Google Home expands Matter door lock support and other feature previews
Google Home expands Matter support with new door lock functionalities like access control and guest profiles. Favorites, Home summary widget, and web console also enhanced.
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The primary Matter ecosystem, Google Home, has announced a series of new features and improvements for its platform, including extended support for Matter door locks.
Google has been working to improve the user experience, gradually adding support for more Matter devices, like new Favorites features, redesigning device cards, as well as widgets.
Matter door lock
With its latest announcement, Google says the platform now expands functionalities for smart locks. This enables useful features like access control, changing passcodes, creating profiles for guests, and sending important notifications about your locks.
Aqara Smart Lock U300
The Aqara Smart Lock U300, compatible with Matter and Thread, offers versatile integration with smart home systems, extended battery life up to 8 months, and improved local control for enhanced responsiveness and security.
To access these features, you’ll need an Android phone with the Google Home app installed, version 3.27 or higher. Since this is still in preview, you need to enroll in the Public Preview Program within your Google Home app before you can enable it.
Once you’re set up, you can find lock notifications and view your lock history by navigating to Settings, Household & access, Notifications. You can also schedule and generate passcodes for guests directly from these settings, making it easier to manage home security for visitors.
Other features benefiting Matter users
Google Home has also introduced more universal features that would empower Matter devices.
Favorites allows pinning essential devices and routines in the Google Home app and syncs them across all your devices for quick access. It now supports temperature and lighting controls, managing them in batches throughout your whole home. Google allows customized Favorites for different clients, such as smartwatches and tablets, so each device can showcase what matters most to you.
Another preview feature is the Home summary widget, which offers a quick glance at your home's essential stats, showing device status and recent events, and providing instant access to key controls when needed.
Finally, Google is enhancing its web console. The upcoming Public Preview update will let you control smart lights, thermostats, door locks, and other devices through a browser, making smart home management more consistent across platforms.
(Source: Google)
About the Author
Ward Zhou
Products Editor and Writer
Ward Zhou has been immersed in the smart home and industrial tech space throughout his career. Based in Shenzhen, the industrial hub of smart home, he began his journey with local media outlets and a prominent smart home solution provider, eWeLink, cultivating his expertise in smart home devices and industrial dynamics. Ward has contributed hundreds of review and news pieces to respected publications such as TechNode, PingWest, and Caixin Global. When he’s not covering the latest in tech, Ward enjoys coding, design, street photography, and video games.
Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
A smart display with a 7-inch touchscreen, enhanced audio, and Google Assistant, designed for hands-free help, smart home management, and multimedia experiences.