Home/Away routines no longer show up in Google Home app

[chaybee]

In the Google Home app,  I have no option to create Home/Away routines in automations.  I am in the US and I have multiple Google devices that support Home/Away routines.  There IS the option to switch the entire app to HOME/AWAY and I am able to set up Home/Away routines using the Script Editor, but it's bugging me that I cannot set them up in automations via the Home App. 

I have uninstalled, reinstalled the app and made sure the only other member of the Home (my wife) has the correct settings on her phone.

I tried a fix I read in a forum where someone used a different phone, created a Google Account, downloaded the Home app, invited that account to my home, which, for this person, home/away routines were available for that new user and transferred into the Home app for the administrator of the Home, however, this did not work for me. 

I'm really hoping I do not have to delete my home and start from scratch because I have too many devices and automations set up so that isn't going to happen.  If that is my only option, then I will abandon Google Home and go to Home Assistant.  Any guidance is much appreciated.   

[Juni]

Hi chaybee,

Thanks for reaching out and for being a step ahead of us. I know how it feels when something isn’t working as it should. Are you using a regular Gmail account or a Google Workspace account? Did it work before? If so, when did you begin experiencing this? Are you using Android or iOS?

I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Juni

[chaybee]

Hello,

Sorry, I just saw your reply!  Using a regular Gmail account, Android Pixel 7.  I don't recall them ever being an option, however, I have been Google Home user since inception and have used Google 3a, 5a 5G and now Pixel 7 so no idea.  There are three things I did not mention that might be of note - my wife is the only other Household member in the Home App.  She has a Pixel 7 as well.  Home/Away routines do not show on her phone either so it must be related to MY Home that I started.  Also, I am on the Public Preview and have been for maybe a year or so?  Lastly, I set up multiple Google Nest Cameras (newest models) maybe 5 months ago and it asked me to set up home/away for them, I did and it went through and I thought maybe that would prompt the option to show in automations, however, it did not.  Still no option to create them within the Home app.  Please advise.  

[Juni]

Hi folks,

Got it. Could you send us a screenshot showing it? Also, what is the Google Home app version installed on your phone?

Keep me posted.

Thanks,

Juni

[chaybee]

App version 3.7.1.4.  I have no idea how to include a screenshot on here, unfortunately.  

[chaybee]

I think I figured it out.  here's the link to the screenshot.  You will see there is no option for home/away routines.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sb6WDNsvgSHA5ki66

[chaybee]

Haven't heard from you in a while.  Checking in to see if you have an answer to this issue?  Thanks. 

[kmckeown]

I have this same issue and have tried the same steps as the poster above without luck.  I have a regular Gmail account and am using an Android device

[chaybee]

Anyone still here?  Still trying to find out why some of us are missing this feature.  Thank you. 

[EastWindAstro]

Yes this is a pain.   I have a radiant floor heating system that runs on propane and fluctuating settings increases fuel usage.   I just want it to stay the same whether home or away.   The options for home/away presence are gone.   Will try to disable location tracking for the home app and see how that works.   This is a major blunder for Google.  

[chaybee]

I've done that numerous times, no dice. Presence sensing is unreliable in itself, but the fact that Home/Away routines don't even exist or show up as automation options in my up-to-date Google Home App on a Pixel 7 is ridiculous.  

[EastWindAstro]

On my iPhone it seems that turning off location tracking for home app seems to work.   The app cannot detect that I am away.   This should be configurable in the app so you can use that function for other things like turning off lights.   But since it works for me this is an acceptable workaround. 

[Tstaff]

Don't know if you're still needing this but home/away automation can be found under personal automation as opposed to household automations.  The issue I'm having is slightly different,  I'm trying to automate turning off the lights when both mine and my wife's phones are away from the house.

[Ronyn77]

Has anyone solved the problem?

[chaybee]

Nope, unsurprisingly.  I don't even think Google ever acknowledged it was a problem as it's only affected certain users.

[Ronyn77]

Is there any type of workaround? I was reading somewhere online about using script automation. I don't have any idea how to use them, but the question is whether it makes sense to learn it and if doing so will help me accomplish what I need.

[chaybee]

The script editor is fairly easy to use because there is an option on the side that you put in what you want to accomplish and it tries to write the script for you to copy and paste.  That being said, even after writing scripts for home/away routines, they only worked 50% of the time.  I gave up and started using other platforms for automations.  I rarely use Google anymore except for very fundamental things.