Hey Google Nest Community,
We hear you! Many of our most loyal users rely on a Google Workspace account—often for a personal or family domain—as their primary digital identity. Today, we’re excited to roll out a highly requested update that gives Workspace users much more flexibility to manage their homes and devices in the Google Home app.
Here is everything you need to know about what is changing, what administrators can control, and a few important things to keep in mind.
What’s New for Workspace Accounts
- Expanded Home Sharing: Workspace accounts can now participate fully in home sharing. Previously restricted, you can now invite others to your home or accept invitations to join existing homes, making it easier to collaborate on smart home control with family and friends. Learn more about managing permissions.
- For example: If you set up your smart home using a custom family domain like joe@smithfamily.com, you previously couldn't invite your spouse to control the home at all—regardless of whether they used a matching family email (jane@smithfamily.com) or a standard personal account (jane@gmail.com). Now, you can easily invite anyone you need, at the right access level, to help manage your devices.
- Nest Account Migration: If you hold a Nest account (2019 or earlier), you can now migrate it to Google by linking it directly to your preferred Workspace account. Learn more about account migration.
- New Device Setup: You can now use your Workspace account to set up our newest Nest devices directly in the Google Home app, including the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) and the Nest Doorbell (3rd gen).
For Workspace Administrators
To ensure organizations maintain the security they need, we recently introduced new management capabilities. Workspace administrators can now manage Google Home access for everyone in their organization, specific organizational units, or designated groups.
Note for admins: If this control is toggled off, your users will instantly lose access to the Google Home app and all related Home services. Learn more about Workspace admin controls.
Important Considerations Before You Set Up
While we are excited to offer this expanded functionality, we want to be completely transparent about the risks of using certain Workspace accounts for your smart home:
- Stick to accounts you own: We still highly recommend using a personal Google account (typically gmail.com) for your primary home and device setup.
- Avoid employer or school accounts: You should never use an account that you do not fully own or control. If you leave your job or school, the Workspace administrator can revoke your access or take back your credentials, which means you will lose access to your Google Home and all associated devices.
- Check with your admin: If you find your Google Home access is currently restricted, you will need to speak directly with your Workspace administrator.
Current Restrictions
While we hope these updates provide the flexibility you’ve been waiting for, please note that a few restrictions remain for Workspace accounts:
- Gemini for Home: Workspace accounts cannot currently enroll in early access for the Gemini for Home voice assistant.
- Google Assistant: Select Google Assistant and personal results features remain unavailable. Learn more about Workspace account restrictions.
Thanks,
Brian, Product Manager, Google Home & Nest
