Google Home App Gains Wi-Fi-Based Presence sensing, Offering New Privacy Option
Mountain View, CA – December 18, 2023 – Google has expanded the presence-sensing capabilities of its Google Home app, now leveraging Wi-Fi connection status to determine when users are home or away. The update, rolling out with version 3.39 of the app, provides an alternative to location-based presence detection and offers increased privacy for users hesitant to share their phone’s location.
The new feature, detailed in official Google Nest support documentation, allows the Google Home app to automatically adjust between “Home” and “Away” routines based on whether a user’s mobile device is connected to the designated home wi-Fi network. When a phone disconnects from the wi-Fi, the app can trigger an “Away” routine, potentially adjusting thermostats, turning off lights, and activating security systems. Reconnecting to the home network will then initiate a “home” routine.
This addition complements Google Home’s existing presence-sensing methods, which already included utilizing a user’s phone’s location. The system also incorporates data from other connected smart home devices. Google Home currently uses a variety of triggers to infer occupancy, including motion detection from smart cameras and sensors, voice commands issued to Google Assistant devices, adjustments to volume levels, and media playback activity.
The wi-Fi-based sensing offers a important benefit for households where members may prefer not to share their precise location data.It also provides a more robust and reliable presence detection system, acting as a backup when GPS signals are weak or unavailable.
The Google Home app’s presence sensing features are central to automating smart home experiences. Routines allow users to pre-program a series of actions triggered by specific events, like arriving home or leaving for work. The addition of Wi-Fi sensing expands the flexibility and accuracy of these automations, making the Google Home ecosystem more responsive to users’ daily lives.
Google’s continued investment in presence sensing reflects the growing demand for seamless and clever smart home control. The company competes in this space with Amazon (Alexa) and Apple (HomeKit), all vying to offer the most intuitive and reliable smart home experiences.
