While Google Home users have long complained about unauthorized changes to their smart home setups, Google finally listened. The tech giant rolled out a new “Member” role with its v3.33 update in July 2025, and frankly, it’s about time.
This new role basically puts family members, guests, and kids in their own little digital box. Members can flip switches and check camera feeds, but they can’t mess with the serious stuff. No adding devices. No deleting routines. No accidentally nuking your carefully crafted smart home setup because someone thought they were being helpful.
The Member role is pure damage control, and it works. Admins keep full control while everyone else gets just enough access to turn on lights and adjust thermostats. Think of it as giving someone keys to the house but not the code to your safe.
Google went extra cautious with kids under 13. They can only ever be Members, never Admins. Smart move, considering how creative children get with technology. This approach aligns with the strong security features found in other smart home systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings. Child accounts need Google Family Link setup first, then parents can invite them through the Google Home app. Parental controls stay active, because apparently Google learned something about boundaries. Google Home also automatically blocks common swear words by default, maintaining safer interactions for younger users.
Setting up Members is dead simple. Admins navigate to Settings, then Household & access, and fire off invitations via email or the app. Up to six people can join the family group, with Admins controlling exactly what each person can access. No surprises, no accidental admin privileges.
The practical benefits are obvious. Houseguests can control devices without reorganizing your entire smart home. Extended family gets operational access without administrative chaos. Roommates stay in their lane. Everyone wins, sort of.
The update landed globally on June 30, 2025, with automatic rollouts for most users. Google integrated the role system across all Nest devices, keeping everything under one unified framework. The update also includes video scrubbing improvements for better navigation through Nest camera footage.
They’re apparently listening to user feedback and expanding customization options, which suggests this Member role might actually stick around and improve.
For users tired of finding their smart home mysteriously reconfigured, this update represents genuine relief. Finally, some peace of mind in the connected home chaos.
