Google Home Integrates Button Support at Last

Taylor Keatsman

Published: February 3, 2026 11:53 AM ET

Google Home Integrates Button Support at Last

Google Home has officially introduced support for button integration, addressing a major request from users. This feature was highlighted in the update notes released on February 2, indicating that new automation starter conditions are now available, including the functionality of a “Switch or button pressed.”

What Are Smart Buttons?

Smart buttons are versatile, programmable physical switches designed to enhance the smart home experience. Users can press these buttons to trigger various automations or manage devices. Examples of tasks include:

Turning lights on or off
Opening and closing shades
Running specific scenes, like a Good Night routine
Starting robot vacuums

This alternative control method is particularly useful when voice commands or app interactions are not ideal. Many smart buttons offer multiple ways to activate functions, including single, double, and long presses.

Compatibility with Smart Home Platforms

Smart buttons are widely supported across various smart home ecosystems. Major platforms include:

Apple Home
Amazon Alexa
Samsung SmartThings
Home Assistant

The introduction of Matter, an interoperability standard for smart home devices, has simplified the integration of buttons into these ecosystems. Prior to this update, Google Home’s lack of support for button functionality was a notable gap.

New Features in the Google Home Update

The February 2 update now allows users to program buttons through the Google Home app, enabling functions such as:

Double-tap actions
Long press commands
Actions triggered by button release

It’s important to note that this support is available exclusively in the Google Home app and not through the automation functions of Ask Home or Help Me Create.

The Impact of New Affordable Devices

A driving force behind this update may be the launch of Ikea’s affordable Matter-over-Thread devices, including the $6 Bilresa wireless button. This new button provides two form factors: a dual-button and a scroll-wheel variant. The low price point makes smart buttons more accessible to the average consumer.

Traditionally, smart buttons ranged in price from $20 to $50 and were tied to specific ecosystems or hub protocols like Zigbee or Z-Wave. With Matter’s advancements, users can now connect buttons directly to their smart home platforms without requiring a dedicated hub.