Google Home App Adds Nest Cam PiP and Smarter Controls

Google has quietly rolled out a suite of exciting updates to its Home app, bringing enhanced functionality and smarter controls to users’ connected homes. The headline feature is the introduction of picture-in-picture (PiP) support for Nest Cams on Google TV devices, allowing users to monitor their cameras directly on their TV screens without interrupting other viewing activities.

This PiP feature, currently in public preview, enhances home security monitoring by providing constant visual access to Nest Cam feeds in a convenient, unobtrusive manner. It’s surprising this capability took until 2025 to arrive, but its addition marks a significant step forward in smart home integration with entertainment devices.

Beyond video enhancements, Google’s AI-driven Gemini platform now offers expanded smart home controls. Users can broadcast voice messages through connected speakers and search camera footage by typing specific queries within the Gemini app. While voice dictation for these tasks isn’t available yet, this shift moves more smart home management into a text-based AI interface, streamlining complex commands.

Navigating recorded camera footage has also become more intuitive. Users can now double-tap the left or right sides of their device screens to jump backward or forward by two-second intervals, mimicking the familiar YouTube mobile experience. This makes pinpointing specific moments in surveillance clips faster and less frustrating.

Customization is a major focus in this update. Automations within the Home app can now be created with fewer steps and greater specificity. New triggers include presence sensing based on phone location and Soli radar sensors embedded in select Nest devices, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) and Nest Hub (2nd gen). This allows automations to respond more accurately to whether someone is home.

Safety monitoring has been integrated directly into the Home app as well. Nest Protect’s smoke and carbon monoxide status can now be accessed without switching to the standalone Nest app. Users can receive critical alerts, perform safety checks, and silence alarms all from one place, enhancing convenience and responsiveness in emergencies.

For smart lock enthusiasts, the Home app expands support for Matter-enabled locks, offering robust management options such as guest access control, passcode editing, and lock notifications. This broadens the scope of secure, flexible access management within the Google smart home ecosystem.

Favorites customization receives a boost with new tile types, including indoor temperature dashboards, Wi-Fi controls, and a master light switch to toggle all home lighting. Additionally, users can set different Favorites tailored to devices beyond phones, such as smartwatches and tablets, enhancing cross-device usability.

Remote control capabilities have also expanded. The Google Home web interface now allows users to adjust lights, set temperatures, and unlock doors from a browser, providing more flexibility when away from mobile devices. Though still in preview, this feature hints at a future where smart home management is device-agnostic and universally accessible.

Lastly, the Home Summary widget, first teased at Google I/O 2025 for Pixel phones, is now available for invite-only testing. This widget promises to consolidate key home status information at a glance, streamlining daily smart home interactions.

Google’s latest Home app updates reflect a clear trend toward deeper integration, smarter AI-driven controls, and more personalized automation. For smart home users and developers alike, these enhancements offer new opportunities to create seamless, intuitive, and secure connected environments.