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Control smart home devices with the home panel on your Pixel Tablet

The home panel enables quick access to controlling your lights, cameras, automations, and more. Access the home panel from Quick Settings, the lock screen, or the screen saver.

To manage your devices and choose your favorites, open the Google Home app Google Home.

Important:

How to control your smart home

Set up and use the home panel on a Pixel Tablet

1. Set up devices in the Google Home app

Before you set up the home panel, set up smart devices in the Google Home app. The last person to be signed into the Google Home app Google Home on your device will be automatically signed into the home panel.

2. Set up the home panel

Set up how you access your home panel on your lock screen:

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Display & touch and then Lock screen and then tap an option.
    • Show device controls: This setting is on by default, and enables the home panel and displays device controls on your screen.
    • Use device controls: Turn this on to control your devices without unlocking your screen. Note: Some devices can't be controlled when your device is locked.

3. Open the home panel

When your device is locked

On the corner of your screen, tap the Home icon Home panel.

When your device is unlocked

In your Quick Settings:

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
  2. Tap Home Home panel.

Tip: You can also use the Home Controls screen saver so that you have easy access to home controls when your tablet is charging. Learn how.

4. Control smart devices on the home panel on your Pixel Tablet

Use Assistant voice commands or touch interactions on the home panel to control smart devices in your home. When you're the primary user, devices that show up on the home panel are determined by the devices you set up on your favorites tab in the Google Home app Google Home.

  1. Set up your smart home devices in the Google Home app Google Home.
  2. Make sure your device and Google Home app Google Home are signed into the same account.
  3. Swipe down from the top of the screen and then tap Home or access the home panel by tapping the Home icon Home panel on your lock screen.
  4. On the home panel, tap a device.
  5. Tap the screen or use a voice command to control the device.
Note: You can only add or remove devices in your Home in the Google Home app. Some third-party smart home apps aren't compatible with the home panel.

5. Customize the home panel

To customize your home panel, you can add devices to the Google Home app, mark them as favorites, and customize controls for certain devices. Learn more about the Google Home app.

You can also customize the way your devices display in the home panel:

  1. Scroll down to the bottom of the home panel.
  2. Tap an option:
    • Tap Edit to choose your favorite devices or automations.
    • Tap Reorder to arrange how the tiles appear in the panel.
Tip: Favorite devices and controls are synced on every device where you're signed into Google Home app Google Home.

6. Use the Home Controls screen saver

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 15 and up. Learn how to update your Android version.

The Home Controls screen saver lets you use your tablet as an always on smart home controller while it’s locked and charging.

Turn on the Home Controls screen saver:

  1. Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Display & touch and then Screen saver.
  3. Turn on Use screen saver.
  4. Scroll down and tap Home Controls.

Choose when your screen saver starts

You can change when your screen saver starts on your Pixel Tablet:

  1. Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Display & touch and then Screen saver and then When to start.
    1. Tap “While charging” to have access to home controls without attaching your tablet to a Charging Speaker Dock.
    2. Tap “While docked and charging” to only turn on the Home Controls screen saver when attached to a Charging Speaker Dock.
Note: To access the live camera feed in the Home Controls screen saver, the tablet must be connected to a Charging Speaker Dock and have completed Hub Mode setup.

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