Google Home App Now Comes with More Controls: Here’s How to Use it on Fans, TVs, Air Purifiers

Teejay Boris, Tech Times 02 January 2023, 02:01 am

Google Home app now lets its users control TVs, fans, and air purifiers as the tech giant rolls out a new update.

So users can now control their TV sets at home using the mobile app as long as they are compatible.

(Photo : Alex Wong/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 10: Google Home units and Google phones are on display at the Google booth during CES 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 3,900 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 170,000 attendees.

Aside from that, it now also supports vacuum cleaners, fans, and even air purifiers. It allows them to tap their phones to navigate their TVs or other home appliances.

Google Home App Now Comes with More Controls

A recent report by 9to5 Google says that Home app users are reporting that they could control their TVs and other devices using their phones.

The news outlet reports that it includes control options like turning the volume up or down. It also brings playback features, including play and pause.

So if you own a compatible TV, the Google Home app has something new in store for you.

According to a story by Sam Mobile, the tech giant announced last August that it is "rolling out redesigned controls for popular smart home devices." And that includes TVs, fans, and air purifiers.

And now, several months since the tech firm announced it, users are getting their hands on it.

Sam Mobile highlights that Home app users are now storming Reddit to share the additional control features.

It turns out that the new touch controls on the Home app are similar to what was previously available on Nest Hub devices.

Given that, users can now play or pause videos on compatible TV sets using the Home app - much like how Nest Hub devices do it.

How to Control Smart Home Devices via Google Home App

Reddit users say that the new smart home control options specifically appeared on version 2.62.1.9 of the Google Home app.

(Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A guest holds the new Google Pixel 3 XL smartphone during a Google product release event, October 9, 2018 in New York City.

Once updated, the app should start offering new touch controls for TVs and other devices.

It sports a similar user interface that we saw on non-Cast smart speakers. Thus, it features a huge pill-shaped button that allows users to turn on or off and turn the volume up and down.

On top of that, it also comes with options to change the source of the TV, allowing users to switch from HDMI 1 to HDMI 4.

9to5 Google says that the Home app controls are available on TVs with Google Assistant and Home support.

However, Sam Mobile reports that the new controls are only available to a select number of users, as of writing. It appears that Google is still rolling it out. So it might take a few more days before it reaches everyone else.