[Update: Now available] Google Home app cleans up Nest Hub/Max settings in redesign

Abner Li | Nov 6 2020 - 8:46 am PT

The Google Home app in recent months has seen a flurry of new features from a dark theme to full Wifi controls and Home/Away Routines just last week. Google is now testing a very welcome redesign of Nest Hub, Home, and other device settings.

Update 11/6: After debuting at the tail end of last month, the new device settings for the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max are widely rolled out. The design/template is identical to what the new Nest Thermostat features in its preferences page. Meanwhile, Google’s first-party speakers, including the Nest Audio and Mini, have yet to pick up this redesign.

Original 10/26: To change settings, you first open that device in the Google Home app and tap the gear icon in the top-right corner. Usually, you’re greeted with a very long list of “Device settings.”

It has now been redesigned, and starts by noting the name of the device you’re editing in the app bar. This one pager is divided into two sections:

General

Device information: This includes firmware versions, IP/MAC addresses and other “technical information” that was previously at the very bottom of the screen. You can also control whether you’re on the Preview program and room placement.
Recognition & sharing: Personal results, including Face Match and Ultlrasound sensing on the Nest Hub Max
Notifications & digital wellbeing: Night mode, DND

Device features

Photo frame
Display
Audio
Video and voice calling
Nest Cam

Many of the controls are unchanged from before, but everything is now better organized. For example, Photo Frame settings in the Google Home app stay the same with this redesign.

Altering preferences previously required users to scroll line-by-line if they don’t already know where to look. Even for those familiar, they could not bypass and quickly jump to what they needed.

This redesign of Google Home device settings is not yet widely rolled out. It only appears on one of my Android phones running version 2.29.1.7, and just applies to Nest Hub Max displays. Speakers and the Chromecast with Google TV, in my case, still show the previous list design.