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

You can control the devices and automations you added to your Home app Favorites .

1. In the bottom left of your lock screen or from Quick Settings, tap Google Home .
2. Choose the action you want, such as:
   • 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.

Decide which devices show in the home panel

1. Wake your phone and display the lock screen.
   Tip: You can either press the Power button, tap the screen, or lift the phone.
2. In the bottom left of your lock screen or from Quick Settings, tap Google Home .
3. Scroll down to “Edit” and “Reorder” buttons.
   • To remove a device, tap Edit Checkbox next to the device name.
   • To rearrange devices, tap Reorder and then tap and hold on a device tile to drag it to the desired location.
     Tip: If you edit or reorder devices here, they'll also be updated on the favorites tab in Google Home app, and vice versa.
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.