Google’s October 29 Google Home update brings real energy readings from Matter smart plugs and energy monitors to the Home app on Android. Compatible devices now show real-time power draw and total energy used in kWh. Those numbers appear right on device tiles and controller screens.
The same release fixes how the app handles Matter closures. Garage doors, gates, windows, blinds and cabinets now get their own icons and controls. Until now, the app treated every one of them as a generic gate.
Google Home app: Matter energy data and closure controls
Google’s release notes describe the closure change like this:
The app now recognizes specific Matter closure types—including garage doors, gates, windows, blinds, and cabinets—displaying the correct device icon and controls instead of treating every closure as a generic gate.
Google lists both Matter changes under the Android app. The energy readings apply to plugs and monitors that measure cumulative energy, not to every Matter plug.
The app also adds a one-tap energy-saving shortcut, reachable from the thermostat controller or the home view. Home Premium subscribers get a benefits page too. Tap your profile icon in the top right, then Google Home Premium, to view and turn on features.
One caveat applies to everything here. Google says these release notes are generated with Gemini’s help and may need corrections.
Nest and Google Home speakers get Wi-Fi 7 fixes
Speakers get the most practical fixes in this release. The headline one resolves setup and connection failures on Wi-Fi 7 access points that use WPA3 security. That matters if you’ve upgraded your router recently.
- Wi-Fi 7 and WPA3: setup and connection failures resolved
- Stereo pairs and groups: no longer disappear
- Streaming: smoother on Nest Audio, Google Home and Google Home Mini
- Speaker pairs: less boomy bass, and the minimum volume is now audible
- Discovery: faster in the Home app for Google Home Speaker, Nest Audio and Nest Mini
- Bluetooth: streams no longer pause after a voice command to resume
- Google Meet: calls can be ended by voice again
Separately, we reported earlier on a Google Home Speaker bug that was eating home internet data.
Older Nest cameras and doorbells
Five older devices that moved to the Google Home app get software updates. The list covers the 1st-gen Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor and the wired 1st-gen Nest Doorbell, also known as Nest Hello. The Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Outdoor are included too.
- All five: more stable Wi-Fi reconnection
- 1st-gen Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor: night vision no longer takes 15 to 20 seconds to switch
- Nest Hello: audio and video sync fix that could trigger restarts, plus better person and Familiar Face detection at a distance or angle
- Nest Cam IQ: status ring no longer pulses blue by mistake when Wi-Fi drops
On Android foldables, camera live view no longer gets stuck on a spinner after you fold or unfold the phone.
Chromecast with Google TV moves to August’s patch
Chromecast with Google TV (4K) and (HD) move to the August 2026 Android security patch level. Google also lists connectivity, streaming and display improvements. The timing is the catch. This firmware arrived on October 29, but Pixel phones got October’s patch on October 7. Chromecast owners are still two patch levels behind.
The rest, in brief
- Nest Wifi Pro: switches to your ISP’s DNS automatically when public DNS is blocked, with better node setup and client steering
- Nest Wifi (2019): better mesh resilience and DNS fallback, plus stability and security fixes
- Gemini for Home (Early Access): handles requests to move music between rooms better, misunderstands less often and fixes cross-room volume
- Gemini timers: timers and alarms no longer sit at zero volume, and sleep timers no longer get confused with alarms
- Smart displays: YouTube TV voice commands now work with Gemini for Home
- Android app fixes: Spaces tab flash, settings lost on rotation, a blank Assistant settings screen and lingering Pixel Tablet voice controls
- iOS app fixes: offline-status flicker, the Thread settings nav bar, long home names and event timeline playback errors
How to get the update
Update the Google Home app from the Play Store or App Store to get the app changes. Speaker firmware generally installs in the background, so you can’t push it through yourself. Chromecast with Google TV owners can check for a system update manually in the device settings.
Sources: Google Home release notes, 9to5Google
