Supported starters, conditions, and actions for Help me create and the enhanced automation editor

Automations generated through Help me create and the improved automation editor in the Google Home app have 3 components:

Starters: These tell the automation when to begin. An automation can include more than one starter, and any one of them can start the automation.
Conditions: These are optional restrictions on when your automation begins. Conditions are checked each time an automation starts.
If an automation has multiple conditions, you can set it to start in 2 ways:
Any: The automation starts if any of the selected conditions are met.
All: The automation starts only if all of the selected conditions are met.
Actions: These are what your automations are supposed to do once the starter triggered and conditions are met.

Sample automation

At sunset on weekdays, you want to turn on all the lights if no one is home.

Starter: Schedule the automation to start at sunset.
- When the sun starts to set in your location, the automation is initiated.
Conditions: Set 2 conditions to run the automation on weekdays and when home presence indicates that no one is home.
- If it’s a weekday, the system then validates if no one is home.
- If all conditions are met, the specified action occurs.
Actions: Add the action to turn on your lights after the starter has occurred and all conditions are met.

To learn more about Help me create or the improved automation editor, refer to Create automations in Google Home with Help me create or Manage home automations in Google Home.

Supported behaviors

Help me create and the enhanced automation editor includes support for select behaviors and devices, with ongoing efforts to enhance and expand their capabilities. Before you get started, make sure you have eligible devices set up and linked in your Google Home app.

Learn to set up your device:

Tip: For third-party smart home devices, compatibility may vary. For example, you might be able to turn a smart light on and off with your voice, but you might not be able to adjust its brightness or change its color. For the most accurate information, you may need to refer to your device's manual or reach out to your device's manufacturer.

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Starters and conditions

Important: Not all devices support all available starters, conditions, and actions.

Device starters and conditions

Device starters and conditions start an automation when a specific device changes its state or detects a specific event or condition.

Nest Camera event starters

These features are only available as starters on Nest cameras set up in the Google Home app and legacy cameras that have been migrated to the Google Home app. To learn more about migrating devices, visit Transfer devices to the Google Home app.

Additionally, some event types are available only for select cameras. To find out which features are available on your camera, refer to Supported behaviors for Nest Cameras.

Important: When you add a starter based on camera event detection, keep in mind that cameras' ability to detect faces, people, packages, and animals may not always be reliable. Lighting, camera position, and weather may cause variability in camera performance.

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
When familiar or unfamiliar faces are seen	"when a familiar face is seen" "when an unfamiliar face is seen between 8:00 PM to midnight…"
When packages are seen	"when a package is seen on the doorbell cam…” or “when a package is picked up…”
When a person is seen	"when a person is seen…” or “if a person is detected…”
Activity or animal seen	“when an animal is detected…”
Vehicle seen	“when a vehicle is seen…”

Supported behaviors for Nest Cameras

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Supported events
Nest Camera Indoor and Nest Camera Outdoor	Person seen
Nest Camera IQ Indoor and Nest Camera IQ Outdoor	Person seen Familiar face seen Unfamiliar face seen
Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) and Nest Cam (indoor, wired)	Person seen Familiar face seen Unfamiliar face seen Activity or animal seen Vehicle seen
Nest Hub Max	Person seen Familiar face seen Unfamiliar face seen
Nest Doorbell (wired)	Person seen Package events Familiar face seen Unfamiliar face seen
Nest Doorbell (battery) and Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen)	Person seen Package events Familiar face seen Unfamiliar face seen Animal seen Vehicle seen

Device states

Thermostat control isn’t supported yet.

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
A TV is muted or unmuted	"when the TV is muted"
A specific device is turned on or off Available as a starter only.	"when my plug turns on…"
When a temperature sensor detects temperature changes or a specific temperature level is reached Available as a starter only.	"if the temperature rises above 80 degrees…"
Window coverings are opened or closed	"if the blinds are fully closed"
When a sensor detects occupancy	"if the living room is occupied…"
Detected carbon monoxide	"if CO reaches…" or “if the CO alarm senses elevated levels…”
Door is opened or closed Available as a starter only.	"when the door is locked…" or "when the door is unlocked…"

"Hey Google" starter

This starter lets you activate your automation with a specific voice command that begins with "Ok, Google" or "Hey Google.” For example, you could say "Hey Google, turn on party time" to start an automation that dims your lights.

“Hey Google” is only available as a starter.

Presence starters and conditions

Choose to start automations based on the presence or absence of people in your home.

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
When someone is home or everyone is away	"when everyone is away…” or "when someone is home…"

Schedule starters and conditions

Start your automation based on specific days and times. Prompts for specific dates, such as “on January 1st,” aren't supported at this time.

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
Set to a particular day of the week	"on Tuesday"
Set with a delay or offset	"10 minutes after sunset"
Set a precise start time	"at 4:00 PM"
When it’s sunset or sunrise	"after sunset"

Actions

Device actions

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
Broadcast an announcement or a message	“...broadcast a reminder to take out the trash at 5:00 PM”
Turn a device on or off This behavior doesn't support cameras.	“...turn on the lights on the front porch.”
Open or close window coverings	“...open the blinds in the bedroom.”
Lock a smart lock Smart locks that require pin codes aren't supported.	“...lock the front door.”
Adjust the volume to a specific level This feature doesn't support muting.	“...lower the music volume.”
Set the brightness to a specific level	"...dim the lights in the bedroom."

"Hey Google" action

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt
Issue a command using “Hey Google”	“...play my morning playlist on the kitchen speaker,” “... tell me today’s weather.”

Media actions

Media actions are available on these devices:

TV
Chromecast

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
Start playback of media content	"Play music"
Pause playback of media content	"Pause"
Go back to the previous track	"Play previous track"
Skip to the next track	"Next track"
Stop playback	"Stop whatever is playing"

Notification action

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
Send a notification	“Send a notification if the front door is left unlocked after 10:00 PM” “If the outdoor camera spots a person, alert me and home members.”

Delay action

Date added: December 3, 2024
Description	Sample prompt for Help me create
Add a delay between actions	"At 8:00 PM, turn on kitchen lights, wait 20 seconds, and then turn on living room lights" "If motion is detected on the front door camera between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, turn on the porch light, wait 2 minutes, and then turn on the living room light.”

Known issues and limitations

A large number of devices in a structure may cause delays in automation creation or loading time while editing an automation.
Nest Thermostats are currently not supported.
Temperature-related automations default to Fahrenheit and can’t be switched to Celsius.
Familiar face detection is not available on Nest Cams used in Illinois.
Features currently not supported include:
- Nest Doorbell button press.
- Turning cameras on or off with automations.
- Light color adjustments and light effects.
- Nest Camera motion events. Only other specific events, such as person, package, and animal seen, are supported.
- Creating and editing automations on iPhones and iPads.

Tip: Automation history is available to all home members in the Activity tab.

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