- The features included in this article may not be available for automations created with the previous automation editor or the script editor .
- These features are for household automations. For more information on Personal Routines, refer to Create and manage Routines in Google Home .
Automations generated with Ask Home, Help me create, and the improved automation editor in the Google Home app have 3 components:
- Starters:These tell the automation when to begin. An automation can have more than one starter. Any one of them can start the automation.
- Conditions:These are optional restrictions. They define when your automation can begin. Conditions are checked each time an automation starts.
If an automation has multiple conditions, you can set it to start in 2 ways:- Any:The automation starts if any selected conditions are met.
- All:The automation starts only if all selected conditions are met.
- Actions:What the automations will do once the starter is triggered and conditions are met.
To learn about Help me create, go to Create automations in Google Home with Help me create . For a more detailed guide on the improved automation editor, go to Manage smart home automations in Google Home .
Learn about supported behaviors
The enhanced automation editor and Help me create includes support for select behaviors and devices, with continuous efforts to enhance and expand their capabilities. Before you get started, make sure you have eligible devices set up and linked to your Google Home app.
Learn to set up your device:
- Set up Google devices in the Google Home or Nest app
- Set up and manage Matter-enabled devices in the Google Home app
- Connect third-party smart home devices in the Google Home app
Tip:For third-party smart home devices, compatibility may vary. For example, you might be able to turn a smart light on and off with your voice, but not change its brightness or color. For the most accurate information, you may need to refer to your device's manual or reach out to your device's manufacturer.
Expand all Collapse allOne-time automations
Important:Use words like “only once” or “the next time” to make sure that the automation happens only once.
You can create automations that only happen once with Help me create. These automations are automatically deleted once they start. For example, you can ask it to “Turn on the lights next time I get home,” and it creates an automation that only happens once.
Starters and conditions
Important:Not all devices support all available starters, conditions, and actions.
Device starters and conditions start an automation when a specific device changes state or detects a specific event or condition.
March 17, 2026
(Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )
Device is plugged in
March 2, 2026
(Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )
A device is connected to the docking station
February 2, 2026
(Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )
Dock a robot vacuum
Binary State (True/False)
Examples: Water leak sensors, contact sensors that have the below readings:
- Closed or Opened
- Contact or No Contact
- Freeze or No Freeze
- Leak or No Leak
“When window is open…”
“When the battery is low…”
Press patterns to control smart switches (multi-press, long press, release event)
Available as a starter only.
A smart appliance is running, stopped, paused, or has an error
Important:Supported on select devices such as washers, dryers, coffee machines, and others“When the washer is running…”
“If there’s an error…”
When a temperature sensor detects temperature changes or a specific temperature level is reached
Available as a starter only.
Door is opened or closed
Available as a starter only.
Thermostat event starter
Important:Local temperature readings as a starter are currently available. More thermostat support to come soon.
| Description | Sample prompt | Date added |
| Local temperature | "When the temperature is 75 degrees…" | September 10, 2025 |
Important:
- When you add a starter based on camera event detection, your cameras' ability to detect faces, people, packages, and animals may not always be reliable. Lighting, camera position, and weather may cause variability in camera performance.
- Automations that involve familiar face detection require a Google Home Premium subscription.
These features are only available as starters on:
- Nest cameras set up in the Google Home app.
- Legacy cameras that have been migrated to the Google Home app. Learn more about device migration .
Additionally, some event types are available only for select cameras. To find out which features are available on your camera, refer to Supported behaviors for Nest Cameras .
Supported behaviors for Nest Cameras
- Person seen
- Familiar face seen
- Unfamiliar face seen
- Person seen
- Familiar face seen
- Unfamiliar face seen
- Activity or animal seen
- Vehicle
- Person seen
- Package events
- Familiar face seen
- Unfamiliar face seen
- Person seen
- Familiar face seen
- Unfamiliar face seen
- Person seen
- Package events
- Familiar face seen
- Unfamiliar face seen
- Animal seen
- Vehicle seen
This starter lets you activate your automation with a specific voice command that begins with "Ok, Google" or "Hey Google.” For example, you could say "Hey Google, turn on party time" to start an automation that dims your lights.
You can choose to start automations based on the presence or absence of people in your home. If you don't have presence sensing setup, learn how to change presence-based automations settings .
| Description | Sample prompt | Date added |
| When someone is home or everyone is away | "When everyone is away…” or "When someone is home…" | December 3, 2024 |
Start your automation based on specific days and times.
Actions
March 17, 2026
( Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )
“...set the bedroom light to a warm white”
February 2, 2026
(Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )
Start, stop, resume, or pause smart appliances
Important:Supported on select devices such as washers, dryers, coffee machines and othersLock a smart lock
Smart locks that require pin codes aren't supported.
| Description | Sample prompt | Date added |
| Issue a command using “Hey Google” | "Hey Google, turn the indoor lights on."
"Hey Google, start my morning coffee." (requires a smart plug)
|
December 3, 2024 |
February 12, 2026
Available as a Device action option in the automation editor
(Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )Adjust the volume to a specific level
This feature doesn't support muting.
March 17, 2026
Available as a Device action option in the automation editor
(Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )
February 12, 2026
Available as a Device action option in the automation editor
(Not yet supported on Ask Home or Help me create )
- “Send a notification if the front door is left unlocked after 10:00 PM.”
- “If the outdoor camera spots a person, alert me and home members.”
- "At 8:00 PM, turn on kitchen lights, wait 20 seconds, and then turn on living room lights."
- "If motion is detected on the front door camera between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, turn on the porch light, wait 2 minutes, and then turn on the living room light.”
Troubleshoot known issues and limitations
- Help me create requires a Google Home Premium subscription.
- Help me create is only available to home admins who aren't minors.
- A large number of devices in your home in the Google Home app may cause delays in automation creation. It may also cause delays in loading time while editing an automation.
- Familiar face detection isn't available on Nest Cameras used in Illinois.
- If you're unable to save an automation, make sure:
- Your devices are set up and linked to the Google Home app.
- The devices are in the right home in the Google Home app.
- Features, such as presence sensing, are set up.
- To prevent unexpected behavior, avoid creating automations that conflict with each other. For example:
- Automation 1:At 6:00 PM, turn off the lights
- Automation 2:At 6:00 PM, turn on the lights
- Features currently not supported:
- Turning cameras on or off with automations is supported as an action only.
- Light color adjustments and light effects.
Tip:Home members with Activity access can check their automation history in the Activity tab.
