Google Home Introduces New Access Tiers for Smart Home Management

New Google Home Feature: User Access Management

Google Home is testing an exciting new feature designed to enhance home automation and improve collaboration among family and friends when it comes to managing smart home devices. The feature introduces two access levels: Admin and Member, each catering to different needs and responsibilities.

Admin Access: Full Control for Trusted Partners

The Admin access level is intended for trusted partners or co-managers of your home. With this access, admins can:

• Add or remove users from the household.
• Manage control permissions for devices.
• Link subscriptions to the home account.

Member Access: Basic Controls and Customization

The Member level of access is tailored for individuals who need limited control over home devices. Members can manage basic functionalities such as:

• Viewing live security camera feeds.
• Adjusting personal settings like voice and face match features.

Additionally, there are two further permission tiers available within Member access:

• Settings: This allows Members to control devices and home-wide settings, including automations and features of Nest Wifi.
• Activity: This permission helps Members to access the device and home-wide history for devices like cameras, locks, and sensors.

Getting Started: Inviting Users

The customizable Member access feature was originally highlighted in November alongside the introduction of the Google Home extension for Gemini. To use this feature, users must be enrolled in the Google Home public preview. Once enrolled, participants can invite users to become Admins or Members through the Google Home app by navigating to:

1. Open the Google Home app settings.
2. Tap on Household and access.
3. Select the plus icon to invite a new home member.

It's important to note that invited members do not need to be enrolled in the preview themselves, but they must have the latest version of the Google Home app to manage device settings effectively.

Conclusion

With the introduction of these user access management features, Google Home is set to enhance the smart home experience by allowing better collaboration and control. Stay updated with Google’s latest advancements in home automation to make the most out of your connected devices.