Google Home’s new automation editor, first previewed in August, simplified custom automations with three parts — Starter, Conditions, and Actions. Now, the app is rolling out a major upgrade to make it even better.
Spotted first by 9to5Google, this update introduces more granular trigger conditions, putting greater customization and control directly in your hands. To start building, just tap Create in the Google Home app’s Automations tab. The refreshed editor now prompts you to name and describe your automation upfront. From there, the process is built on a clear, three-step logic: It all begins in the Starter section, where you set the trigger, like someone’s presence, a specific time, or even a voice command.
In the Conditions section, you can fine-tune when and how actions fire, picking things like time, day, or presence. It’s optional but key for more advanced setups. The editor also now understands context. Instead of just on/off, your lights can automatically adjust based on real-world factors, like the sunset or whether your phone is actually at home.
You can also now set up single-use automations that vanish after running. Need a light to turn on just tonight, or the AC to turn off once after you leave? Create it, and the app will clean it up for you automatically.
Presence-based triggers and custom notifications
Furthermore, the update adds handy features like presence-based triggers, so automations can run when someone is home or when everyone’s away. You can now send notifications to specific people or the whole household, and schedule automations to run at exact times, on certain days, or repeat hourly, monthly, or yearly.
Even with all the new features, Google says some options aren’t ready yet, and you can switch back to the old editor through the three-dot menu if needed. For now, things like thermostat controls, camera toggles, light effects, and color changes aren’t supported. Motion sensors work, but door, window, and contact sensors, plus camera motion detection, will arrive in a future update.
The new editor is rolling out now and should reach all users within a few weeks. For the moment, it’s focused solely on Household Routines. Google has confirmed this is just the starting point, with plans to bring every existing automation feature into this more powerful system soon.
