Public Preview for Google Home app

Public Preview gives you early access to the latest Google Home app features before they're made broadly available. Participants can try new features and give feedback so that Google can continue to make improvements before everyone has access to the features.

Once you join, you can access Public Preview features that are available for the following:

Google Home app for Android devices and iPhones and iPads
Google Home for web
Google Home for Wear OS

Join and leave Public Preview

You can join or leave Public Preview anytime through the Google Home app or home.google.com.

How to join Public Preview

Before you join
To ensure you can be added to the Public Preview program, confirm your Google Groups settings:

Sign into Google Groups.
Tap Settings Global settings.
Confirm "Add me to their groups" is checked.
Tap Save.

Join through the Google Home app

Open the Google Home app .
At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
Tap Public Preview Join Public Preview.

Join through home.google.com

Go to home.google.com and then sign in.
Select Public Preview Join Public Preview.

You'll get a message with information about Public Preview and when you can start to use new features. It also gives you the option to opt in to experimental AI features, share feedback, or leave Public Preview.

Once you've successfully joined Public Preview, the Preview icon will appear onscreen in the mobile app and Google Home for web. You might also get occasional reminder notifications when you open the Google Home app. Tapping the Preview icon brings you back to the Preview page.

How to leave Public Preview

If you leave Public Preview, you lose access to all Public Preview features in the mobile app, Google Home for web, and Google Home for Wear OS.

Leave through the Google Home app

Open the Google Home app .
At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
Tap Public Preview Leave Public Preview.

Leave through home.google.com

Go to home.google.com.
Sign in.
Select Public Preview Leave Public Preview.

Features currently in Public Preview

The number of features available through Public Preview varies over time. When you join Public Preview, you might not get updated features right away. You'll get new features once they're ready for you to use.

Before you use a feature, check the known issues section below.

Passcode management for Nest x Yale Lock

For Android only, you can now create and change passcodes for Nest x Yale Locks in the Google Home app.

What you need:

A home you manage in the Nest app.
Your Google Account or a migrated Nest account.
The latest version of the Home app and your device’s OS.

To manage your passcode:

Open the Google Home app .
At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
Tap Home settings Household & access your profile.
- Alternatively, you can tap Devices your lock Access.
- You can also tap Add to create a guest passcode. Guest passcodes can provide scheduled access for compatible locks.
Tap the device you want to create a passcode for.
Set a 4 to 8 digit passcode.
Tap Save Share or Copy Done. A confirmation that a passcode has been created will be sent to your inbox.

Guest passcode: Create passcodes for guests. These passcodes can either be indefinite or on a schedule. They can share that passcode with the guest by text or email, so they know how to unlock the lock. You can revoke or edit schedules for guest passcodes.

Remove a passcode: Users cannot delete their personal passcodes, they can only change them.

Dynamic color scheme

This feature is only available on Android devices with Android 13 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

The Google Home app will now reflect the color scheme you choose for your Android phone or tablet for a more consistent and personalized experience.

Refer to the “Change the color scheme” section in Change to dark or color mode on your Android device for more information.

Script editor

The script editor is currently available in Public Preview on Google Home for web and in the Google Home mobile app. With the script editor, you can create and edit your own scripted automations using additional starters, conditions, actions, and logic. You'll also be able to use presence sensing to create more custom automations than are currently available with Home & Away Routines. You can access the script editor on Google Home for web now at home.google.com/automations.

Important: Everyone in the household can check when these automations start. Automations are for convenience only, not safety or security-critical use cases. Do not create automations that could result in injury or harm if they fail to start or stop. Automations can depend on working internet, Wi-Fi, and service availability from both Google and the third parties who manufacture the devices included in the automations. Automations may not always work, and Google isn't responsible for any harm or losses incurred due to failed automations.

Help me script is an experimental feature in script editor. It makes it easier to create powerful home automations on Google Home for web. With the help of generative AI, you can now simply describe the automation you want, and it’ll generate the script for you. This feature is available for a limited time in Public Preview.

Add your Nest app cameras to the Google Home app

Nest Cam IQ Indoor, Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, and Nest Doorbell (wired, 1st gen), formerly known as Nest Hello owners can add their cameras to the Home app. If you're eligible, the app will let you know. Learn more about device migration.

You can also transfer your Nest Hub Max's camera to the Google Home app. Refer to Manage your Nest Hub Max cameras with the Google Home app for more details.

Access live streams for Works with Google Home cameras

You can monitor compatible Works with Google Home camera live streams in the Google Home app. This feature is still under development and isn't available for all cameras. To try this out with an eligible camera:

Link a camera

Open the Google Home app .
Tap Home Add Device Link apps or services
Choose your camera manufacturer from the list and link your account to finish setup.

Access live stream

Open the Google Home app .
Tap Favorites or Devices the camera you want to monitor.

Feedback and known issues

Share feedback

To help improve Public Preview features, submit your feedback.

Open the Google Home app .
At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
Select Public Preview Share feedback.
Enter your feedback.
Select Next Submit.

Known issues

Camera or doorbell migration from the Nest app to the Home app might freeze or fail. If you can't complete device migration after a second try, please Contact Us for assistance.

When the Owner of a Nest App home migrates a camera to the Home app, other home members lose full access to the camera in the Nest App. To access the camera controller in the Home app, other home members must join Public Preview. Learn more about device migration.

When a single person is detected during a camera event, the AI caption and description might include their name if they're in your familiar face library. However, when multiple people are detected, the caption and description won't include their names.

When media devices contribute to presence sensing, automations that control playback functions (play or pause) might change your Home and Away status. This could cause unexpected device behavior if you use Home and Away for other automations. It's recommended that you use a home presence condition for automations that change media playback state to avoid unexpected Home and Away status changes.
Refer to Write scripted automations with the script editor and Supported automation starters, conditions & actions for more information about using home presence conditions with script editor and Help me create.

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