The new automation editor and Automation tab makes it easier to create and edit automations. The editor also has a new conditions section with device state and presence conditions to control when your automation starts. It now allows you to add optional conditions so that an automation can only start if, for example, a certain device is on, or if someone is home.
Only people in the home with Admin access or Members with Settings permission can create and manage automations. Learn more about access levels and permissions in the Google Home app.
The new automation editor is only available for household automations. For Personal Routines, follow the steps in Create and manage Routines in Google Home.
How to use the new automation editor
Important: If you revert to the previous automation editor, you can view and start automations that you created with the new editor. However, you can no longer edit them.
| Country or region | Supported languages |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Spanish |
| Australia | English |
| Austria | German |
| Belgium | English, French, German, Dutch |
| Brazil | Portuguese (Brazil) |
| Canada | English, French (Canada) |
| Chile | Spanish |
| Colombia | Spanish |
| Denmark | Danish |
| France | French |
| Germany | German |
| India | English, Hindi |
| Indonesia | Indonesian |
| Italy | Italian |
| Japan | Japanese |
| Korea | Korean |
| Mexico | Spanish |
| Netherlands | Dutch |
| Norway | Norwegian, Norwegian Bokmal |
| Peru | Spanish |
| Singapore | English |
| Spain | Spanish |
| Sweden | Swedish |
| Switzerland | French, German, Italian |
| Taiwan | Mandarin (Taiwan) |
| United Kingdom | English |
| United States | English, Spanish |
Important: If you don't have a starter, then your automation will not start automatically, but you can still manually start your automation (make sure conditions are empty as well).
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Create
Automation
.
- To name your automation, tap Add name.
Optional: To include a description for your automation, tap Add description.
- Add the starters, conditions, and actions you want.
- Tap Save.
Tip: The Automation tab lists up to the next 5 scheduled automations.
The new automations setup has the same supported starters, conditions, and actions as Help Me Create. Some traits, like a starter based on familiar faces, require a Google Home Premium subscription.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Automations
- Add or edit the automation name and description:
- Tap the name of the automation or tap Add name.
- Enter the name and description in the designated fields.
- Tap Save to confirm the changes and return to the automation overview.
- Add starters, conditions, and actions:
- Tap Add
next to the section you want to add to.
- Select the type of starter, condition, or action you want to add.
- Make any adjustments from the available options.
- Tap Done.
- Tap Add
- Edit starters, conditions, and actions:
- Tap the existing starter, condition, or action you want to edit.
- Make any adjustments from the available options.
- Tap Done.
Learn more about starters and conditions.
- Remove starters, conditions, and actions:
- Tap the existing starter, condition, or action you want to remove.
- Tap Remove
and confirm removal.
Tip: You can also swipe on the starter, condition, or action you want to delete.
- To avoid potential errors and conflicts in your automation, review each behavior before you apply your changes.
- Tap Save to apply the changes, or Back
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Automations
- Select the automation.
- To deactivate, tap Inactive.
- To activate, tap Active.
The option that you choose will be highlighted once you make a selection.
Important: You must stop an automation from running in order to Delete it. To stop the automation, tap Menu .
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Automations
- Tap Menu
- Tap Delete to confirm that you want to delete the automation.
Check your automations with the Automations tab
The Automation tab lists all your automations and makes managing your smart home even easier. Each automation tile in the list might include:
- The automation’s name (and optional description)
- Active / Inactive status
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Automations
- To check your next 5 scheduled automations, swipe left through the list under “Upcoming automations”.
- This list only shows active automations with a scheduled starter.
- Personal Routines and automations created with the script editor are not included in the list. Learn more about the script editor.
- To check all your automations, scroll down to the list under “Your automations”.
- To check your next 5 scheduled automations, swipe left through the list under “Upcoming automations”.
Revert to the previous automation editor
Important: Any changes made to the current automation will be lost when you load the previous household routine editor.
As we continue to fully integrate all the features to this improved editor, there might be some features that aren’t yet available such as pulse effect on lights. We're actively working to move all existing features to this new automation editor. In the meantime, the steps below will help you return to the previous editor that still has these features:
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Automations
- Tap Menu
- Confirm that you want to go back to the previous editor.