Gemini for Google Home is out of beta — here’s how to use it

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You can now use conversational prompts to control your smart home.

Google Gemini
(Image credit: Google)

Four months after its earliest previews rolled out, Google Home control is now available in the Gemini app for Android and iOS. That means that, thanks to the power of generative AI, you can control your smart home devices in a more conversational way, rather than the rigid voice commands previously required.

In other words, you should be able to be a bit looser in your phrasing, or a whole lot more specific (“Gemini, turn on all my lights except the one in the kitchen — “Actually, turn that one on too”).

As early adopters of smart speakers will know, that’s a big change. Before the days of generative AI, only very specific phrases worked for smart home instructions, and most still function that way to this day.

How to use Gemini with Google Home

Three colored smart light bulbs in a ceiling fan

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Enabling Google Home in Gemini is the same whether you’re using an iPhone or one of the best Android phones.

Just open the Gemini app, tap your profile avatar in the top-right corner of the screen and select “Extensions.” From there, scroll down to “Device Control” and flick the toggle on Google Home to enable it, and then agree to “Connect Google Home”.

Don’t be entirely surprised if you don’t see the option, or if it still has a green preview badge. As Google writes on the support page for the feature, “This is a gradual release, so it might not be available to you outside of Public Preview just yet.”

Again, support for security devices is limited by design. “The Google Home extension can’t perform some actions on security devices, like unlocking a door for you,” Google explains. “For unsupported actions, the Gemini app opens the Google Home app or gives you a link to it where you can control these devices.”

It also can’t broadcast messages on connected devices, add or remove tech, execute routines or complete any actions that require a PIN.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of things you can do with Gemini and Google Home. For lights, not only can they be turned on or off, but brightened, dimmed or changed color. Thermostats, meanwhile, can be set to cool or heat, either to an exact temperature or by a couple of degrees. Connected devices — vacuum cleaners, washing machines, coffee makers, and so on — can be set to start or stop at will.

For a full list of supported commands, see Google’s extensive list here.

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Alan Martin
Alan Martin

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. He also handles all the Wordle coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game for the last several years in an effort to keep his streak forever intact.

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