Skip to main content

Control your Honeywell thermostat with your voice via Google Home integration

Your Honeywell thermostat just got a bit easier to control. This week, the 111-year-old company got a dose of modern technology with its new integration with Google Home. Now, folks with a Google Home smart hub can use their voice to control their home’s temperature. Simply start your command with, “OK, Google,” and you can easily adjust the settings on your LyricTM or Total Connect Comfort thermostat.

Google Home is the latest to collaborate with the Works With Honeywell program, as platforms like the Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT are already compatible. And on top of voice control, the new integration also allows users to control Honeywell products using Google Assistant on various Google or Android devices. Should your home feature multiple heating or cooling zones, you can also set certain thermostats to correspond to certain zones, and control each one of these specifications independently using Google Home.

Recommended Videos

Of course, you can still control your thermostat using Honeywell’s Lyric or Total Connect Comfort app, or directly on the thermostat’s interface, but this new Google Home functionality adds another layer of convenience.

“Honeywell technology is already found in more than 150 million homes worldwide,” said Scott Harkins, vice president, IoT partner programs, Honeywell Connected Home. “Now with our Google Home integration, we’re thrilled to have the first thermostats integrated with every major smart hub. It is another way we are helping consumers more easily bring smart technology into their homes and lives, regardless of how they want to get started, their home’s unique needs, or which smart hub they have.”

As smart homes and connected technology become increasingly ubiquitous, heritage brands like Honeywell are working to ensure that they stay current and relevant. As such, Honeywell is already collaborating with more than 200 companies in the smart home industry by way of the Works With Honeywell program, and this number is only expected to grow. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your home environment at the perfect temperature this summer, having a Honeywell thermostat and a Google Home smart hub may be the easiest way to go about it.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Google’s Gemini AI can now control your smart home devices
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat in stainless steel.

After spending a bit of time in Public Preview, Google is rolling out its Google Home extension for the Gemini app to everyone. This will allow you to control smart home devices using Gemini, including tasks like turning on smart lights, checking your smart thermostat, or adjusting the volume on your speakers.

The Google Home Extension will be rolling out over the next few weeks, and once you've made the update, any compatible devices synced to your Google account will be accessible via Gemini. If you try using commands in the Gemini app that aren’t supported, your smartphone will automatically launch the Google Home app to complete the command (such as accessing camera actions and smart lock features).

Read more
These buttons and dials offer a unique way to access your smart home
The Flic Smart Button on a table.

One of the major pain points of the modern smart home is its digital nature. Whether it’s controlling your smart lights, robot vacuum, smart lock, or thermostat, there’s a good chance you’re using a smartphone for most of your interactions. That makes it less than ideal for other members of the household -- or even guests -- to make changes to your setup. This is where Flic comes into play, as the company offers a lineup of physical buttons and dials so everyone can use your favorite smart devices without the need for a digital interface.

I’ve been testing out both the Flic Smart Buttons and Flic Twist, and while they lack certain functionalities, they’re bound to be a fun addition to most smart homes. That’s especially true if you use Alexa or HomeKit, as both platforms work with the innovative smart buttons.
The Flic app makes setup a breeze

Read more
Echo Show 21 vs. Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen): which is best for your smart home?
Amazon's new Echo Show 21 and updated Echo Show 15.

Amazon just released two new smart displays -- the completely new Echo Show 21 and the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen). Both are premium options for your home, offering powerful speakers, Full HD displays, and heaps of useful apps so you can stream videos or check your schedule. But which is the better option? The gigantic Echo Show 21, or the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen)? Here’s a closer look at both to help you decide.
Pricing and design

The Echo Show 21 is the biggest member of the Echo Show family, and it’s got the price tag to prove it. Clocking in at $400, it’s a hefty investment. Its design is pretty premium, however, and it can be either mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an adjustable stand (sold separately). The Echo Show 15 looks much the same, though it’s quite a bit smaller. But from a design standpoint, it’s essentially a shrunken version of the Echo Show 21. It too can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an optional adjustable stand. But at $300, it’s much easier on the wallet.

Read more