topic Re: Pir Motion Sensor in Home Automation

Pir Motion Sensor

JoeB82 — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:12:14 GMT

How can I trigger a Google Home automation for my Google Nest — for example ‘Hey Google, play song name’ — using a PIR motion sensor?

Re: Pir Motion Sensor

PeteyPants — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:03:15 GMT

If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to have a song play automatically when walking into a room or something similar?

Re: Pir Motion Sensor

JoeB82 — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:27:32 GMT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXTl87ubfaQ

Yes, something like in the video, but the motion sensor should trigger Google Home directly, without involving an Amazon Echo, and then activate the Google Nest

Re: Pir Motion Sensor

tajennifer — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:30:17 GMT

Hi JoeB82,

Thanks for posting. I understand that you are interested in creating automations on the Google Home app by using a PIR motion sensor, but without using a third device like an Amazon Echo. I appreciate the video that you shared as a reference. I'll be happy to share more details about this with you.

Just to let you know, those sensors are not compatible with the Google Home app; that means that you will need a third device to create that automation, as you see in the video.

We understand how important this must be, but we appreciate your feedback. We're constantly working on improvements, and your input helps us shape future features.

@PeteyPants Thanks for jumping in.

I hope this information helps.

Best regards,
Jenny

Re: Pir Motion Sensor

PeteyPants — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:01:53 GMT

This is possible with the right device. Assuming you have one, you can do it with the following steps.

Open the home app.

Hit the plus button at the top right.

Choose Automation.

Give it a name, like "Music Automation" or something like that.

Then choose your starter. Choose device, then from the list, choose your PIR sensor.

Once you have chosen it, you'll get some options. For your device you want to choose the occupant option, then "occupied". If you've done it right, it'll be highlighted in the list. You might have other options, but for this part of the automation you can just click done.

You'll be back on the first page of the automation now. You don't need to set a condition, but if you'd like to set one, such as only having the automation work at certain times of day, you can hit the plus button and add a condition.

Once you've done that, add the Action. Hit the plus, and when the list comes up, choose "Ask Google".

At the top, type in your command. Treat this as if you've just said "ok Google", so in the command, you could type "play music" or "play songs by Sia". Then, choose the device from the list that you would like the command to complete on. (The speaker or display that should play the music). Then hit Done.

You'll be able to see the main page for the automation now, if it looks good, hit save at the top right.

You're all set, the next time your sensor changes from Unoccupied to Occupied, the "play music" command will run.

Re: Pir Motion Sensor

JoeB82 — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:13:13 GMT

Hi tajennifer,

I appreciate your swift reply.

“So at the moment, the only solutions are the one described earlier or the one that involves using a device of this kind...

https://youtu.be/PD5knYu2FpQ?si=PkbdyVPWM

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