Use this Gemini for Home setup guide to check availability, request early access, and upgrade your Google speakers and displays. Learn compatible devices, step-by-step setup, key settings, and what is free vs. Premium. Start natural voice control for your home in minutes. Google’s new voice assistant for speakers and displays focuses on natural conversation and helpful actions. It helps you control lights, play media, set timers, and manage calendar items with simple voice commands. Early access started on October 28, 2025 in the United States in English and will roll out to more homes over time. Once you upgrade, your home uses the new assistant on compatible devices, and you cannot switch back to Google Assistant. This guide explains availability, device support, setup steps, and practical tips so you can move fast and avoid surprises. You get core features at no cost. These include smart home controls, media search and playback, alarms and timers, and basic productivity tasks like calendars, notes, lists, and reminders. You can also ask a wide range of questions. Some advanced features, such as Gemini Live and camera history search, require a Google Home Premium subscription and a compatible device. Older speakers and displays will run most features but will not support Gemini Live.

What changes when you upgrade

When you switch your home to the new assistant, the change applies to everyone in your home. All compatible speakers and displays in that home will use it. Any new device you add later will use it as well. If an older device becomes compatible in the future, it will switch automatically. You cannot revert the home back to Google Assistant after you upgrade.

Check availability and request early access

Early access for this assistant is separate from the Public Preview for the Google Home app. Joining early access helps you get an invite sooner. You will receive a notification when features are ready for your home.

Before you join early access

Sign in to Google Groups.

Open Settings, then Global settings.

Make sure “Add me to their groups” is checked.

Tap Save.

Join from the Google Home app

Update to the latest version of the Google Home app.

Open Google Home.

Tap your Profile picture or Initial at the top right.

Tap Home settings, then Early Access.

Note: Early access began in the United States in English. As Google expands availability, more regions and languages will follow.

Compatible speakers and displays

Devices with the complete experience

Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)

Google Nest Audio

Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)

Google Nest Hub Max

Devices that support most features (no Gemini Live)

Google Nest Wifi point

Google Nest Hub (1st gen)

Google Home Max

Google Home Mini (1st gen)

Google Home

If your device is in the “most features” list, you still get smart home controls, media playback, and timers. You will not get Gemini Live on that device, even if you have a Premium subscription.

Get ready to upgrade

A short checklist speeds up the process and reduces setup issues:

Update the Google Home app to the latest version.

Confirm you joined Early Access in Home settings if you want to get features sooner.

Keep your phone and speakers/displays on the same Wi‑Fi network during setup.

Plan for everyone in your home: the change applies to all residents and compatible devices.

Gemini for Home setup guide: step-by-step

You can start setup from a notification or from Home settings. Follow the steps below.

Start from the app notification

When the upgrade is ready for your home, you will see “Introducing Gemini for Home.”

Tap the notification to open the Google Home app.

Tap Get started and follow the prompts.

Start from Home settings (if you closed the notice)

Open the Google Home app.

Tap your Profile picture or Initial.

Tap Home settings.

Look for the banner “Set up Gemini for Home for more natural conversations.”

Tap Get started and follow the on-screen steps to learn what the assistant can do, upgrade your home, and acknowledge disclosures.

During setup, choose your voice assistant options and response filtering.

Once the upgrade completes, your home uses the new assistant. Compatible devices respond right away. Devices that are not yet compatible will stay on their current behavior and will switch automatically when they become compatible later.

Customize key settings

You can change settings anytime in the Google Home app.

Where to find settings

Open the Google Home app.

Tap your Profile picture or Initial.

Tap Home settings, then Gemini for Home voice assistant.

Scroll to find specific options.

What you can adjust

Response style and filtering to shape how the assistant answers.

Which home members can use features on shared devices.

Other options presented during setup and in the assistant settings screen.

Tip: If you do not see the setting you want, update the app and check again. New options may appear as Google rolls out features.

Core features you can use for free

These features work at no cost and form the base of your daily routine:

Smart home control

Turn lights on or off, dim bulbs, and change scenes.

Adjust thermostats and check temperatures.

Control plugs and switches in rooms or zones.

Media search and playback

Play music, podcasts, and radio on your speakers and displays.

Search for songs, artists, or genres by voice.

Pause, resume, skip, and control volume hands‑free.

Alarms and timers

Set multiple timers for cooking or workouts.

Name timers (like “pasta” or “laundry”) to manage them easily.

Use alarms for wake‑ups and reminders.

Calendars, notes, lists, and reminders

Create and edit events without touching your phone.

Add notes and shopping lists as ideas come up.

Set reminders so you do not miss tasks.

Answers and general questions

Ask quick facts, weather, or traffic conditions.

Get help with unit conversions or simple calculations.

Hear updates for your day on supported displays.

Premium features on compatible devices

Some advanced features require an active Google Home Premium subscription and a compatible device:

Gemini Live

Hold richer, more fluid conversations on supported speakers and displays.

Requires Premium and a compatible device listed in the full experience group.

Search camera history

Ask to search camera clips when supported by your devices and plan.

Requires Premium and device compatibility.

If your device is in the older group (for example, Nest Hub 1st gen or Home Mini 1st gen), you will not get Gemini Live even with Premium. You can still use most other features.

Important rules you should know

These design choices help the home stay consistent for all residents:

Home‑wide change: Upgrading applies to everyone in your Google Home household.

No rollback: Once you switch to the new assistant, you cannot revert your home to Google Assistant.

Auto‑adoption: Any new compatible device joins the new assistant automatically.

Future‑proofing: Incompatible devices today may switch automatically when they become compatible later.

If you want to keep using Google Assistant on your home devices, do not accept the upgrade. Wait until you are ready, because the switch is one‑way.

Quick voice ideas to try

Try simple commands to get value fast:

“Turn on the kitchen lights.”

“Play jazz in the living room.”

“Set a 10‑minute timer for pasta.”

“What’s on my calendar tomorrow?”

“Add milk to my shopping list.”

These examples map to the core features that are included at no cost. You can chain tasks during a conversation to move faster.

Troubleshooting common setup issues

If you do not see the upgrade banner or the app notification:

Update the Google Home app to the latest version.

Open Home settings and check Early Access is available for your account.

Confirm the Google Groups setting “Add me to their groups” is checked, then wait for the invite.

Make sure your phone is signed in to the same Google account you use for your home.

If some devices do not show the new assistant:

Check if they are on the compatible list.

If they are older devices, remember they support most features but not Gemini Live.

If a device is not yet compatible, it will switch later when support arrives.

If you upgraded but prefer Google Assistant:

The switch is not reversible for your home.

Keep this in mind before accepting the upgrade prompt.

Privacy and disclosures

During setup, you will review and acknowledge disclosures that explain how the assistant works in your home. You can change settings later in Home settings under Gemini for Home voice assistant. Review the options carefully so the assistant works the way you expect on shared devices.

Why the change is worth it

The new assistant is designed for smoother, more natural conversations. It simplifies daily routines across your home. It reduces friction by handling quick tasks like lights, music, timers, and notes without touching a screen. Premium features add more depth on supported devices, while the free features cover most everyday needs.

Rollout timeline at a glance

Early access began October 28, 2025 in the United States in English.

More users and regions will be added over time.

You will be notified when the upgrade is available for your home.

If you want to be among the first, join early access via the Google Home app. This does not guarantee immediate access, but it increases your chance to get an invite earlier. In short, the new assistant gives you a simple path to better voice control at home. Use this Gemini for Home setup guide to request early access, prepare your devices, and finish setup without stress. Then explore settings to shape how it responds. With the right steps, your home will be ready for quick, natural help every day.

(Source: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/16618650?hl=en)

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