Google Home is rolling out its spring update, and your Nest camera app is about to get some handy improvements — and there are more automation capabilities on the way
Your Google smart home just got smarter
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/rowan-davies · TechRadarNews By Rowan Davies published 6 May 2026
Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Home's spring update is rolling out to all users outside the early access program
- The Nest app has a refreshed interface and new navigation tools
- Google has also expanded its automations capabilities across security control, appliance control, and more
Google Home is supercharging its smart home experience with the rollout of its spring update, which includes upgraded Nest Cam app tools and enhanced automation functionalities — both of which are now available to all users after being locked in the early access program for a few months.
It’s a mighty update for the Nest app interface alone, which now allows you to view the live video player as you scroll through your video history, but its seamless navigation enhancements are the true stand-outs.
Have you ever been frustrated with the Nest app’s delays? That’s about to change. As well as the updated video player, Google has given its timeline a much-needed refresh with smoother camera-scrubbing frame rates and quick seek buttons allowing you to jump 10-seconds forward and backwards in video recordings.
Article continues below
The company has also improved its insight features with new Gemini-powered upgrades to ensure a more efficient experience, starting with zoomed-in animated previews that let you view an action or movement at a quick glance.
Video filtering options have also been improved, meaning you can organize your video event list by specific categories such as Person seen, Package seen, Glass break heard, or Activity Zone, while the new timeline view gives you event descriptions, making it easier to identify specific events in your video history.
As for facial recognition capabilities, the Google Home app will automatically exclude low-quality footage examples to ‘maintain a clean and effective face library’, as it says in Google’s outline. Additionally, the company has rolled out feedback buttons for familiar face previews, allowing you to report back to Google to ensure more accurate facial detection over time.
However, it's not just new Nest Cam devices that are getting the special treatment. Pre-2021 Nest camera models will also be getting Gemini event descriptions and zoomed-in previews.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors