Child cannot control smart plugs with voice

[equusalbus78]

My wife and I can both control our smart plugs with our Google speakers ("Hey Google, turn on the lamp"). However, our children cannot. When they try, the speaker responds "Sorry I couldn't reach TP-Link Kasa". I tried reconnecting my TP-Link Kasa devices via Samsung SmartThings, and they get a similar message ("Sorry I couldn't reach SmartThings", or words to that effect). As they have supervised Google accounts, they cannot be added as full members of our Google household. It's some sort of permission issue, but I cannot find any information on where the permissions I need to change are.

[PitifulLeo]

I came here because we are running into the same issue. Weirdly, my son can control some lights in the house but not the one of them in his room. I have the same TP link bulb in our kitchen linked the same way and he can turn that off and on. 

[onalark]

We've been having the same problem for days.  When I check the logs, the kids are showing as "unrecognized speakers". 

Sometimes it recognizes them and it works.  I'd say about 70% of the time, though, it doesn't.

It also doesn't recognize me.  My husband has near perfect recognition because he's got a deep voice, which Google has always been good with.

I have no idea what broke or when, but it seems to be a problem with a) unrecognized speakers and b) those of us with higher ranges not getting reliably voice matched and it's DRIVING ME NUTS.

[MaximM]

Hi equusalbus78, have you found a solution for this issue?

[equusalbus78]

No. I was going to get my daughter a smart power strip for her bedroom for Christmas, but I've given up.

[onalark]

Opting out of the beta programs and then factory resetting my kids’s speakers SEEMS to have fixed the issue for now for me. I’m hesitant to say it’s really fixed, but my kids at least are able to control their lights again.

[MaximM]

Folks, happy New Year and thank you for super quick responses!

Today, I have spent ~2 hours on the phone with google support, tried all sorts of options (factory reset, voice match re-training, new home, etc.) but nothing worked. Submitted feedback in the Google Home app.

onalark, did you opt out of beta in the Kasa app or somewhere else? The only option I see is "Kasa Lab -> Geofencing", and I'm already opted out. Is there something else? I appreciate your help!

[onalark]

Apologies, when I said beta I meant the Google preview program. I had previously opted in and I removed myself from it as a last ditch Hail Mary to get us back to a stable build. 

I’m sorry you’re still having trouble. I honestly don’t even know if we’re fixed or just experiencing a temporary reprieve. I’ll let you know. Our outlets/plugs/lights are all Kasa/Feit/Ikea. 

[MaximM]

This maybe related to the issue: I found this article (https://support.google.com/families/answer/9071584?hl=en#zippy=%2Ccheck-if-an-action-is-for-families... which seems to suggest that kids under 13 may not be able to "use non-Google actions" with the Google assistant. It's unclear if controlling TP-Link smart plugs constitute a non-Google action. Unfortunately the instructions how to check the "For Families" badge, under "Use non-Google actions with Google Assistant" did not work for me.

[MaximM]

Also, kids are able to check the status (on/off) of the smart plug (e.g. by asking "Hey Google, is the light on"), but not able to control it ("Hey Google, turn the light on"). Seems like a new safely feature?

[ChrisB71]

Has anyone from Google actually replied here? This used to work just fine. Amazing there is still no real technical support available for these systems. 

[MaximM]

I have not heard any updates from google

[ChrisStreet]

I'm also suffering a total lock out of device operations for my daughter. She can no longer access any device or routines apart from playing personalised content. The number one reason I added her to my speaker with family link is so her results are age appropriate.

And now Google have decided that supervised accounts can't use smart lights. Total rubbish move! At least let us decide with a family control? WHY Google? WHY?

I'm forced to remove my daughter's account from Google speakers so that she can see at night! Ridiculous. Sort it out Google. Hundreds of people with same issue. Let kids access Smart home devices: PLEASE!

[ChrisB71]

My Google home devices are essentially glorified picture frames.

Any semblence of usefulness on these devices is a thing of the past.

Even asking simple questions not usually just results in a list of web links that I cannot view on the home device itself BECAUSE SECURITY SETTINGS PREVENT ME FROM VIEWING WEBSITES ON THE DEVICES.

And while those thread is about kids not being able to control the lights, about 100% of the time I ask Google to turn on the lights, they come on at some level between 9-50%

I've bought my last Google device, and that goes for Home devices, phones, tablets, watches, etc.

Google apparently has zero interest in anything other than serving up ads and making far-left thinking "AI" 

[ChrisStreet]

I don't want this thread to be a Google bash. I really like my Google home environment.  Have multiple mini speakers, a hub max in the kitchen, and a Google TV in living room. All fantastic when combined with the hardware I've selected. I have "Smart Life" connected wifi plugs and light modules and a Zignito zigbee hub also connected with Smart Life for security sensors. I also have 3 wifi curtain drivers, a Nest door bell and 2 nest cams. All working brilliantly.

For myself, voice commands work very well and devices always respond. My grumble is that my daughter used to be able to use the lights but now she can't.

My only other grumble is that Google doesn't yet support my sensors as triggers via Smart Life. Be good when they get that working!

Dear Google: Please let kids control lights again!

[Mikeinthemusic]

Bump... Same annoying problem. Kids used to control devices and now it says they are not connected to device/app's account but if I say exact same command it recognizes my voice and works fine.  It is only for devices in their room, they can control 20 lights in our basement ceiling fixtures no problem, but not the three lights in their room... Frustrating!

[alepape]

Same issue here. My son can’t control his lights anymore. At least we should be able to check device per device if they work with kids rather than random depending on the plug / bulb brand as it seems to be…

[ChrisB71]

I've given up on Google delivering a good product. It seems it's gotten magnitudes worse and inconsistent over the past year. Sadly Gemini cannot yet even DO half of what the assistant once could.