Controlling them with a bunch of different apps from a bunch of different companies? Not so much.

Google and over 400 other smart home companies felt the same way. So together, they developed Matter, the new, universal standard that makes selecting and setting up your smart devices easier than ever. And with Google Home, you can easily control them through a single app across your phone, tablet, watch, and more.

Let’s say you have a variety of smart home devices. The Google Home app on your Pixel phone or tablet can automatically detect and connect them, so you can control them and set up automations without searching and switching between apps. 

Holly Rich works from home, and sometimes her energetic eight-year-old is there along with her 88-year-old dad. The kiddo is a whirlwind of energy and wants the A/C on high in the den while grandfather reads quietly in the living room, keeping his temperature warmer. To keep them both happy while she focuses on her work, Rich relies on a mix of compatible smart home products.

With the Nest Thermostat, Rich can stay in control of the temperature and find a happy medium. The Nest Doorbell could help her keep an eye on who’s coming and going, whether it’s to check to see that her dad is heading out or a delivery has arrived. Rich can control her thermostat from the Google Home app on her phone, or she could use a Nest Hub Max as her command center. And if she wants, she can add more devices from other brands, too.²

“These devices are all so helpful,” she says. “Sometimes I feel like I actually have an assistant helping me out.”³

During a video meeting from her home office, Rich noticed the room was too cold. Because she has a Nest Thermostat, she made the room warmer while staying engaged in the meeting. 

“I didn’t have to leave my meeting to change the temperature, I just turned it up from the Google Home app on my phone,” she says. With just a tap away from the home screen, she was able to adjust the temperature and see exactly how long it would take to warm up.

The Google Home app lets you set up, manage, automate, and control the devices in your home right from your phone. Want to see who’s at the door? Check the camera on your Nest Doorbell from the Google Home app. Want a bigger view? Look at your Nest Doorbell on Nest Hub (2nd gen) to see who’s at the door on the smart display. Full-screen view for Nest Cam is also now available on the Google Home app, as well as the ability to review and scrub your video history. 

And that’s not all – you can also receive notifications. Use the Google Home app to turn up the heat, turn off lights, or get notifications if a person or a package is at the door. All without missing a moment from work or family.