Google is rolling out a wide-ranging Google Home update, and it reaches well beyond the app. According to Google’s October 29 release notes, older Nest Cams get faster night vision, Nest speakers get a batch of fixes, and thermostats get a new one-tap energy shortcut. Here’s what’s changing and how to get it.
In Short
- Several first-generation Nest Cams and the original Nest Doorbell get stability and night vision fixes.
- Nest and Google Home speakers get seven updates, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 7 fixes.
- The Google Home app adds a one-tap energy-saving shortcut for thermostats and better Matter controls on Android.
Older Nest Cams Get a Second Wind
If you still have a first-gen Nest Cam on the porch, this one’s for you. Google says the Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor (1st gen), the wired Nest Doorbell (1st gen), and the Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Outdoor are now part of the Google Home app, and they’re getting real fixes. Night vision used to take 15 to 20 seconds to kick in on the first-gen Indoor and Outdoor cameras, and Google says that switch is now faster. The cameras also recover better from brief Wi-Fi drops, and the wired doorbell gets audio and video sync fixes.
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Seven Fixes for Nest and Google Home Speakers
Speakers get the longest list in Google’s notes:
- Smoother audio streaming on the Nest Audio, Google Home and Google Home Mini
- Volume tuning for speaker pairs, with less boomy bass
- Faster discovery of speakers in the Google Home app
- A fix for Bluetooth audio that paused after a voice “resume” command
- A fix for speakers that failed to connect to Wi-Fi 7 routers using WPA3
- A fix for stereo pairs and speaker groups that disappeared from the app
- A fix for ending Google Meet calls by voice
The Wi-Fi 7 fix is a welcome one if you’ve upgraded your router recently and watched your speakers refuse to reconnect.
A Thermostat Shortcut and Better Matter Controls
Heading out for the day? The Google Home app now has a dedicated shortcut on the thermostat controller that sets your home to energy-saving temperatures in one tap, according to Google. On Android, compatible Matter smart plugs and energy monitors now show real-time power and total energy use, and Matter garage doors, gates, windows, blinds and cabinets finally get the right icons and controls.
Gemini for Home Gets Smarter
For Early Access users, Gemini for Home should now move music between rooms more reliably, say “Sorry, I didn’t understand” less often, and stop mixing up sleep timers, regular timers and alarms, Google says.
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How to Get the Update
Update the Google Home app from the Play Store or the App Store. If you don’t see the changes yet, check back over the next few days. The firmware changes for speakers, Nest Wifi and Chromecast with Google TV are listed separately in Google’s release notes.
The Limit
Not everyone gets everything. The Matter energy and controls changes are Android-only for now, and the Gemini improvements are limited to Early Access users. Google also didn’t share firmware version numbers for its speakers, so it’s hard to tell which build you need.
Keep an eye on your Google Home app this week: your old Nest gear just got a little younger!
