Supported smart lights

Made for Google

When you choose Made for Google light bulbs, you can set them up from start to finish in the Google Home app. You won’t need a bridge or hub or the bulb maker’s app.

Made for Google light bulbs:

• C by GE

Works with the Google Assistant

Works with the Google Assistant light bulbs are compatible with the Google Assistant but are not Made for Google. To set up Works with the Google Assistant bulbs, you’ll need both the Google Home app and the bulb maker’s app. You may also need a bridge or hub from the bulb maker. Explore the Google Assistant partnerswhich make Works with Google Assistant light bulbs.

Set up and link your light bulb

Made for Google light bulbs

1. Plug in your bulb in the same room as your Google Nest or Home speaker or display.
2. Set up your speaker or display, if you haven’t already done so.
3. Open the Google Home app .
4. At the top left, tap Add   Set up device   New device .
5. Select the light bulb you’d like to set up. Your bulb will blink when selected.
6. Where is this device? Choose what room your bulb is in.
   1. To create a custom room, tap Add custom room  type in room name  tap Next.
7. Create a unique name. Type in the desired name for your bulb that you’ll use for voice commands. It’s recommended to use a contextual name like 「reading light」 or 「overhead light.」 For best results, don’t include the room name in the light’s name (your speaker or display already knows which room it’s in).
8. Setting up your smart light. Your bulb may blink a few times.
9. Your light is ready. Tap Done.
10. Setup is successful. You can now control your lights with your speaker or display.

Works with the Google Assistant light bulbs

1. Follow the bulb maker’s instructions to set up your bulb. You may need to set up a bridge or hub, if you haven’t already done so.
2. Plug in and turn on your bulb in the same room as your speaker or display.
3. Set up your speaker or display.
4. Open the Google Home app .
5. At the top left, tap Add   Set up device  Works with Google.
6. Tap your bulb maker’s logo  follow the steps to complete setup. You may need to sign in to your bulb maker’s app. The app will guide you through the rest of the steps.

Control your lights with your speaker or display

Basic voice commands

Use the Google Home app

Open the Google Home app   tap the light you want. You’ll find controls for brightness. If your bulb has color options, you’ll also find color controls.

Schedule and control multiple lights with Routines

You can use Routines to schedule your lights and control multiple lights with one voice command.

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap Routines   Add a routine.
3. To create any Routine, enter the voice command you’ll use to tell the Google Assistant to start the Routine. You must always enter a voice command in the app, but if you schedule your Routine, it will start at the set day and time without the voice command.
4. To schedule a Routine, set the time and day(s), and the speaker you want to use.
5. Tap Add action  enter a Google Assistant command (optional)  tap Popular actions  enter all the lights you want your Assistant to adjust and any other actions you want  tap Add.
6. To include a command to play audio media, tap Add media  the media you want to play  Add.

Set nicknames for your bulbs

For better control, give each of your bulbs its own nickname.

1. To create or change a nickname, open the Google Home app .
2. Select your light bulb  Settings   Name.
3. Enter a name  tap Save.

Note: For best results, don’t include the room name or a number in the nickname. Also, this nickname only appears in the Google Home app. If you use your device maker’s app, this nickname will not appear.

Assign your bulbs to a room

To control your lights more easily, assign them to a room in a home. You can create a new home, create a new room, or add your lights to an existing room.

Note: All members of the home can control all lights in the home.

Add the bulb to an existing room in your current home

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap the bulb you want to add to a room  Settings   Room  choose a room  tap Save.

Add the bulb to a new room in your current home

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap the bulb you want to add to a room  Settings   Room  scroll to the bottom and tap Add a custom room  enter the room name  tap Save.

Add the bulb to a room in a different home

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap the bulb you want to add to a room  Settings   Home  choose a home  tap Next  choose a room  tap Next.

​Unlink your lights from speaker or display

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Select your light  Settings   Remove device  Remove.

Product specific information

C by GE

You can connect up to 6 C by GE light bulbs for each speaker or display.

Move C by GE bulbs from the C by GE app to the Google Home app

If you have bulbs already set up in the C by GE app, you can delete them from the C by GE app and set them up in the Google Home app.

Turn on your C by GE lights. The bulbs must be turned on before you continue.

Delete the bulbs from the C by GE app. This will factory reset the bulbs. They will blink 3 times if the factory reset is successful. If they don’t blink, you will need to factory reset each bulb manually. Note that the reset sequence is different depending on your bulbs’ firmware version. If the first reset sequence doesn’t work, you have an older firmware version and will need to use the second reset sequence.

Open the Google Home app  and follow the setup sequence for Made for Google.

Note: The bulb may blink during its first firmware update after being set up with the Google Home App.

Color control voice commands for C-Sleep bulbs

Unlink your bulb(s) from your speaker or display

Note: You cannot unlink individual C by GE smart lights. When you remove one bulb through the “Unlink C by GE” flow, it will remove all C by GE light bulbs.

1. Make sure your bulb(s) are powered on.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Select a C by GE light bulb.
4. Tap Settings   Remove device  Remove. (This will remove all your GE bulbs. This currently doesn’t support the removal of individual C by GE light bulbs).

If the Google Home app can’t find your bulb during set up

• Turn the bulb off for 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
• Make sure you have the latest version of the Google Home app.
• Reboot your speaker or display.
• Force close the Google Home app.
• Factory reset your C by GE bulb.
• Factory reset your speaker or display.

Note: If your bulbs don’t show up in either the Google Home app or the C by GE app, they probably need to be factory reset. They might also use older firmware, so follow the second factory reset sequence if the first sequence doesn’t work.

If your bulb doesn’t respond

• Make sure the wall outlet receives power. Check that your wall switch is on.
• Turn the bulb off and on. The bulb takes up to one minute after receiving power to reconnect to the speaker or display. Try your light and check if it works. If so, you’re done.
• Try to use the bulb in a different lamp or socket.
• If the above steps don’t work, you may need to factory reset your C by GE bulb and set up the bulb again.

If you get the error message 「Something went wrong」

• The signal between your bulb and your speaker or display might not be strong enough. To increase the signal strength, move the bulb and your speaker or display closer to each other. They should be no more than 15 feet apart.
• You might not be a member of the home that the bulb was set up in. Ask the person who created the home to add you as a member.
• Other devices near your speaker or display, or C by GE bulbs, might cause interference. If you have a nearby Wi-Fi router, cordless phone, microwave, or Bluetooth speaker, move it further away if you can.
• You might have too many C by GE bulbs on one speakers and displays. You can add up to 6 bulbs on each speakers and displays.

If you’re still unable to resolve the issue, share feedback about speakers and displays.

Factory reset your C by GE bulbs

1. Make sure all your bulbs are turned on.
2. Factory reset your bulbs. Note that the reset sequence is different depending on your bulbs’ firmware version. If your bulbs don’t flash on and off 3 times after you finish the first reset sequence, you’ll need to use the second reset sequence.
3. Reboot the speaker or display you use to set up your bulbs. Then attempt to re-setup your bulbs using the Google Home app.

Note: If your bulbs are connected to the C by GE app, you can also factory reset your bulbs by unlinking them from the C by GE app. The bulbs will blink 3 times when unlinked from the app. This confirms the factory reset was successful.

Philips Hue

Voice commands for Philips Hue scenes

If you can’t pair your Philips Hue bridge with speaker or display

1. Say the voice command, 「Hey Google, sync all devices.」
2. Check the following items on your Philips Hue bridge:
   1. Is your Philips Hue bridge powered up?
   2. Have you plugged your bridge into your Wi-Fi router?
   3. Are all the lights on the top of the bridge illuminated?
3. Make sure your speaker or display, and Philips Hue bridge, are on the same Wi-Fi network and connected to the same router.
4. Reboot your speaker or display and the Philips Hue bridge.

General troubleshooting

Initial checklist

1. Is your speaker or display powered on?
2. Is your speaker or display successfully set up on your Wi-Fi network?
3. Are your smart light bulbs successfully set up on the same WiFi network?
4. Are you using the supported voice commands listed above?
5. If your lights are also set up in the device maker’s app, are you able to control your lights through that app?

Troubleshooting steps

• Make sure your mobile device, your speaker or display, and your smart light bulbs, are all on the same Wi-Fi network. If you use a bridge, also check the Wi-Fi network of the bridge.
• Make sure your mobile device and your speakers and displays are linked to the same Google Account.
  • Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your speaker or display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.
  • To check the account of your speaker or display, open the Google Home app   tap your device  Settings   Recognition & sharing  Linked account(s).
• Make sure your light bulbs are linked in the Google Home app.
  • Open the Google Home app   scroll to 「Local devices.」
  • If you can’t find your lights, force close the Google Home app and try again.
  • If you still can’t find your lights, set up your lights again in the Google Home app.
• Say the voice command, 「Hey Google, sync all devices.」
• Rename your light bulb.
  • Remove the room name from the light name. For example, use 「Desk Light」 instead of 「Bedroom Desk Light.」
  • Remove numbers and special characters from the light name. For example, use 「Favorite Light」 instead of 「The #1 Light.」
  • Make all bulb names unique. For example, use 「Reading Light」 and 「TV Light」 instead of 「Right Sofa Light」 and 「Left Sofa Light.」

Tired of searching under your tree for the Christmas lights and wall plug? With any Google Nest or Home speaker or display, and a compatible smart plug, you can turn on your Christmas tree lights with just your voice.

What you need

• A Google Nest or Home speaker or display
• Compatible smart plug

Step 1. Set up your device

Learn how to set up your speaker or display.

Step 2. Set up a compatible smart plug

Set up the compatible smart plug.

Important: Name the smart plug 「Christmas Tree” in the smart plug’s app.

Step 3. Connect your speaker or display to a compatible smart plug

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. At the top left, tap Add   Set up device  Works with Google.
3. Tap the smart plug service, then follow the steps.
4. When pairing is complete, tap Back  Back to return.
5. In the home screen of the Google Home app, select your device.
6. At the top right, tap Settings   Name  enter 「Christmas Tree」  Save.

Step 4. Plug your Christmas tree lights into a compatible smart plug

Step 5. Turn on or off your Christmas tree lights with your voice

• To turn on your lights, say 「Hey Google, turn on the Christmas tree.」
• To turn off your lights, say 「Hey Google, turn off the Christmas tree.」

Fix a problem

Note: This article applies to C by GE bulbs and plugs only.

For information on how to set up and control bulbs or plugs from other manufacturers, or a C by GE smart switch, check our smart device control page and our smart device setup page.

Google Nest allows you to turn your C by GE devices on and off, and control bulb brightness remotely by using voice commands, the Google Home app, or a visual display like the Google Nest Hub. All C by GE plugs and bulbs, including Soft White and Tunable White bulbs, can be paired with your Google Nest or Home speaker or display. You can connect up to 6 total C by GE bulbs and plugs with each speaker or display.

Set up your C by GE devices

Control your lights and plugs with the Google Home app

To find the control screen for your device, open the Google Home app   tap your light or plug.

You can turn your device on and off or change the Tunable White bulb color temperature.

Set a schedule for your lights and plugs

You can use Routines to set a schedule for your device.

1. Open the Google Home app   tap Routines  Manage routines.
2. Tap Add  or a ready-made Routine.

Note: You’ll need to enter a voice command for your Routine, but the Routine will still start automatically at the time you schedule.

If you want to set up a C by GE smart switch

Follow the steps to set up smart home devices. C by GE switches use different setup steps than bulbs or plugs. After you open the Google Home app , tap Add   Set up device  Works with Google.

New to smart lights? The Smart Light Starter Kit is your first step to home automation with a Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) or a Google Home Mini (1st gen) and a GE Soft White Smart Bulb in one package.

With a supported doorbell and a Google Nest or Home speaker or display, Google Assistant can announce when someone’s at your door. You can also stream your video doorbell on your display or your TV using Chromecast.

This feature is only available in the US, UK and Canada.

What you need

For Google Nest displays

• A connected doorbell
• A Google Nest display

For Google Nest speakers

• A connected doorbell
• A Chromecast or TV with Chromecast built-in
• A Google Home, Google Nest Mini (2nd gen), Google Home Mini (1st gen), Google Home Max, or Google Nest Audio

Know when someone’s at your door

Google Assistant will tell you when someone rings your doorbell.

Step 1. Set up your doorbell

If you haven’t already, set up your doorbell by following the steps provided by the device maker.

Step 2. Connect your doorbell to your speaker or display

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. At the top left, tap Add   Set up device  Works with Google.
3. Search or scroll down the list of Works with Google partners and tap your doorbell manufacturer.
4. Log in to your account and follow the steps on your mobile device to begin pairing.
5. Scan over and understand the terms, then tap Allow to enable Google Assistant to link with the account.
6. When the pairing is complete, tap Done.

Note: If you’ve already set up a doorbell, you may have to say 「Hey Google, sync my devices」 for your doorbell(s) to appear.

Step 3. Set a name for your doorbell

You can choose names to call your doorbell.

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap your doorbell.
3. At the top right, tap Settings .
4. Under 「General settings,」 tap Name  Enter a name  Save.

Step 4. Assign doorbells to a room

To control your doorbells more easily, assign them to a room.

(For Nest displays) Step 5. Enable Personal results and Home screen and notifications

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap your display.
3. At the top right corner, tap Settings   Recognition & sharing  Recognition & Personalization.
4. To turn on notifications, first turn on Allow personal results.
5. Scroll down, then choose how you want your personal results to appear.
6. To turn on notifications, tap Always show proactively. If you want to turn off notifications, tap Never show proactively.

Stream your video doorbell camera

Product-specific information

Nest Hello

Keep an eye on what matters by streaming your security camera on your TV using Google Nest or Home speaker or display, and Chromecast or a TV with Chromecast built-in.

What you need

• Security camera setup with the partner app
• Google Nest or Home speaker or display

Step 1. Set up your security camera

Set up your security camera by following the steps provided by the device maker. Learn how to set up your camera with the Nest app.

Step 2. Set up your device

If you haven’t set up your Chromecast and speaker or display, follow the steps below. If you’ve already set up these devices, you can skip this step.

• Chromecast
• Speaker or display

Step 3. Connect your security camera to your speaker or display

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your speaker or display. To switch accounts, tap another account or Add another account.
3. Make sure your security camera is on the same Wi-Fi network as your speaker or display.
4. Verify that the home listed is the one you want to pair your security camera to. To switch between homes, click the triangle to the right of the home name.
5. At the top left corner, tap Add   Set up device  Works with Google.
6. Tap the device to pair.
7. When the pairing is complete, tap Done.
   Note: If you’ve already set up a Nest Thermostat, you may have to unlink and relink your Nest account to view your Nest cam(s).

Step 4. Link TVs using the Google Home app

Step 5. Use voice commands to stream your security camera to your TV

Fix a problem

「HA Cast」 error when streaming an Arlo camera to your TV

If an 「HA Cast」 error message appears on your TV when streaming an Arlo camera, try the following workaround:

1. Turn off the motion-detection recording setting on your camera.
2. Try to stream again.

Arlo is currently working on a fix for this issue.