Google Wallet adds digital home key support for smart locks in public preview
Summary
- Google Wallet now supports digital home keys, letting Android users open compatible smart locks by tapping or approaching with their phone.
- The feature is available in public preview in the Google Home app, built on the Aliro open standard for unlocking smart locks.
- Supported locks at launch include Aqara's u400, Schlage's Sense Pro, and Nuki's Keypad 2 NFC, with more locks expected.
- Users need a Matter-enabled Google Hub with a Thread Border Router, such as the 2nd-generation Nest Hub.
- Tap to Unlock works on NFC-enabled Android phones running Android 9 or later; hands-free unlocking needs UWB phones like Pixel 10 Pro and above.
- Household members on the same Google Home account can each add their own key, and Wear OS smartwatches are not supported at launch.
Reactions
- Google says the digital home key feature will roll out to everyone in the weeks following its announcement.
- The Verge's Jess Weatherbed writes the support was long awaited, since Samsung and Apple users have had the convenience for some time.
- The Verge's Jess Weatherbed writes that Wear OS smartwatch support seems likely in the future, given the Apple Watch has similar features.
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- Google Wallet can finally unlock doors with digital home keys
theverge.com· 2d
Google Wallet now supports digital home keys in public preview, letting Android users tap or approach compatible smart locks to unlock them. Google says the feature, built on the Aliro standard and starting with locks like Aqara's u400, will roll out broadly in coming weeks; The Verge's Jess Weatherbed notes the long-awaited convenience arrives after Samsung and Apple users had it for some time.
