The redesigned Google Home app gives iPhone and iPad users one place to manage Google Nest, Google Home, Chromecast, Google TV, Google Wifi, Matter, and compatible third-party smart-home devices. Install the latest app, sign in to the correct Google Account, select the right home, and enable Bluetooth, Local Network, and any requested Location permissions before adding devices.
Google Home is a central dashboard—not always a complete replacement for the Nest app or a manufacturer’s app. The controls and features available depend on the device, account, country, app version, Public Preview status, and any applicable subscription.
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Before you begin
- An iPhone or iPad with internet access
- The latest Google Home app from Google
- A Google Account
- A powered-on device ready for setup
- Bluetooth enabled
- Local Network permission enabled for Google Home
- Location permission enabled if the setup flow requests it
For Google speakers and displays, Google’s current instructions specify iOS or iPadOS 17.0 or later, a 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi network, and no WPA-2 Enterprise network for that setup flow. Keep the device roughly 15–20 feet from your router while preparing it.
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- Open the App Store.
- Search for Google Home and confirm that Google is the developer.
- Tap Get or Update.
- Open the app and sign in with the Google Account connected to your devices.
- Select an existing home, or use Add to create one.
If you manage more than one property, verify the selected home before adding anything. Adding a device to the wrong home or account is one of the most common causes of missing devices and confusing permissions.
#1 Best Overall
- 7" Touchscreen Display: View weather, calendar, YouTube videos, and Google Photos on a vibrant 1024x600 resolution screen.
- Google Assistant Built-In: Control smart home devices, set reminders, and get answers hands-free with voice commands.
- Smart Home Integration: Compatible with over 200 devices from 50+ brands, including lights, cameras, and thermostats.
- Entertainment Hub: Stream music and videos from YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, and more with high-quality sound.
- Personalized Routines: Use Voice Match to access your calendar, commute, and reminders tailored to your voice.
The iPad version is available separately through the same App Store listing. The layout may use the larger screen differently, including landscape or sidebar presentations, so labels may not appear in exactly the same place as on an iPhone.
Understand the redesigned layout
Google’s current app is organized around three main sections:
- Home: Favorites, rooms, all devices, and category dashboards.
- Activity: Home-history events such as camera activity, voice interactions, and device-state changes where supported.
- Automations: Scheduled automations, automations you create, and Google’s suggested automations.
At the top, the home selector lets you switch between homes. The Add button can be used to add devices, automations, people, services, speaker groups, and homes. Your profile picture or initial opens account switching, home settings, notifications, Assistant settings, help, and feedback.
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The exact interface can vary by account, country, device, app release, Public Preview enrollment, camera compatibility, and subscription status.
Home dashboards and Favorites
Within Home, you may see:
- Favorites for frequently used devices and automations
- All devices grouped by room
- Cameras
- Lighting
- Climate
- Smoke & CO
- Wi-Fi for supported Google Wifi products
Swipe across the category dashboards, then tap one to open it. To customize Favorites, tap Edit to add or remove tiles and use Reorder to change their position. Tap a tile for quick control, or touch and hold it for detailed controls and settings. Google says the Assistant Favorites tile is no longer available; voice experiences may instead be provided through the Gemini app where available.
Add devices
Google Nest and Google Home devices
- Open Google Home.
- Tap Add at the top.
- Tap Device.
- Choose the appropriate setup path.
- Scan the device’s QR code.
- If scanning fails, choose Use setup code.
- If the device is still not found, choose Add a different way, search for the device or brand, and follow the prompts.
- Assign the device to a room and give it a clear, distinctive name.
For speakers and displays, Google’s setup flow should show a Connected confirmation before you complete customization. Full instructions are available in Google’s iPhone and iPad setup guide.
Third-party devices
For a non-Matter product, set it up in the manufacturer’s app first when required:
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- Install the manufacturer’s app and create or use the relevant account.
- Set up and test the device there.
- In Google Home, tap Add → Device.
- Choose Link app or service, or the equivalent brand option.
- Select the manufacturer, sign in, and authorize the connection.
- Assign discovered devices to rooms and review their names.
If you unlink a connected service, Google warns that it may remove all devices connected through that service, not just one device.
Matter devices
Look for the Matter logo and keep the Matter QR code or setup code available. In Google Home, choose Add → Device, scan the code or enter it manually, and complete the network and room instructions. Matter can make cross-platform setup easier, but it does not remove every network, hub, Thread, manufacturer, or feature requirement.
Rank #2
- 7" Touchscreen Display: View weather, calendar, YouTube videos, and Google Photos on a vibrant 1024x600 resolution screen.
- Google Assistant Built-In: Control smart home devices, set reminders, and get answers hands-free with voice commands.
- Smart Home Integration: Compatible with over 200 devices from 50+ brands, including lights, cameras, and thermostats.
- Entertainment Hub: Stream music and videos from YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, and more with high-quality sound.
- Personalized Routines: Use Voice Match to access your calendar, commute, and reminders tailored to your voice.
Organize rooms and devices
To move a device, open Home → All devices, touch and hold its tile, tap Settings, then choose Room or Placement. Select an existing room or create one.
Use names that are easy to distinguish in voice commands, such as “Hallway light” rather than “Light 1.” Room placement affects grouping, voice control, automations, and how quickly devices can be found.
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Control devices
- Lights: Power, brightness, and color when supported.
- Plugs: On and off controls.
- Thermostats: Set point, mode, and ambient temperature.
- Speakers and displays: Volume, playback, equalizer, and settings.
- Streaming devices: Playback, volume, and settings.
- Cameras: Live view and, on supported models, history and camera settings.
- Speaker groups: Group playback and group settings.
Tap a tile for quick control. Touch and hold it for the full control panel, then tap the settings icon for room, nickname, notification, linked-service, and device-specific options. A device appearing in Google Home does not guarantee that every manufacturer feature or control is available there.
Create an automation
Automations are built from a starter, optional conditions, and one or more actions within a home and device scope.
- Open the Automations section.
- Tap Add or create a new automation.
- Choose what starts it—for example, a time, device state, temperature, presence event, or another supported trigger.
- Add conditions if the action should occur only in particular circumstances.
- Choose the devices and actions.
- Save it, then test the result manually.
Useful examples include turning off lights at bedtime, adjusting a thermostat when someone arrives, starting a media scene, or switching off selected devices when everyone is away. Check the automation afterward to confirm it is enabled and that the correct home and devices are selected.
Google cautions that automations depend on Wi-Fi, the internet, Google services, and sometimes third-party services. They can fail to start or stop. Never rely on one as the only way to unlock a door or provide a smoke, carbon-monoxide, medical, or security alert.
Activity and notifications
Activity may include camera events, voice interactions, and device-state changes. Tap Filter to narrow the history by event or device type and save a filter. It is not a universal record of every event from every third-party device; coverage depends on the product, integration, permissions, and subscription.
Google Home app notifications are off by default until enabled. To change them, open your profile menu and choose Home settings → Notifications. If iOS or iPadOS notifications are disabled, open the device’s system notification settings when prompted.
Keep separate layers in mind: Google Home app notifications, camera-event notifications, email alerts, and important device-level alarms are not identical. Disabling general app notifications may not change every device’s alert behavior.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Cameras: when you may still need Nest
The redesigned Home app supports more Nest camera functionality, but it does not provide identical features for every model. Eligible legacy cameras may require Google Home version 3.26 or later, Public Preview enrollment, a migrated Google Account, ownership of the Nest home, and an eligible camera or doorbell.
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Do not delete the Nest app until you have confirmed that Google Home supports every feature you use. The correct choice depends on the camera model and required feature set.
Troubleshoot common problems
Google Home cannot find a speaker or display
- Update Google Home.
- Confirm the device is powered on and in setup mode.
- Stand in the same room during setup.
- Turn on Bluetooth.
- Open iOS/iPadOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network and enable Google Home.
- Enable Location Access if requested.
- Confirm the iPhone or iPad is on the intended Wi-Fi network.
- Close and reopen Google Home.
- Factory-reset a previously configured device only if necessary, then retry Add → Device.
Google’s troubleshooting references are the speaker and display discovery guide and its iPhone/iPad permission guide.
A third-party device is missing
First confirm that it works in the manufacturer’s app and that you are using the correct Google Account and home. Then open the profile menu and go to Home settings → Works with Google. Select the manufacturer and choose Reconnect account. A service may need to be reauthorized or resynchronized.
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Discovery, status reporting, basic control, and advanced configuration are separate capabilities. Some products show status in Google Home but require the manufacturer’s app for firmware updates, detailed settings, or controls that Google does not expose.
An automation does not run
Open Automations and verify that it is enabled. Check the starter, conditions, schedule, selected devices, and device connection. Test the action manually and look for conflicts with Home/Away Assist or other presence-based automations.
Google Home, Apple Home, or the manufacturer’s app?
Choose Google Home as the main dashboard when your household centers on Nest, Chromecast or Google TV, Google cameras, Google Wifi, Google speakers, or Google’s voice ecosystem. Apple Home may be the more natural control surface for an Apple-centered household using HomeKit, Matter, Siri, Apple automations, and Apple home hubs.
Matter can allow compatible products to work across Google Home and Apple Home, but supported features, hubs, subscriptions, and automations can differ. The manufacturer’s app may still be necessary for initial setup, firmware updates, advanced settings, or features not exposed through Google Home.
Google Home is free to download, although certain camera, automation, or Gemini-related capabilities may depend on product eligibility, region, plan, or subscription. Check the current official documentation before purchasing hardware or relying on a feature.
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