New updates for Google Assistant & Alexa

Today, we’re excited to introduce several new quality-of-life improvements for Google Assistant & Alexa, providing you with greater control over how your smart home interacts with both voice assistants.

PIN-Protected Devices for Google Assistant

You can now set a PIN code for your security devices—like locks, alarms, and garage doors—that syncs with Google Assistant, ensuring only authorized users can control them by voice.

For instance, when you say, “Hey Google, unlock the front door,” Google will ask for your PIN before taking action—adding an extra layer of security and keeping your home secure.

To enable this feature, simply navigate to More (…) → Settings → Google Assistant → PIN-Protected Devices in the Homey app. Then, set your PIN and select which devices to secure.

Exclude devices from Google Assistant & Alexa

Not every device needs voice control. Therefore, you can now exclude specific devices from syncing with Google Assistant & Alexa right from the Homey app.

Just go to More (…) → Settings → Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa → Excluded Devices and select which ones you’d like to keep private.

“Hey Google, Alexa, time to do more!”

Homey’s integration with Google Assistant & Alexa has also been improved, featuring newly added device types and capabilities. Now, when you connect Homey to either platform, you can easily control a wider range of devices with voice commands.

Availability

All these updates are now available for Homey Pro (Early 2023), Homey Pro mini, and Homey Cloud (Free and Premium), starting with Homey Pro v12.3.3 and the Homey app v9.1.0. Try it yourself and improve your smart home experience with greater security and customization.