Controlling smart home devices with a bunch of apps from different companies? Not so much.

Google and more than 600 other smart home companies felt the same way. So they got together and developed Matter, the new, open universal standard that integrates thousands of Matter home automation devices, letting you control them through one app across your phone, tablet, watch and more.

Let’s say you have a variety of Matter smart home devices. The Google Home app on your Pixel phone or tablet can automatically detect and connect them, so you can control them with Google Assistant 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 kid 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, Holly relies on a mix of compatible smart home devices. 

With the Nest thermostat, Holly 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. Holly can control her thermostat from the Google Home app on her phone, or she could use a Nest Hub Max as her command centre. 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, Holly noticed the room was too cold. Because she has a Nest thermostat, she was able to make 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? View the camera on your Nest Doorbell from the Google Home app. Want a bigger view? View 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.