Control smart devices with your Android phone or tablet

You can quickly add controls for compatible smart home devices like thermostats, lights, locks and cameras from your Android phone or tablet. You can turn devices on or off and change some of their settings without opening an app.

Home controls and the home panel work with compatible devices that you connect and can control in the Google Home app , such as lights, cameras, thermostats, TVs and more.

Home controls are only available on phones with Android 11 or higher. The home panel is only available on compatible Pixel devices with Android 13 or higher. Hub Mode is only available on Pixel Tablet. Before you control smart devices in home controls, the home panel or the Google Home app, make sure that you check and update your mobile device’s Android version.

Set up home controls or the home panel

If you haven't already, use your phone to set up your smart devices in the Google Home app. Compatible devices will be added automatically to home controls and the compatible devices that you add to your favourites in the Google Home app  will be added to the home panel.

Control connected devices

Home controls (Android 11 or higher):

If your mobile device doesn’t have the home panel, hold the power button to access device controls. To add more devices, go to the home controls screen and tap More Add controls.

Home panel (Pixel devices with Android 13 or higher):

Pixel devices with Android 13 or higher have the home panel. To control the devices and automations in your Google Home favourites list, tap the Google Home symbol on your device's lock screen. You can also swipe down to open Quick Settings tap Home.

On the home controls screen or the home panel, you can:

• Turn devices on or off
• Change brightness for lights
• Change thermostat temperature
• Get live videos from cameras
• Pause music or videos
• Control Smart Locks

Note: You can only control locks that can be unlocked with the Google Home app . You also need to unlock your phone or tablet to access sensitive controls like cameras and locks. On a Pixel Tablet in Hub Mode, also note that anyone in your home can view cameras or access camera controls.

Tip: The first time that you open home controls or the home panel on your phone or tablet, compatible devices are added to it automatically. With the Pixel Tablet, set up Hub Mode to view live cameras and allow everyone at home to control devices when your tablet is locked and docked. You still need to unlock your tablet to control sensitive devices and change settings.

Choose which devices appear in home controls or the home panel

Home controls (Android 11 or higher):

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 tick box next to the device name. To rearrange a device, drag the device name.
4. Tap Save.

Home panel (Pixel devices with Android 13 or higher):

1. Wake your phone or tablet to display the lock screen.
   • Tip: You can press the power button, tap the screen or lift the device.
2. Swipe down to open Quick Settings tap Home or tap the Google Home icon on the lock screen.
3. Scroll down to the 'Edit' and 'Reorder' buttons.
   • To remove a device, tap Edit unlock your device if needed tap the tick box next to the device name.
   • To rearrange devices, tap Reorder unlock your device if needed tap and hold a device tile drag it to the desired location. Tip: If you edit or reorder devices here, they'll also be updated on the favourites tab in the Google Home app and vice versa.
4. Tap Save.