Control smart home devices with the home panel on your Pixel Tablet

The home panel enables quick access to controlling your lights, cameras, automations and more. Access the home panel from Quick Settings, the lock screen or the screen saver.

To manage your devices and choose your favourites, open the Google Home app .

Important:

• Some of these steps work only on Android 15 and up. Learn how to update your Android version.
• Some features aren't available in all countries or languages. 

How to control your smart home

Set up and use the home panel on a Pixel Tablet

1. Set up devices in the Google Home app

Before you set up the home panel, set up smart devices in the Google Home app. The last person to be signed in to the Google Home app on your device will be automatically signed in to the home panel.

2. Set up the home panel

Set up how you access your home panel on your lock screen:

1. Open your device's Settings app .
2. Tap Display and touch Lock screen tap an option.
   • Show device controls: This setting is on by default, and enables the home panel and displays device controls on your screen.
   • Use device controls: Turn this on to control your devices without unlocking your screen. Note: Some devices can't be controlled when your device is locked.

3. Open the home panel

When your device is locked

On the corner of your screen, tap the home icon .

When your device is unlocked

In your Quick Settings:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. Tap Home .

Tip: You can also use the home controls screen saver so that you have easy access to home controls when your tablet is charging. Learn how.

4. Control smart devices on the home panel on your Pixel Tablet

Use Assistant voice commands or touch interactions on the home panel to control smart devices in your home. When you're the primary user, devices that show up on the home panel are determined by the devices that you set up on your favourites tab in the Google Home app .

1. Set up your smart home devices in the Google Home app .
2. Make sure that your device and Google Home app are signed in to the same account.
3. Swipe down from the top of the screen tap Home or access the home panel by tapping the Home icon on your lock screen.
4. On the home panel, tap a device.
5. Tap the screen or use a voice command to control the device.

Note: You can only add or remove devices in your Home in the Google Home app. Some third-party smart home apps aren't compatible with the home panel.

5. Customise the home panel

To customise your home panel, you can add devices to the Google Home app, mark them as favourites and customise controls for certain devices. Learn more about the Google Home app.

You can also customise the way that your devices display in the home panel:

1. Scroll down to the bottom of the home panel.
2. Tap an option:
   • Tap Edit to choose your favourite devices or automations.
   • Tap Reorder to arrange how the tiles appear in the panel.

Tip: Favourite devices and controls are synced on every device where you're signed in to Google Home app .

6. Use the home controls screen saver

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 15 and up. Learn how to update your Android version.

The home controls screen saver lets you use your tablet as an always-on smart home controller while it's locked and charging.

Turn on the home controls screen saver:

1. Open your device's Settings app .
2. Tap Display and touch Screen saver.
3. Turn on Use screen saver.
4. Scroll down and tap Home controls.

Choose when your screen saver starts

You can change when your screen saver starts on your Pixel Tablet:

1. Open your device's Settings app .
2. Tap Display and touch Screen saver When to start.
   1. Tap 'While charging' to have access to home controls without attaching your tablet to a Charging Speaker Dock.
   2. Tap 'While docked and charging' to only turn on the home controls screen saver when attached to a Charging Speaker Dock.

Note: To access the live camera feed in the home controls screen saver, the tablet must be connected to a Charging Speaker Dock and have completed Hub Mode setup.