Google Home Now Supports Smart Buttons
▼ Summary
– Google Home has finally added support for smart buttons as starter conditions for automations, a long-awaited feature.
– Smart buttons are physical, programmable switches that can trigger multiple actions through different press types like single, double, or long press.
– This update may be driven by the release of affordable, hub-free buttons like Ikea’s $6 Bilresa, which uses the Matter-over-Thread standard.
– The functionality is available in the Google Home app but is not yet supported by Google’s Gemini-powered automation features like Ask Home.
– The same update includes other automation improvements and a fix for a recurring “Video not available” error in the app.
For those building a smarter home, the ability to create simple, reliable automations is essential. Google Home has finally added support for smart buttons, a fundamental feature that has been conspicuously absent from the platform. This long-awaited functionality arrives via a recent app update, bringing Google in line with other major smart home ecosystems and unlocking new possibilities for convenient, physical control.
A smart button is a programmable, physical switch you can place anywhere. With a simple press, it can trigger a chain of automated actions. Imagine tapping a button by the front door to turn off all the lights, lock the doors, and arm the security system for a “Good Night” scene. These buttons often support multiple commands, like a single press, double press, or a long hold, letting one small device control several different functions.
While platforms like Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings have supported buttons for some time, Google Home users were left waiting. The new support is detailed in the update’s release notes, which list “Switch or button pressed” as a new starter condition for creating automations. It’s important to note this feature works within the standard automation builder in the Google Home app, but is not yet integrated with the newer “Ask Home” or “Help Me Create” features powered by Google’s Gemini AI.
The timing of this update is likely connected to the rise of affordable, universal smart home gadgets. A key driver is the recent launch of IKEA’s new line of Matter-over-Thread devices, which includes the very affordable Bilresa wireless button. Priced around six dollars, this device makes smart buttons accessible to a much wider audience. Historically, buttons were often expensive and required a specific brand hub or a separate Zigbee or Z-Wave bridge. The Matter standard changes this by allowing devices from different brands to work together seamlessly, often without a proprietary hub.
This move by Google is significant because it opens up button-based control to its entire user base just as inexpensive, easy-to-use options hit the market. With IKEA’s massive retail presence introducing countless new users to smart home technology, Google needed to ensure its platform could support these popular accessories.
The latest update includes several other automation enhancements beyond button support. Users can now create routines that start when a robot vacuum returns to its dock, when a room’s humidity reaches a set level, or when a device’s battery state changes. The update also addresses a common technical issue, providing what Google calls a “foundational fix” for a persistent “Video not available” error that some users encountered when trying to view camera recordings in the app.
(Source: The Verge)
