Google Pixel phone improves voice-assistant control of devices
Google has taken a step towards simplifying its assistant service by allowing Pixel phone users to control their smart home devices without having to add them from Google Home. To access the service on a Pixel phone, users open Google Assistant (by holding down the home button), tap the three-button menu icon and choose settings, tap home control and use the plus button to add a new device.

Google Assistant has some really weird inconsistencies. For example, up until recently, you could control smart home devices from your Pixel phone, but only if you added them from a Google Home first. Now, you can skip the Home.

As Android Police points out, if you have a Pixel, you can open up the Google Assistant settings and add smart home devices from Nest, Philips, Belkin and more. To do it, follow these steps:

Launch Google Assistant by holding down the Home button. Tap the three-button menu icon and choose Settings. Tap Home Control. Tap the plus button at the bottom of the screen to add a new device.

Once the device is added, you’ll be able to control it with voice commands from Google Assistant on your Pixel. If you have a Google Home, the commands should work there, too. However, it’s unclear if you can control them from other Assistant-enabled devices, since the assistant is notoriously fragmented. Still, this is a step in the right direction.

Google Assistant on Pixel gets proper home control with multi-room support, no Google Home required | Android Police