Google Home automations are getting smarter, as Google has rolled out a major update that expands the building blocks of automations and makes routines more flexible than before. If you rely on Google Home to control your lights, devices, or security settings, this update opens the door to much more granular control.
The update introduces around 20 new launch conditions and actions in the Google Home app. Anish Kattukaran, chief product officer for Google Home and Gemini for Home, shared the news in an announcement on X, saying it will enable more granular and flexible smart home automation.
At the heart of the update are new starters, conditions and actions that allow automations to respond to what’s actually happening in your home. You can now create Google Home Routines around media playback states such as play, pause, or buffering, as well as volume levels and screen brightness thresholds.
That means things like automatically dimming the lights when a movie starts, or reacting differently when a TV is paused instead of actively playing. Smart appliances are also receiving more attention, as automations can check whether a washer or dryer is running, stopped or paused, or reporting an error, giving routines a sense of attention they previously lacked.
What the new actions unlock for everyday life
The action side of automation has grown just as strongly. Google Home can now turn certain devices on or off, activate security systems, open or close smart blinds, and control robot vacuums by pausing, resuming, or sending them back to their docking station.
Certain appliances such as washers, dryers and coffee makers can also be started, stopped or paused via routines, but support is still limited to select models. Google notes that some categories such as smart ovens, robot vacuums and robot mops are not yet supported, but more device types are expected over time.
This also includes minor improvements in quality of life. Google has made it easier to leave feedback on AI-generated automation descriptions that are still in early access, allowing users to quickly mark what’s working and what’s not.
According to Google, this is only the first batch, more automation features are already planned. With Gemini finally available on Google’s smart home devices, these updates give Google Home users finer control over routines without making it harder to set up automations.
