Control smart devices on your Android phone

You can quickly control compatible smart home devices like thermostats, lights, locks, and cameras from your phone. You can turn them on or off and change some settings without opening an app.

Home controls work with devices that you’ve connected to the Google Home app . Some of these smart devices include:

• Lights
• Thermostats
• Locks
• Cameras
• Plugs
• Vacuums
• TVs
• Speakers

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 11 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Set up home controls

1. Find the Google Home app or download it from the Play Store.
2. Touch and hold the Home app   App info.
3. If the app isn’t already enabled, tap Enable . 
4. Connect your smart devices with the Home app. Learn more about the Google Home app.

Control connected devices

To quickly control your devices, press and hold the Power button on your phone. From here, depending on the device, you can:

• Turn devices on or off.
• Change brightness for lights.
• Change thermostat temperature.
• See live videos from cameras.
• Pause music or videos.

Tip: The first time you go to the home controls panel, your phone will automatically add some devices. To add more devices, go to the home controls screen and tap More Add controls.

Choose which devices show in home controls

1. Press and hold the Power button on your phone.
2. Above the controls on the right, tap More  Edit controls.
3. To remove a device, tap the check box next to the device name. To rearrange devices, drag the device name.
4. Tap Save.

How Google handles your data

To connect you with your smart devices, Google collects certain information. Some of this functionality uses Google Play services. For example, Google collects:

• User interactions, crash logs, and diagnostics for analytics purposes. This data is used to monitor functionality, crashes, and drops in reliability, and improve your overall experience.
• Installed apps for app functionality and analytics purposes. This information can be used to show you the list of apps you may use to connect to your smart home devices.
• Other user-generated content, such as the text you use to name a new smart light bulb, like “study desk light,” for app functionality purposes.
• Personal identifiers, such as your Google Account identifier, for app functionality purposes. This is used to link a smart home device to a specific Google Account for use within the Google Home app and Google Assistant.

The data collected is encrypted in transit.