Google Home update rolling out with better ‘Find My Phone’ voice commands, smart home improvements

A fresh update for Google Home has been released, packed with enhancements such as improved voice command functionality for locating a lost phone on Gemini speakers. Users with Gemini for Home in early access mode will notice "quality and reliability improvements" for the longstanding "Hey Google, find my phone" command. The specifics of the changes remain undisclosed, but the update promises to boost the performance of this popular feature.

In addition to the Find My Phone upgrades, users can expect Google to address background noise and voice filtering, expedite response times and latency, facilitate multilingual communication within households, and bolster the dependability of custom commands within Routines/automations. The Google Home application has also received several updates to streamline smart home management.

Key improvements in the Google Home app include the ability to turn off lights when the brightness slider is set to zero, enhanced camera and doorbell tiles, fewer instances of Matter switches being mistakenly displayed as offline, and a smoother setup process for Nest devices. Specific alterations to the Device Controller Enhancements resolve an issue where sliding brightness down to zero left lights on rather than shutting them off entirely.

Now, dragging the brightness slider all the way down triggers a definitive power-off command, which conserves energy and eliminates unintended illumination.

Furthermore, online cameras and doorbells are now distinguished by filled icons and different tile colors, making it easier to identify active devices. Offline switch status is now accurately shown, with Matter switches displaying correctly in the All Devices tab, rendered greyed out when disconnected. Long-press gestures on Favorites tiles in the app have also been refined to prevent issues in opening device controllers or routine editors.

Lastly, corrections have been made to the recognition of window coverings, ensuring awnings and curtains are accurately identified and controlled.

The smart device setup process has been made more reliable across iOS and Android platforms in the update. This includes resolving common Bluetooth connections and Wi-Fi pairing dropouts and stalls during setup, resulting in a smoother experience. The app update is currently rolling out on Android devices at version 4.31.27.1, while the Gemini improvements are deployed quietly for early access users.