How to activate Gemini on Google Home and get the most out of it

Gemini has arrived to revolutionize The way we talk to our homes and control our smart home with Google. If you've struggled with Google Assistant because it didn't understand you well or you only used it for a few basic things, Google's new AI promises a much more natural, powerful, and useful experience in your smart home's daily life.

What is Gemini for Home and how does it integrate with Google Home?

Gemini for Home is the new umbrella under which Google groups the functions of Artificial Intelligence Advanced features for your connected home. Includes everything from the revamped voice assistant on speakers and displays to AI-powered camera capabilities and tools for creating complex automations conversationally.

Once you enable Gemini for Home In your Google Home, compatible features apply to all devices in that home: both those you already have and those you add later. Furthermore, any member of the household with access to that home can take advantage of these new features; it's not limited to just the account that activated it.

The integration with Google Home is done on two frontsOn one hand, there's the update to the Home/Nest ecosystem itself with the new Gemini voice assistant for Home. On the other, the Gemini mobile app includes a specific Google Home extension that allows you to control devices, scenes, and automations directly from conversations with the AI, both by text and voice.

Google has published documentation and frequently asked questions. Regarding Gemini for Home, Google Home Premium, and other related services, it clarifies in detail which features are included with and without a subscription, as well as available languages ​​and regions. Although we've summarized it here, keep in mind that the fine print may change. There.

Requirements for using Gemini with Google Home on your mobile phone

Beyond the deployment by countryThere are a number of technical and account requirements you must meet if you want to try Gemini's integration with Google Home from your smartphone or tablet.

You need an Android device (mobile or tablet) to activate the Google Home extension within the Gemini app. Currently, this integration is not fully available in iOSalthough Google has been bringing some of the experience closer to iPhoneEven so, the Android version has the most features and is used as a reference.

Having the Google Home app is essential. Installed and updated to the latest version available on Google Play. Simply go to the store, search for "Google Home," and check for any pending updates to ensure you're up to date.

You also need to install the Gemini app., available for free at Google Play StoreDuring the initial setup, the system will ask if you want to use Gemini as the default assistant on your mobile; accepting this will cause all invocations of the old Google Assistant to be handled by Gemini on compatible devices.

Another key requirement is to be part of the Public Preview (or public preview version) of Google Home. Since many of these features are still under development, Google releases them first in this testing channel: this is where new features related to Gemini and AI applied to the home usually appear first.

How to join the Google Home public preview

Sign up for the Google Home preview program It's relatively simple and you can do it from both the app and the web. In return, you'll be the first to receive new experimental features, including integrations with Gemini.

From the Google Home mobile app (On Android or iPhone), go to the app settings, look for the "Public Preview" option, and select "Join Public Preview." Simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the sign-up process.

If you prefer to do it from the browserTo join the Google Home beta program, go to home.google.com with your Google account, open your home settings menu, and locate the "Public Preview" option. From there, you can confirm your participation in the Google Home beta program.

When your account is accepted in the previewYou'll start seeing a "Preview" icon or badge linked to your home in the app and on the web. Google warns that it can take up to 24 hours for experimental features to become available, so if you don't see immediate changes, it's best to wait a little while.

You can leave the program at any time From the settings section itself. However, by leaving, you'll stop receiving early access to new features, and some features in testing, such as parts of the Gemini integration, may disappear until they are officially released.

Activate the Google Home extension within Gemini

Once you meet the basic requirements (Android, apps installed, preview active), the next step is to enable the Google Home extension in the Gemini app. This extension is the piece that connects AI with your home automation ecosystem.

The entire process is done through the Gemini app. on your Android phone. Make sure you're signed in with the same Google account you use for Google Home, because that's how Gemini locates your homes, rooms, and linked devices.

In the Gemini app, tap your profile picture Located in the upper right corner, this opens the settings menu. Within this panel, you'll find a section called "Extensions" or "Applications," which groups all the Google and third-party services that can connect to Gemini.

Google Home will appear in the list of available extensions. along with other integrations such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, Keep, Messages, Phone, WhatsAppGoogle Maps, YouTube, Spotify or YouTube Music. Locate “Google Home” and tap the icon to activate it. If it's grayed out, tapping it will enable it.

When the Google Home extension is activeGemini can understand commands related to your home and translate them into actions on your connected devices. For example, you can ask it to turn on lights, change the thermostat temperature, play music on a specific speaker, or schedule an action for a specific time.

Alternative method: Shortcut to activate Gemini on Home/Nest devices

In addition to standard activation Through notifications and app settings, some users have found a shortcut to force the configuration of the Gemini assistant on speakers and screens linked to Google Home.

This trick involves using a special URL This directly opens the voice setup assistant in the Google Home app. It works primarily on Android and can expedite the arrival of Gemini on your devices if it's already part of the rollout on your account.

The basic steps are very simple.Open your mobile browser, copy and paste the address "googlehome://assistant/voice/setup" (without quotes) into the address bar and accept. The browser may try to search for it on Google, so make sure it's actually launched as an internal link.

If everything goes well, the Google Home app will open directly. A setup wizard will appear asking if you want to migrate your devices to Gemini. Simply accept and follow the on-screen instructions until the process is complete and the new AI is integrated into your home.

Those who have tried this method They have confirmed that, after completing it, their speakers and screens (such as Nest Hub or first-generation Google Home) now respond with Gemini to the command "Hey Google", with a tone and responsiveness far superior to the old Assistant.

How to enable Gemini for Home from the official notification

Google is officially activating Gemini for Home through a progressive update that, when it reaches your account, is announced with a notification on your mobile device. The message is usually something like “Introducing Gemini for Home”.

If you see this notificationTap it and the Google Home app will automatically open to the exact spot in the setup wizard. From there, simply tap "Get Started" and follow the steps to upgrade your home to the new Gemini for Home system.

If at that moment you choose the "Not now" option But if you have an active Google Home Premium subscription, you won't miss out. Later, you can activate Gemini for Home directly from the app: the invitation will still appear when you open Google Home.

Another way to get the invitation back To do this, go to the Google Home app inbox and look for the specific message about setting up Gemini for Home. You can also start the process from that notification whenever it's convenient for you.

AnywaysOnce you complete the setup wizard, the new Gemini for Home engine will be applied to all compatible devices in the selected home, without needing to repeat the process for each one.

Key features of Gemini for Home

Gemini for Home is not just a name changeGoogle has been adding a good package of new features that combine Generative AIAdvanced contextual understanding and home automation control to get more out of your connected home.

The centerpiece is the Gemini voice assistant for Home.This brings to smart speakers and displays the same engine that is already replacing Google Assistant on Android phones. Thanks to this, interactions are smoother, it understands natural language requests, can better maintain context, and is capable of chaining together more complex tasks.

For Google Home Premium subscribersFurthermore, it is activated Gemini Live on compatible Nest speakers and displays. With this feature, you can start very long and natural voice conversations simply by saying "Hey Google, let's talk," and maintain a dialogue more like chatting with a person than using a traditional assistant.

Gemini also powers home cameras With new AI features, such as intelligent descriptions of what's happening in the recordings, more precise alerts, and a daily "Home Summary" that summarizes the main events captured during the day. These options are included in the Google Home Premium Advanced plan.

Another striking new feature is “Help me create”This feature of the Google Home app lets you describe in writing what you want an automation to do (for example, "when I get home, turn on the hallway lights and play soft music in the living room"), and the app itself generates a draft routine that you can then adjust and save. A Google Home Premium subscription is required to use this feature.

Finally, the “Ask Home” function It lets you have conversations about the status of your home: which lights are on, what a sensor has detected, what happened yesterday with a particular camera, or even create new automations directly from the app using natural language. Some of these features are free, while others require Google Home Premium.

What devices can be controlled and what are Gemini's limitations?

With the Google Home extension and the Gemini assistantYou can control a wide range of smart home devices compatible with the Google Home standard, both from the app and with your voice.

Among the common devices you can handle There are lights, smart plugs and switches, as well as climate control equipment such as air conditioners, thermostats, radiators, stoves and connected fans.

Physical elements of the home also come into play. such as motorized curtains, blinds, and shutters, which you can raise, lower, or adjust to a specific percentage with voice commands or commands writings addressed to Gemini.

In the entertainment section, Gemini can interact with TVs and Google TV, sound bars and speakers compatible with Google Home, both to turn them on or off and to play content, change the volume or send content to them from other apps.

Smart home appliances are not left outwashing machines, coffee makers, dishwashers, robots Vacuum cleaners and other kitchen or cleaning appliances that are linked to your Google Home account can be controlled and programmed using conversational commands to Gemini.

However, there is a significant limitation in security devices.Google itself clarifies that the Google Home extension cannot perform certain actions on devices such as locks, garage doors, cameras, or gates. In these cases, when an action is not supported, the Gemini app provides a direct link to the Google Home app so you can control the device from there, with the usual security restrictions.