Google Home Update: Simplifying Smart Home Control with New User Roles and Family Features

Google

The new roles feature, first tested last year, allows users to grant different levels of access. Admins, who have full control over devices and services, can manage every aspect of the smart home setup, including user permissions. On the other hand, Members will have limited access, primarily allowing them to control basic devices such as security cameras. However, Admins can customize the access level of Members, granting them permissions to adjust device settings or monitor activity history, including actions like tracking recent events captured by security devices.

Another significant change in this update is the simplified method for adding children under the age of 13 to a Google Home setup. Parents can now easily invite their child to the home directly within the Google Home app, as long as the child is part of the family group. This eliminates the confusion from the previous process, which involved navigating through various settings on Family Link, Google Home, and Google Assistant.

This update, version 3.33 of the Google Home app, was officially rolled out on June 30. Users are encouraged to check their settings for automatic updates or manually install it if they haven’t received the latest version yet.

What Undercode Say:

Google’s update to Home app roles provides clarity and enhanced control for users, particularly those managing complex smart home setups. For families with children, this update is a huge step forward in simplifying the process of integrating kids into the system.

The new role-based system isn’t just for convenience; it offers more robust security and flexibility. By allowing admins to designate specific privileges for Members, users can fine-tune access according to individual needs. For instance, a Member may only need access to check a doorbell camera feed, while others might require the ability to change device settings.

This feature will likely prove valuable for families with multiple users or households that want to share smart devices but need to maintain control over certain aspects. For example, parents might allow their kids to view security camera footage but prevent them from tampering with smart home settings.

Moreover, the streamlined process for adding children to the system via the Family Link feature is a welcome change. The previous system was cumbersome and confusing, often requiring multiple steps to get everything in sync. Now, parents can add their kids as easily as any other family member—directly from the Google Home app.

Fact Checker Results:

✅ The update introduces two new user roles: “Admin” and “Member,” which users can assign different levels of access for smart home devices.
✅ The update also simplifies the process for adding children under 13, making it easier for parents to integrate kids into the smart home system.
✅ Version 3.33 of the Google Home app was rolled out starting June 30, with no phased rollout mentioned.

📊 Prediction

As smart homes become increasingly integrated into everyday life, updates like this will continue to shape the way we interact with our devices. Expect future updates to further refine user roles, possibly offering even more granular control over who can access specific devices and services. The integration of child-friendly features could signal a larger trend toward family-centric smart home management, with Google leading the charge in providing more intuitive, flexible options for diverse households.

In the near future, more updates could focus on security, allowing users to restrict access based on certain conditions—such as time of day, device usage, or specific household members. This will likely enhance both user control and overall system security.