Google has started rolling out a redesigned Home app for iPhone, version 4.0.54, which introduces an “Ask Home” feature. Released Saturday, the update brings a more rounded app icon with a gradient color palette. For users in the Public Preview program, the new interface appears after relaunching the app and is highlighted by a glow animation around an “Ask [Home name]” bar.
The new design consolidates navigation at the top of the screen. A left-hand circle button toggles Home or Away status, while a vertical pill-shaped “plus” button opens a menu to add items like a Device, Speaker group, or Automation. The adjacent account menu lists options for Settings, What’s new, and Public Preview, among others. The app itself is simplified to three bottom tabs: Home, Activity, and Automations. The Home tab organizes content into swipeable top feeds for categories such as Favorites, Devices, Cameras, and Lights. A rounded rectangle indicates the current selection. While bottom bar icons are new, the core device tiles and the layouts for the Activity and Automations tabs remain unchanged, as do the now-playing controls.
Launching the “Ask Home” function requires users to first “Acknowledge Gemini for Home disclosures.” This action opens a chat interface with a carousel of device tiles that can be tapped to toggle power or open a full control page. Initially, the feature operates as a device search, populating tiles, actions, and Automations as a user types. Advanced prompts are not yet functional, with an in-app message stating, “Ask Home isn’t ready for your home yet, but you’ll get a notification once it is.” The complete redesign is expected to launch on Wednesday, following company announcements.
Google’s disclaimer page for Ask Home provides additional context on the new Gemini-powered assistant, outlining several key operational aspects for users in a shared household.
- Household availability: The voice assistant will be accessible to everyone in the home, including guests. Google notes that “others in the home may be able to hear responses in shared spaces.”
- Video history access: With Voice Match enabled, household members can search and view video history from compatible cameras on smart displays, an action subject to the user’s subscription type. A setting is available to “switch to audio-only camera history results for smart displays.”
- Gemini live functionality: When using the Gemini Live feature, the device’s microphone “will remain active to easily allow follow-up queries without the need to say ‘Hey Google’ again.” The microphone turns off after brief inactivity, and users can manually end a conversation. A visible device indicator shows when the mic is active, and Google advises users to “make sure others in your home are aware that the mic will remain on during that time.”
