Control smart home devices

You can control smart home devices including lights, switches, outlets, and thermostats using the Google Assistant on your phone or tablet. 

For example, you can say:

• "Hey Google, set the heat to 70."
• "Hey Google, turn on lights in the kitchen."    

Important: The languages you can use depend on the device. Learn which languages work on your device.

What you need

• Android phone or tablet with these requirements
• "Hey Google" turned on
• Wi-Fi or a cellular network connection
• Smart home devices that work with the Google Assistant. Explore devices you can use

Step 1: Set up your devices

If you haven’t already, set up your smart home devices by following the steps provided by the device maker.

Step 2: Connect devices to your Google Assistant

1. On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app .
2. Tap Devices  Add a device.
3. Tap the type of device you want to connect, and then follow the steps.
4. When the pairing is complete, tap Done.

Step 3: Set nicknames for devices

You can choose names to call your smart home devices, for example, "ceiling light" or "Ben’s lamp."

1. On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app .
2. Tap Devices  tap a device you want to rename Name.
3. Enter a nickname.
4. Tap OK.

Step 4: Assign devices to a room

To control your devices more easily, assign them to a room. For example, if you assign lights to your bedroom, you can say "Turn on lights in the bedroom."

Add devices to a room or change a device's room

1. On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app .
2. Tap Devices  choose a device.
3. Tap Room.
4. From here you can either:
   • Select a room: Tap a room.
   • Add a new room: Scroll down and tap Add a custom room. Enter a room name, and then tap OK.
5. At the top, tap Save.

Check for new devices

You can check for new devices that haven’t been assigned to a room. If you’re using SmartThings, skip to the steps below.

1. On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app .
2. Tap Devices  then look for new devices labeled as ‘Unassigned.’
3. Follow the steps to set a nickname for these devices and add them to a room.

Check for new SmartThings devices

1. On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app .
2. Tap Devices  Add a device.
3. In the "Devices" tab, at the top right, tap Manage accounts SmartThings.
4. Tap Check for new devices select a location in the dropdown Authorize.
5. At the bottom you’ll see the number of devices added. Follow the steps to add the devices to a room.

Delete a room

1.  On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app .
2. Tap Devices.
3. At the top, tap Open Home app.
4. In the Home app, tap Settings   Rooms and groups.
5. Tap a room  Delete room  Remove.

Step 5: Control devices using commands

Tip: You can also create shortcut commands.

1. Say "Hey Google" or press the button to talk to your Google Assistant.
2. Say a command:

Control lights

• Turn on/off [light name].
• Turn on/off all of the lights.
• Turn on/off lights in [room name].
• Dim the [light name].
• Brighten the [light name].
• Set [light name] to 50%.
• Turn [light name] green.

Control thermostats

Turn on thermostat

Note: You must say a mode.

• Turn on heating/cooling mode.
• Turn on heat-cool mode.

Turn off thermostat

• Turn off thermostat.

Set the temperature

• Set the heat to 68.
• Set heat-cool to 72.
• Set the air conditioning to 70.
• Set the [room name] thermostat to 70.

Adjust the temperature

Note: You can say "temp" or "temperature."

• Make it warmer/cooler.
• Raise/lower the temp.
• Raise/lower the temp 2 degrees.

Switch heating or cooling modes

• Turn on heating/cooling.
• Set thermostat to cooling/heating.
• Turn thermostat to heat-cool mode.

Find out the temperature

• What’s the thermostat set to?
• What’s the temperature outside?

Control switches or outlets

• Turn on/off the [outlet name].
• Turn on/off the [switch name].

Disconnect devices from your Google Assistant

If you no longer want to control your smart home devices using your Assistant, you can disconnect your account.

1. On your Pixel phone, open the Settings app .
2. Tap Devices  your device.
3. At the bottom, tap Remove device Remove.

Fix problems

Google Assistant can’t control device

To try fixing the issue, rename your device. Read the tips below, then follow the steps to set a new nickname.

Tips for renaming your device:

• Don’t include numbers, special characters, or room names.
• If you’re naming lights connected to plugs or switches, add "plug" or "switch" to the nickname.
• Avoid similar names (for example, "Table light left" and "Table light right").

Can’t pair Philips Hue bridge with Google Assistant

1. Check to see if your Philips Hue bridge:
   • Has power
   • Has all its top lights on
   • Is plugged in to your Wi-Fi router
2. See if your Philips Hue bridge has been paired with the Philips Hue cloud. To check:
   • Make sure your devices appear in https://my.meethue.com/en-us/my-devices
   • Make sure your bridge appears in https://www.meethue.com/en-us/user/bridge
3. Connect your phone and Philips Hue bridge to the same Wi-Fi network and router.

If those steps don’t work, try restarting your phone and the Philips Hue bridge. If you have questions about your Philips Hue bridge or need more help, contact Philips.

Related pages

• Create shortcut commands
• Play music & videos on your TV or speakers