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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Google Home app 4.3 introduced an edge-to-edge layout for phones running Android 15 or newer. Released on November 12, 2025, the update also refreshed Matter controls for lights, plugs, and switches, expanded Home and Away automation editing, improved feedback for camera AI descriptions, and fixed several bugs.
Google Home 4.3 is now a historical release rather than the latest version. Google’s current release notes list substantially newer versions, but 4.3 remains useful to understand when these changes were introduced.
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What “edge-to-edge” means in Google Home 4.3
On a compatible Android phone, Google Home can extend content behind the system status and navigation bars instead of stopping the layout at their edges. The result is a more efficient use of tall displays and a newer Android visual style.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThis is primarily a presentation and spacing change. It does not automatically make every device respond faster, add new automation logic, or turn every Google Home screen into a fully immersive interface. Launch coverage suggested that the top and bottom bars remained relatively fixed while the central feed scrolled, so the exact appearance may vary by screen and handset.
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- 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 edge-to-edge feature requires Android 15 or newer. A phone can have Google Home 4.3 without receiving this particular layout if it runs an older Android version. Display cutouts, navigation mode, font size, and staged rollout timing can also affect what users see.
Refreshed Matter controls for lights, plugs, and switches
Google refreshed controls for Matter-compatible lights, plugs, and switches, adding quicker access to common actions through new shortcuts.
On Android, Google also introduced local control for supported Matter lights, plugs, and switches. Google claimed response times of up to twice as fast. That is a maximum company claim, not a guarantee that every device or command will respond twice as quickly.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Local control can reduce dependence on a cloud round trip, but actual performance depends on the Matter controller, device firmware, Wi-Fi or Thread network, border-router setup, and phone. The feature was marked Public Preview and Gradual rollout, so it was not immediately available to every account.
Home and Away automations become more flexible
Google moved the built-in Home and Away automations into the newer automation editor. Users gained more ways to customize them with supported conditions, actions, and starters.
Google said existing Home and Away automations would continue operating normally without requiring users to rebuild them. However, anyone editing an automation should review its migrated settings before saving, particularly when adding multiple conditions.
Version 4.3 also added more granular presence-aware controls:
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- 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.
- Camera presence-aware actions could be managed per camera.
- Thermostat presence-aware actions could be managed per thermostat.
These options were available from the relevant device’s settings page. Supported starters, conditions, and actions can vary by device, account, region, and preview status. “More customizable” does not mean unlimited automation logic.
Improved feedback for camera AI descriptions
Google added easier feedback controls beneath camera-generated AI descriptions. Users could report problems such as a familiar face being missed or another inaccurate description.
Google also added thumbs-up and thumbs-down controls for specific faces identified in a clip. These tools provide product feedback; they are not an instant correction mechanism and do not guarantee that an individual description or recognition result will be fixed immediately.
AI descriptions and familiar-face identification remain probabilistic. Users should treat them as generated information rather than verified fact. Camera AI availability may also depend on the camera, account configuration, region, subscription arrangements, or Public Preview enrollment.
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Bug fixes in version 4.3
Google’s release notes listed fixes for:
- A crash affecting some device-setup flows.
- A crash during some Android casting sessions.
- Ask Home onboarding reappearing after dismissal.
- Duplicate photo icons appearing during thermostat setup.
These are release-note fixes, not a guarantee that every setup, casting, onboarding, or thermostat issue was eliminated.
Android and iPhone availability
Google Home 4.3 rolled out to both Android and iOS, but the headline edge-to-edge change was specifically an Android feature tied to Android 15 and later. The iPhone release should not be treated as an identical redesign.
Use the official app listings to check for updates:
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check whether Google Home 4.3 is installed
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for Google Home.
- Open the app listing.
- Select Update if that button is available.
- Check the app listing or your phone’s app-information screen for the installed version.
If no update appears, the phone may already be current for that device, or a staged rollout may not yet have reached the account.
If edge-to-edge is missing
- Confirm that the phone runs Android 15 or newer.
- Confirm that Google Home has updated.
- Force-close and reopen the app.
- Restart the phone.
- Allow time for a gradual feature rollout.
A missing edge-to-edge layout is more likely to indicate an operating-system, compatibility, or rollout issue than a hardware failure. Clearing app data can require account or device setup again, so it should not be the first step. A factory reset of smart-home devices is unnecessary for a cosmetic layout feature.
If Matter controls are unavailable
Check that the product is Matter-compatible, has been added to the intended Google Home, has current firmware, and is connected through a functioning home network. Also check whether the feature requires Public Preview enrollment or is limited by regional availability.
The specific 4.3 local-control claim covers supported Matter lights, plugs, and switches; it should not be generalized to every Matter device category.
Should you install Google Home 4.3?
Historically, the update was most useful for Android 15 users, Matter-device owners, and people who wanted more control over Home and Away routines. The edge-to-edge design was the most visible change, while local Matter control and the automation editor were potentially more consequential.
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For users who only perform basic device toggles and do not use compatible Matter products, the practical benefit was smaller. No hardware purchase is necessary to receive the layout change.
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