Google has removed the dedicated “Call Home” shortcut from the Google Home app, but it has not removed every way to call a Nest speaker or display from a phone. Google’s current instructions still direct users to Google Meet, where the replacement appears under Call my home devices. Google Assistant can also place calls to a named home or device.
The change, reported by T3 on December 5, 2025, is frustrating because Google removed the simplest household-calling route without providing an equally visible replacement.
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What changed in Google Home?
The old Call Home control let someone away from home reach compatible Google Home and Nest devices without selecting an individual contact. It was useful for calling children without phones, checking on a relative, reaching someone in another room, or treating the house itself as a shared intercom.
Following recent Google Home app updates and its redesign, users reported that the shortcut disappeared. T3 also reported that the app’s Broadcast control was no longer visible in the same way. That does not establish that Google has ended Broadcast everywhere: the report said it remained accessible through voice assistants.
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The important distinction is this:
- Removed: the dedicated Call Home entry point in the Google Home app.
- Still documented: phone-to-home-device calling through Google Meet and Google Assistant.
- Not confirmed: Google’s reason for retiring the Home app shortcut. Explanations involving redesign priorities, low usage, service consolidation, or Gemini are speculation unless Google provides a statement.
Google Duo and Google Meet have also been combined into the Meet app, although some Nest displays may still show legacy Duo wording. See Google’s Duo-to-Meet guidance.
How to call your home devices now
Use Google Meet
This is the closest documented replacement for the old workflow:
- Open the Google Meet app on your phone.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Call my home devices.
Meet must be set up on the phone, Google Assistant must be available, and the Google Account connected to Meet must be the same account linked to the Nest speaker or display. Google also requires the account to be connected to the Meet phone number.
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Use Google Assistant
Google documents these phone commands:
Hey Google, video call [display or speaker name].
Hey Google, video call [name of your home].
Someone already at home can call another compatible speaker or display by saying Hey Google, call [device name]
or Hey Google, video call [device name]
. Video requires compatible hardware.
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- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
Set up Meet calling on a Nest device
In the Google Home app, go to:
Settings → Communication → Video and Voice Apps → Google Meet
On some devices or software versions, the option may still be labelled Google Duo. To allow incoming calls on a particular speaker or display, use the same area and enable that device.
Google says incoming calls also depend on personal results being enabled and on settings such as Do Not Disturb, Night Mode, Downtime, filters, and Digital Wellbeing restrictions not blocking calls.
What happens with incoming calls?
This is where the different calling methods matter. Google’s current documentation says Nest speakers and displays can receive incoming calls through Google Meet. On supported displays, the recipient can tap Answer; compatible devices can also respond by voice.
Google-supported calling, Google Fi calling, and Google Voice calling do not provide the same incoming-call behavior to a Nest device. A household may therefore be able to call out through one method but receive calls only through Meet.
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None of these Nest calling methods should be treated as an emergency or medical-alert service. Google says emergency calls are not supported. Wi-Fi, power, account status, cloud services, and device settings can all affect reliability.
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Which Nest devices are compatible?
Google lists calling support for several displays and speakers, but compatibility varies by device, account, country, and calling method. Google’s regional help pages are not perfectly consistent for some older products, so verify the exact model before relying on it.
| Device type | Relevant limitation |
|---|---|
| Google Nest Hub | Can receive video but has no camera to send video. |
| Google Nest Hub (second generation) | Can receive video but cannot send video because it has no camera. |
| Google Nest Hub Max | Supports video calling with its camera when configured for the supported calling service. |
| Google Home, Home Mini, Nest Mini, Nest Audio and some legacy speakers | Voice calling may be supported, but exact support depends on the model and region. |
| Google Home Max and Nest Wifi point | Support information differs across Google’s regional pages; check the current device-specific guidance. |
Google’s Meet calling instructions and legacy-device guidance are the safest references for a particular setup.
Country and account restrictions
Google describes several calling routes with different availability:
| Calling method | Documented availability | Incoming calls to Nest |
|---|---|---|
| Google Meet calling | Countries and languages where supported Nest/Home speakers or displays are sold | Yes, through Meet |
| Google-supported calling | United States and Canada | No |
| Google Fi or Google Voice mobile calling | United States, with the relevant service | No; service and plan conditions apply |
Google says supported calls within and to the United States and Canada can be free, while Google Fi or Google Voice calls depend on the applicable service and may involve provider or data charges. Availability is not identical for every country or account.
Why the backlash makes sense
The missing shortcut was valuable because it removed decisions from the caller: there was no need to know which person was home, which device to select, or which phone number to use. That simplicity mattered for children, older adults, caregivers, people with limited mobility or dexterity, and shared households.
The replacement works, but it is less discoverable. Users must look in Meet or remember an Assistant command, link accounts, enable the right communication service, and work around regional and device differences. Meet also feels like an individual-contact app rather than a clearly labelled household intercom.
This adds to a broader perception that Google’s smart-home communication features can be moved or retired without a clear migration path. That is an interpretation of the product history and user reaction—not a quantified survey result or an explanation confirmed by Google.
Call Home, Broadcast and Meet are not the same
- Broadcast: a one-way announcement to speakers and displays. It can replace “Dinner is ready,” but not a conversation.
- Call Home: the removed, household-oriented two-way calling shortcut in Google Home.
- Google Meet: the remaining two-way calling route, with account, setup, device, and regional requirements.
If Broadcast remains available through Assistant on your setup, it may still be the easiest option for announcements. It does not restore the removed Call Home control.
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What should you use instead?
For announcements
Try Google Assistant Broadcast. It is quick and works well when the recipient only needs to hear a message. Do not use it for private conversations or situations that require confirmation.
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For two-way calls to existing Nest hardware
Set up Google Meet first. It is the most direct software replacement and may avoid buying anything. Test both outgoing and incoming calls from the locations where the devices will actually be used.
For caregiving or emergency communication
Use a regular phone, cellular tablet, medical-alert system, or another dedicated communication device as the primary solution. A smart speaker depends on power, Wi-Fi, account access, cloud services, and settings that can change.
For a dedicated household intercom model
Some readers may compare Amazon Echo Show devices and Alexa Drop In. That can be a credible alternative, but it requires checking current device support, privacy controls, regional availability, and the cost of switching ecosystems. Buying a new Nest device will not restore the old Google Home app shortcut.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteShould you still buy Nest hardware for calling?
Buy a Nest display or speaker only if its broader smart-home features justify the purchase. A Nest Hub Max is the Google option with a camera for compatible video calling; a Nest Hub or speaker may suit audio communication, subject to current support. Neither restores the one-tap Call Home button.
For an existing Google Home household, the sensible order is:
- Try the free Meet route.
- Confirm that incoming calls work on the exact device and account.
- Buy hardware only if you also need a screen, camera, or smart-home control.
- Choose a dedicated phone or alert system when reliability or emergency access matters more than convenience.
Google Home Premium is not a Call Home replacement. Its documented benefits concern home-security and camera features, not restoration of the removed shortcut. See Google’s Google Home Premium information.
Quick troubleshooting checklist
- Confirm the phone and Nest device use the same Google Account.
- Install and configure Google Meet.
- Check Google Home → Settings → Communication → Video and Voice Apps.
- Select Google Meet, or Google Duo if that is the label shown.
- Enable incoming calls for the intended device.
- Turn on personal results where required.
- Review Do Not Disturb, Night Mode, Downtime, filters, and Digital Wellbeing settings.
- Confirm the Nest device is online and supports the selected calling method.
- Check country and account restrictions.
- Test the setup before depending on it for family check-ins.
Google’s official guidance is available for calling home devices through Meet and calling features on Nest speakers and displays.
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