How I use the Google Home smartphone widget to easily control my smart home

Managing a smart home can be overwhelming, but Google’s Home app offers a solution with a smartphone widget. This feature provides quick access to your smart devices directly from the home screen without opening the Google Home app. Here’s how I got access to this feature and how you can too.

The widget originally launched as part of Google’s public preview program in May 2024, but it seems more are now available. If you still don’t have access to this feature, you can still join the preview program. You’ll also need to ensure that your Android smartphone is updated to at least Android 12, while iPhone users must have at least iOS 16 and have the latest version of the Google Home app installed.

Here’s how to join the public preview:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Tap on Settings located on the lower right of the dashboard.
3. Scroll down and tap on Public preview.
4. Tap Join the public preview.
5. Wait for the confirmation message.
6. Restart the device.

It will take some time for your account request to be accepted (for me it took less than an hour). After connecting, you will receive a confirmation message that you have successfully connected to the public preview. You will also see that a preview icon (bulb) has been added to the screen in the smartphone app and the Google Home web app.

If the steps above don’t work, make sure your account is signed in to Google Groups. If so, tap on Settingsselect Global settingsand don’t forget to tick Add me to their groups option before intervention Impose.

Now you can start using the Google Home widget on your home screen as follows:

1. Press and hold an empty area on the home screen.
2. Tap Widgets open the widgets menu.
3. Go to the Google Home widget. It’s called Favorites.
4. Press and hold the widget, then drag it to the desired location on the home screen.
5. Release to place the widget.

After placing the widget, you will be prompted to select the devices or actions you want to display. You can choose to sync with your favorites from the Home app or customize the widget for a specific device.

Add and manage smart devices using the widget:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Tap on + icon to add a new device.
3. Choose Set up your device and select the appropriate option for your device.
4. Follow the in-app instructions to complete the setup.

The widget will automatically update to reflect yours Favoritesproviding quick control over your most used devices. You can resize the widget to display more or fewer devices to fit your home screen layout.

I added some smart lights, my 3D printer and a smart dehumidifier. But mostly I use it with my smart lights.

While it’s great that there’s finally a widget for the Google Home app, it feels limited in several aspects, such as:

• The controls on the Google Home widget only support devices that you can control with a switch, such as smart lights and plugs. For cameras and thermostats, you’ll need to open the Google Home app to make adjustments.
• Unlike other smart home widgets that provide different widget options for different apps, Google Home only provides one widget.
• The widget refreshes device states every 30 minutes, which may not reflect real-time changes.
• Widget customization options are limited. You can choose which devices to display, but arranging them in a specific order is not currently supported.

Despite these limitations, I personally find the Google Home widget a useful feature that I use on a daily basis. Yes, it’s mostly a power button for your device, but even that can be a lot more convenient in certain circumstances.

For example, when I use voice commands, it sometimes takes five to ten seconds for the light to turn on, while using the widget takes less than five seconds – and it’s consistent.

Additionally, I found that when the widget is on the home screen, using it is more convenient than using the smart center. I can be out of the house and still have control over my smart lights and plugs without having to raise my voice, move near a hub, or scroll through my phone to open an app. With the widget easily accessible on my home screen, it really feels like I’m holding a remote control.

By integrating the Google Home widget into your smartphone, you can simplify the management of your smart home devices, making your daily interactions more seamless and efficient. It may end up being one of the best Google widgets to add to your Android smartphone home screen.