Set up, manage, and control Matter-enabled devices with Google Home

Important: Before you proceed with this article, make sure you’ve read how to prepare your smart home for Matter.

You can use the Google Home app to set up and manage Matter-enabled devices. Control your devices when you’re home or away using the Home app, the home panel on certain devices, automations, or through voice commands with voice assistant.

To connect Google and third-party smart devices that aren’t Matter-enabled to Google Home, refer to Set up smart devices in the Google Home or Nest app.

What you need

A Google Account
A home Wi-Fi network
IPv6 enabled on your home Wi-Fi router for your home network
A Matter-enabled hub for Google Home
A Matter-enabled smart home device. Check for the Matter logo on the package. Tip: Matter supports more smart home device types over time with new updates. All Matter-certified smart home platforms and apps update to support different Matter-enabled device types and categories at different times. To learn which Matter-enabled device types Google Home currently supports, refer to Supported device types
- For Matter-enabled devices that use Wi-Fi, a wireless home Wi-Fi network
- For Matter-enabled devices that use Thread, you need a Thread Border Router to complete setup
One of the following mobile devices:
- Android phone or tablet with Android 8.1 or later and Google Play services version 22.48.14 or later
- iPhone or iPad with iOS 16.5 or later
A mobile device that supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 4.2 or higher to pair the device onto your network
The latest version of the Google Home app from the Play Store or App Store

Set up your Matter-enabled device

Important: These instructions don't apply to Google Nest devices.

Matter-enabled devices can be set up directly with the Google Home app. If you set up your device with the manufacturer's app, you can also add your device in the Google Home app and control your device with either app.

Set up your third-party Matter-enabled device with the Google Home app

Important:

Make sure your device is plugged in or fully charged and powered on.
Make sure your device is in pairing mode according to the device manufacturer's instructions.

Check for a pop-up notification on your phone. You may need to open the Google Home app first.
Tap Scan QR code.
- If you don’t get a pop-up notification:
  1. Open the Google Home app .
  2. At the top right, tap Add Device .
  3. Scan the QR code of your device.
    - If you can’t scan the QR code, tap Add a different way.
    - Enter your device’s brand in the search bar, then select your device
  4. Follow the in-app steps to complete setup.
Once the device connects to Google Home successfully, select a room where you want your Matter-enabled device to be located and name your device.

Set up your third-party Matter-enabled device in the manufacturer's app

Set up your Matter-enabled device in the manufacturer's app if available. If you're unable to complete the setup in the manufacturer's app, contact the device manufacturer for assistance.

Share third-party Matter-enabled devices with the Google Home app

When setting up a third-party Matter-enabled device in the manufacturer's app, you may be prompted to share those devices with Google Home. This allows you to check and control devices in the Google Home app in addition to the manufacturer's app.
If you weren't prompted to share your third-party Matter-enabled devices or you want to enable this setting later, follow the instructions in the manufacturer's app to share the device with Google Home.

Fix issues during setup

Setup freezes or doesn't finish

Restart your Matter-enabled device. Refer to its included instructions or the device manufacturer’s website to learn how.
Close the Google Home app.
Clear the Google Home app's cache. Instructions can vary by OS. On most Android devices, go to Settings Apps select the Google Home app Storage & cache Clear cache. If you can't find the app cache settings, contact your mobile device manufacturer.
Restart your phone.
Open the Google Home app and start the setup process again.

If setup continues to freeze or fails to complete, contact your device manufacturer for help. You might need to perform a factory reset on your Matter-enabled device.

I set up the Matter device in the manufacturer's app but it doesn’t appear in the Google Home app

Make sure you accept the prompt or follow the instructions in the manufacturer's app to share with Google Home app. Learn how to share third-party Matter-enabled devices with the Google Home app.

I get an error when I add a Matter device to Google Home from the manufacturer's app

Make sure you have a hub that's compatible with Google Home set up in the Google Home app. For more information on compatible hubs and settings to optimize the Matter setup experience, check Prepare your smart home for Matter.
If you encounter other issues, check the troubleshooting steps under the Setup freezes or doesn't finish. You may need to factory reset your Matter-enabled device and set it up again to fix your issue.

I only have my manufacturer's Matter-enabled devices in the Google Home app

Some manufacturers offer both Matter and Works with Google Home devices. Learn how to link your Works with Google Home devices from your manufacturer.

Manage your Matter-enabled device

Change the nickname of your Matter-enabled device

Open the Google Home app .
Tap Home All devices , then touch and hold your device's tile.
Tap More or Settings Name.
Enter a name, then tap Save.

Assign your Matter-enabled device to a different room

Open the Google Home app .
Tap Home All devices , then touch and hold your device's tile.
Tap More or Settings Room Choose a room Next.

Move your Matter-enabled device to a different home

Important: Removing the device removes it from your existing home. This resets the device settings and any Automations or Routines you have set up.

Open the Google Home app .
Tap Home All devices , then touch and hold your device's tile.
Tap More or Settings Remove device.
Scroll to find the Remove option, then Remove.
Tip: Factory reset your device before you add it to another home.
At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial.
Tap Switch home , then choose the home you want to move the device to.
At the top right, tap Add Device .
Scan the QR code of your device.
1. If you can’t scan the QR code, tap Add a different way.
2. Enter your device’s brand in the search bar, then select your device.
Follow the in-app steps to complete setup.

Remove your Matter-enabled device from the Google Home app

Open the Google Home app .
Tap Home All devices , then touch and hold your device's tile.
Tap More or Settings Remove device.
Scroll to find the Remove option, then Remove.
Tip: If you no longer use the device, make sure to factory reset it after you remove it.

How Matter-enabled devices are controlled

You can give commands to your Matter-enabled devices in various ways, such as tapping device controls in the Home app, the home panel on devices, using voice commands with voice assistant, or triggering commands through automated routines.

Matter-enabled devices are designed to work locally over your existing home network, without the need to connect to the cloud over the internet to carry out your commands. How your Matter-enabled devices are controlled depends on whether you’re home or away:

From Home

When you give smart home commands to your Matter-enabled devices from within your home, these commands are carried out locally. This means they are sent directly to the Matter-enabled device over your home wireless Wi-Fi or Thread network without the need to connect to the cloud over the internet.

Remotely from away

When you give smart home commands to your Matter-enabled devices while you’re away from your home, these commands are carried out by connecting to the cloud over the internet. The request from the cloud sends the command to your hub for Google Home to verify if it’s from an authorized person. The hub for Google Home carries out your command directly to the Matter-enabled device, locally over your home wireless Wi-Fi or Thread network.

Share and manage Matter-enabled devices from multiple Matter-certified apps

The Matter Multi-Admin feature allows you to use Matter-enabled devices simultaneously in different Matter-certified apps like Google Home, Apple Homekit, Amazon Alexa, and more.

The benefits of Matter Multi-Admin include:

Everyone in your home can easily control the same set of smart home devices with the phone brands and Matter-certified smart home app and the voice assistant that they prefer.
Matter already ensures devices from different brands work together. Multi-admin allows different platforms to seamlessly coexist and control the same devices.

Step 1: Ensure compatibility

Matter-certified device: The smart device you want to share should be a Matter-enabled device and has been set up with Google Home.
Matter hubs: You need one Matter-certified smart home hub for each Matter-certified app that you want to control the Matter-enabled device from. Each app requires their own device that works as a hub for Matter with that app. The Matter hub might be a smart speaker, a smart display, or other type of smart device that can work as a hub for Matter.
- Make sure to check with each Matter-certified platform or app to learn which of their devices work as a hub for Matter with their platform.

Step 2: Share the devices with your primary platform app (Google Home)

Find the device you want to share within your primary platform's app.
Open the Google Home app ..
Tap Home All devices , then touch and hold your device's tile.
Tap More or Settings Linked Matter apps & services.
Tap Link apps & services.
Choose from the listed Matter-certified platform apps.
Tip: To find the list of Matter-certified platform apps, you must first install the Matter-certified platform app you wish to share it with.
The Google Home app automatically opens the secondary app you chose and shares the device details in the secondary app.
Tip: Alternatively, you can tap Use pairing code or Share with QR code to generate a temporary pairing or QR code to share the device. If you choose “Sharing QR code,” you need an additional mobile device with the secondary platform app installed and scanned.

Step 3: Add the device to your secondary platform app

Open the secondary Matter-certified platform app you want to control the device with.
Find the option to add a new device or accessory.
Enter the pairing code or scan the QR code you generated.
Complete any additional steps as prompted by the secondary platform's app.
Once the device is successfully added to your secondary platform, you can control it from both platforms simultaneously.
Tip: While the Matter Multi-Admin feature allows you to control from multiple smart home platforms, only one platform can actively control the device at a given moment. For example, if you turn off the light from your Google Home app, the device status for the light also updates to “off” in the secondary platform’s app.

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