Android 15 lets you turn your phone into a handy smart-home dashboard – here’s how

The new Home Controls screensaver gives you smart-home tools when your phone is connected to power

News By Jamie Richards published 11 October 2024

Android 15 has been out for a while now, but we’re still discovering new features – such as a screensaver that allows you to control your smart home without even unlocking your phone.

The Home Controls feature turns your phone into a smart-home dashboard when the phone is docked – and it’s not just exclusive to Google’s platforms, either.

Home Controls works with the Google Home app and on Pixel phones, but also on at least one other smart-home app, Home Assistant, and on any phone running an Android 15-based operating system.

You can activate the Home Controls screensaver by heading to the Settings app, navigating to the 'Display & touch' tab, and clicking the Screen saver tab within.

Once Home Controls is activated, connecting the phone to a dock or charger will bring up a screen loaded with smart home options.

As Android Authority reports, Google added the Home Controls screensaver to the third Android 15 beta back in June.

However, Android 15 is only just beginning to make its way to flagship devices, with Google's own Pixel phones due to receive an Android 15-based OS update on October 15.

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