How to control smart home devices with speakers or displays

24 September 2024

Overview

Customers can control over 50,000 smart home devices including TVs, remote controls, lights, appliances, plugs, thermostats, sensors and more through their Google Nest or Google Home speaker or display. If they haven’t already, advise them to set up smart home devices through Google Nest and Home speakers and displays.

Note: In most cases, home control devices (lights, thermostats, sensors, plugs or switches) bought in the US aren't supported in other countries and vice versa. If customers have questions, tell them to contact the device manufacturer.

Control devices with voice commands

Encourage customers to explore the Google Assistant actions so that they can control devices around their home with just their voice. Here are some examples:

Control entertainment devices

Customers can control TVs to play shows or specific channels, request songs on their speakers, change the volume and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners to learn more.

TV

To do this:	*Say 'Hey Google',* then:**
Turn TV on or off	'Turn on TV.' 'Turn off TV.'
Change volume or mute TV	'Volume up on TV.' 'Set volume 15 on TV.' 'Set volume 5% on TV.' 'Mute TV.'

Speaker (non-cast)

To do this:	*Say 'Hey Google',* then:**
Pause or resume	'Pause <speaker>.' 'Resume <speaker>.'
Play next or previous track	'Play the next track on <speaker>.' 'Play the previous track on <speaker>.'
Mute or unmute speaker	'Mute <speaker>.' 'Unmute <speaker>.'

Set-top box or receiver

To do this:	*Say 'Hey Google',* then:**
Pause	'Pause <device name>.'
Resume	'Resume <device name>.'
Channel up	'Channel up on the <device name>.'
Channel down	'Previous channel on the <device name>.'
Set channel	'Switch to channel XXX on <device name>.'

Smart remote

To do this:	*Say 'Hey Google',* then:**
Turn device on or off	'Turn on the <device>.' 'Turn off the <device>.'
Tune to a channel	'Go to ESPN on my TV.' 'Go to channel 129.' 'Channel up on my TV.'
Adjust volume or mute	'Increase the volume on the TV.' 'Increase volume by <specify level>.' 'Mute the TV.'
Pause TV	'Pause the TV.'
Fast-forward	'Fast-forward the TV.'

Control lights

Customers can adjust brightness, turn on or off lights and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners to learn more.

To do this:	*Say 'Hey Google',* then:**
To turn a light on or off	'Turn on [light name].' 'Turn off ]light name].'
Dim a light	'Dim the [light name].'
Brighten a light	'Brighten the [light name].'
Set a light brightness to a certain percentage	'Set [light name] to 50%.'
Dim or brighten lights by a certain percentage	'Dim [light name] by 50%.' 'Brighten [light name] by 50%.'
Change the colour of a light	'Turn [light name] green.'
Turn all lights in room on or off	'Turn on lights in [room name].' 'Turn off lights in [room name].'
Turn all lights on or off	'Turn on all of the lights.' 'Turn off all of the lights.'

Control thermostats

Customers can control thermostats and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners to learn more.

To do this:	Say 'Hey Google', then…
To adjust the temperature	'Make it warmer.' 'Lower the temp.' 'Raise temp 2 degrees.' 'Set the temperature to 22.'
To switch heating or cooling modes	'Turn on the cooling.' 'Set the thermostat to heating.' 'Turn the thermostat to heat-cool mode.'

Note: Customers can use voice commands to override a lock temperature using their speaker or display.

Control smart plugs and switches

Customers can control appliances around the house with smart plugs and switches. Explore all the Google Assistant partners to learn more.

To do this:	*Say 'Hey Google',* then:**
Turn plugs on or off	'Turn on the <plug name>.' 'Turn off the <plug name>.'
Turn switch on or off	'Turn on the <switch name>.' 'Turn off the <switch name>.'

Control home security

Customers can control cameras and home security systems and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners to learn more.

To do this:	*Say 'Hey Google',* then:**
Start stream	'Show <camera name>.' 'What’s on <camera name>?' '<Camera name> on <Google streaming device name>.' 'Play <camera name> on <Google streaming device name>.' 'Show <camera name> on <Google streaming device name>.'
Stop stream	'Stop <TV or streaming device name>.'

Here's how to stream and control security cameras.

Note: Customers can’t disarm through voice commands.

Control appliances

Customers can control smart appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, vacuums and more. Explore all the Google Assistant partners to learn more.

To do this:	Say 'Hey Google', then:
Start vacuum	'Start the <vacuum name>.' 'Start vacuuming.' 'Is the <vacuum name> running?'
Stop vacuum	'Stop the <vacuum name>.' 'Stop vacuuming.'

Control smart sensors

Customers can control smart sensors like motion, light, pressure, temperature, humidity and contact sensors. Explore all the Google Assistant partners to learn more.

Note:

Some sensors aren't supported yet such as multi-sensors, smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) or air quality index (AQI) sensors.
Some third-party sensors are read only, which means that the customer can’t control them through voice commands and the Home app. What they can do is view the status of the sensor when they go to the Home app Home view tap the sensor. If the customer wants to change the settings of read-only sensors, they need to use their third-party app.

To do this:	Say 'Hey Google', then:
Check the temperature	'What’s the temperature in the <temperature sensor name>'

Control and schedule multiple devices through routines

Use a routine to control multiple devices with one voice command or to schedule the devices to work at specific times and days of the week. Learn how to set up and schedule a routine.

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