Google Home is testing a new feature that will allow friends and family members to help control smart devices in your home. Two levels of access are available: “Administrator,” which provides full control over the account and permissions on the device, and “Member” for people who need more limited access.
Google says that Administrator access is for “trusted partners or people who run the house with you.” Administrators can add, remove, and manage users, add and remove devices, and link subscriptions to a home account. Users can manage basic device controls, such as viewing live feeds from security cameras, as well as customize personal settings such as voice assistant and face detection.
Two more levels of permissions are available for participants: “Settings” for full control of devices and whole-home settings, such as automation and Nest Wifi networking features; and “Activities” for authorized access to device and whole-home history, such as cameras, locks, and sensors.
Customizable Member access was first announced in November along with the Google Home extension for Gemini. Only users who are registered in the Google Home public preview can send invitations to the new access levels.
Members can add someone as an Administrator or Member by opening the Google Home app settings, tapping Household & Access, and selecting the plus sign to invite a new member to the house. Those you invite don’t have to be enrolled in the public preview, but must have the latest version of the Google Home app.
