Manage smart home automations in Google Home

The new automation editor provides a new and improved automations setup experience. It gives added flexibility and convenience to control your smart home with a refreshed look. The editor also has a new conditions section with device state and presence conditions to control when your automation runs. These features will be available to Public Preview participants in the US who use Android devices. Learn how to join Public Preview.

The new automation editor is only available for Household Routines. For Personal Routines, follow the steps in Create and manage Routines in Google Home. Other household members who use Android devices and are in the US can check and start the Household Routines you create with the new editor. They can also edit these Routines on Android devices if they’ve opted in to Public Preview.

Important: All household members can check when these Routines run. Routines are for convenience only, not safety- or security-critical use cases. Don't create Routines that could result in injury or harm if they fail to start or stop. Routines can depend on working internet, Wi-Fi, and service availability from both Google and the third parties who manufacture the devices included in Routines. Routines may not always work, and Google isn't responsible for any harm or losses incurred due to failed Routines.

How to use the new automation editor

Important: If you opt out of Public Preview, you can still check and start Routines that you created with the new editor, but can no longer edit them. This also applies when you revert to the previous automation editor while opted in to Public Preview.

Create an automation
  1. Open the Google Home app .
  2. Tap Create and then New automation.
  3. To name your Routine, tap Add name.
  4. To include a description for your Routine, tap Add description.
  5. Add the starters, conditions, and actions you want.
  6. Tap Save.

The new automations setup has the same supported starters, conditions, and actions as Help Me Create.

Edit an automation
  1. Open the Google Home app .
  2. Tap Automations and then select the automation that you want to edit.
  3. Add or edit the automation name and description:
    1. Tap the name of the automation or tap the Menu .
    2. Enter the name and description in the designated fields.
    3. Tap Save to confirm the changes and return to the automation overview.
  4. Add starters, conditions, and actions:
    1. Tap next to the section you want to add to.
    2. Select the type of starter, condition, or action you want to add.
    3. Make any adjustments from the available options.
    4. Tap Done.
  5. Edit starters, conditions, and actions:
    1. Tap the existing starter, condition, or action you want to edit.
    2. Make any adjustments from the available options.
    3. Tap Done.

Learn more about starters and conditions.

  1. Remove starters, conditions, and actions:
    1. Tap the existing starter, condition, or action you want to remove.
    2. Tap Remove and confirm removal.

Tip: You can also swipe the starter, condition, or action you want to delete.

  1. To avoid potential errors and conflicts in your automation, review each behavior before you apply your changes.
  2. Tap Save to apply the changes, or select Back Back arrow and then Discard to discard the changes.
Delete an automation
  1. Open the Google Home app .
  2. Tap Automations and then Menu and then Delete.
  3. Tap Delete to confirm that you want to delete the automation.
Activate or deactivate an automation
  1. Open the Google Home app .
  2. Tap Automations and then select an automation.
  3. Tap Activate or Deactivate and then Save.

The option that you choose will be highlighted once you make a selection.

Revert to the previous automation editor

As we continue to fully integrate all the features to this improved editor, there might be some features that are not yet available. We are actively working to move all existing features to this new automation editor. In the meantime, the steps below will help you return to the previous editor that still has these features:

Important: Any changes made to the current automation will be lost when you load the previous editor.

  1. Open the Google Home app .
  2. Tap Automations and then Create and then Household.
  3. Tap Menu and then Previous household routine editor and then Previous editor.
  4. Confirm that you want to go back to the previous editor.

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