How to Control Your Google Home Devices From Your Google TV

The integration of Google Home for Google TV devices was announced last September, and it now deploys more widely: if you have not seen the functionality available on your Google TV streamer, your Google phone TV or your chromecast with Google TV, you could find that it is now available if you check again.

This is, essentially, exactly what it looks like: the devices you have connected to the Google Home application in Android or iOS will be available via the Google TV interface, automatically linked and synchronized with each other via your Google account. The configuration amount you need to make is minimal and it should simply work.

Although you first wonder why you would need intelligent house orders on a TV, it makes sense. You can quickly reduce the lights of the cinema evening, for example, or take a look at the backyard camera flow without having your phone from your pocket. You will even get an alert on the screen if someone sounds your smart doorbell.

Look for the Google Home panel.
Credit: Google

To make it work, make sure you are running the latest version of Google TV. The functionality may not have arrived for everyone yet, but you have the best chance of seeing it if your software is up to date: from the main screen, go to the equipment icon (top right), then choose All parameters> System> About> system update.

With this, you can return to the parameter panel via the equipment icon, then choose Google Home tiles. You will see a confirmation screen explaining the functionality and allowing you to activate it, and you can then select To safeguard To add the functionality. Depending on the configuration of your Google account, you may need to confirm the connection via a prompt on another device, such as your phone.

Check your smart home devices

Google has not provided a final list from which your Google Home devices will appear on Google TV, but many of them seem to be supported, including smart lights, smart cameras and smart thermostats. The available options will vary depending on the device and in their integration into the Google Home ecosystem.

Regarding Google’s own nest cameras, for example, you can select the Cameras Panel to see the lives live from all the cameras connected to your network. Choose one of the miniatures indicated to send the video stream in full screen, making other streaming applications that you may have in progress. Use the rear button on your remote control to go back.

Access smart devices on Google TV.
Credit: Google

As for intelligent lights, these will be grouped under a Lighting tile. This will lead you to a panel where you can turn on or turn off all your connected lights, or manage them individually. Other options depend on the type of light: with the Philips Hue bulbs, for example, you can adjust the brightness of each of your Google TV, but not the colors.

To make changes to connected devices, you must go to the Google Home app on your phone. There is no way to add or delete devices from the Google TV interface, although probably more features can be on the way when the Google Home panel is upgraded over time (and as new Nest products are launched, hopefully).

You will see that there is a favorite section in the Google Home panel on your Google TV, which corresponds to the favorite section of the mobile application – this is a place where you can put the smart devices to which you need most. In the Google Home application, open the Favorite Tab then press To modify To make changes, which will also be synchronized with your Google TV.