Google Makes Smart Home Control Easier with New Admin and Member Roles
Google is making it easier to manage smart home access for friends, family, and kids through a new Google Home app update. The latest feature, first tested in 2024, introduces Admin and Member roles, allowing more control over who can manage and monitor devices in your smart household.
What Are Admin and Member Roles in Google Home?
With the new update, you can assign users one of two roles:
- Admin: Full control over all smart home devices, users, and settings.
- Member: Limited to basic actions such as viewing security camera feeds or controlling lights.
Admins can expand a Member’s capabilities by enabling additional access:
- Settings Access: Allows control of device-level and system-wide settings.
- Activity Access: Enables Members to view device usage history and events, such as doorbell camera alerts or motion detection logs.
This structured permission system is designed to enhance smart home security and usability, especially for families and shared households.
Easier Smart Home Access for Kids Under 13
In a major convenience boost for parents, Google is now streamlining the process of adding children under 13 to your Google Home setup. Once a child has a Google Account created via Family Link, they can now be invited directly through the Google Home app.
Previously, users had to jump between Google Home, Assistant, and Family Link settings to configure voice match and permissions, often leading to frustration. The new flow allows parents to simply add their child to the Google Family Group, then send an invitation to join the home as a Member by default.
Why This Matters for Smart Home Users
The update provides:
- More granular control over smart home access.
- Improved security through role-based access.
- Better family integration, especially for households with young children.
- A simplified onboarding experience for new users of all ages.
With these changes, Google is positioning itself as a more user-friendly smart home platform, aiming to compete more directly with alternatives like Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.
Conclusion
The new Admin and Member roles in Google Home, along with streamlined child account support, represent a major step forward in smart home management. Whether you’re managing roommates, monitoring kids, or simply trying to limit device control, this update puts more power in the hands of the homeowner.
