthetic, and the process for adding new devices via QR code has been modified. Users will need to accept new terms and conditions to engage with Gemini, which includes a dedicated conversation screen for feedback on responses. An announcement regarding these updates is scheduled for October 1.

AppWizard

September 16, 2025

Google Home app finally supports hot water controls for Nest thermostats

The Google Nest team has introduced enhancements to the Google Home app, including hot water controls for users in the UK and Europe. These features allow users to manage hot water systems, set heating schedules, adjust temperatures, and boost hot water supply. The new functionalities are available for the Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen UK/EU and the Nest Thermostat E. Specific features include hot water boost, hot water scheduling, Heat Link temperature control, and an Eco button. Additionally, the Google Home app now offers expanded controls for non-thermostat climate devices, outdoor weather and air quality information, outdoor temperature visibility, simplified settings, and bug fixes. Full temperature scheduling for older Nest thermostats has also been implemented in the Google Home app.