Skip to main content

Google Home adds support for garage door controls

Google Home gives you access to a wide variety of smart home devices, and garage doors have now joined the party. Support for smart garage controllers is rolling out to select users — although it only appears to be available to folks previewing the new Google Home app and does not yet have an official release date.

Still, seeing the product category added to any version of Google Home is great news for smart home enthusiasts. Google Home is one of the most widely used smart home platforms on the market, and as smart garages continue to gain traction, it’s nice to see their inclusion in the app (even if they’re still not as popular as smart thermostats or video doorbells).

The new Google Home garage controls, featuring a pill-shaped design with open and close buttons.
MickotheNestPro / Reddit

Based on the new Google Home preview, users will eventually be given the option to open or close their garages remotely through the app. Google is currently in the process of performing a massive overhaul for Home as it integrates Matter — so expect to see plenty of other changes in the near future.

Thankfully, you probably won’t have to wait long to learn more about how the Google Home app is evolving, as Google I/O is taking place on May 10. The annual conference should take a deep dive into Google Home and how it’s planning to fully support Matter, which should include details about its garage door integration. For now, early reports indicate that Nexx and Tailwind products work via Google Home.

Prior to this update, garage door openers were displayed in Google Home but could only be controlled using Google Assistant voice commands. If you’re interested in checking out the new features, you’ll need to apply for access to the Google Home preview.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a freelance journalist whose gaming addiction began with the SEGA Genesis. His work has been published on…
Roku is now in the home security business
The Roku Home Monitoring System SE starter pack.

Roku — a leader in streaming video that recently added cameras, lights, and even doorbells to its repertoire thanks to a partnership with Wyze — is now a full-fledged home security provider. The company today announced the Roku Home Monitoring System SE, which includes a hub with a built-in siren, a wireless keypad, a motion sensor, and two entry sensors.

That starter pack was developed in partnership with Wyze and costs $99. You'll also have the option for professional monitoring, which "offers immediate response from live U.S.-based agents when an alarm is triggered," for $10 a month $100 a year. (If you sign up for the annual option Roku says you'll get it at half price.

Read more
GE Lighting launches colorful, customizable rope lights with a built-in microphone
The Dynamic Effects Neon-Shape Smart Lights glowing purple.

After debuting at CES 2023, the Dynamic Effects Neon-Shape Smart Lights from GE Lighting are now available for purchase. These highly customizable lights can be controlled using the Cync smartphone app, but also use a built-in microphone to adjust their performance in real time based on the audio of their surroundings.

The Dynamic Effects Neon-Shape Smart Lights actively listen to your home to detect sounds coming from nearby music, video games, or other activities to provide an immersive lighting experience. It’s a nifty feature -- and one that should help set it apart from the competition. You’ll also be able to use the built-in microphone to issue voice commands, and you can control the lights with Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

Read more
Your Google smart home devices just got a lot less talkative
A person standing in a living room while looking at a Google device.

Smart assistants are an indispensable part of any smart home, making it easy to give hands-free commands and control a variety of gadgets. Google is looking to further streamline the performance of its smart assistant, with the expansion of chime alerts to cut down on how talkative your Google Nest gadgets are when responding to instructions.

For example, after asking Google to turn on a fan, you’ll now be able to hear a quick chime to confirm the assistant has heard your instructions. Previously, confirmation would come in the form of a short sentence, such as “OK, turning on your fan.”

Read more