TL;DR
Google is adding digital home keys to Google Wallet, letting compatible Android phones unlock supported smart locks by tapping or, on some devices, approaching. The feature is in public preview through Google Home, but requires compatible locks, phones and a Matter-enabled Google Hub.
Google Wallet is adding digital home keys that let Android users unlock compatible smart locks by tapping their phone against a reader or, with supported hardware, approaching the door. Google says the feature is in public preview through the Google Home app and will roll out more widely “over the coming weeks,” bringing phone-based home access to Google’s wallet service and building on Matter-enabled smart home integrations.
Get home appliances delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
The feature supports two unlocking methods. Tap to Unlock uses NFC: users hold the back of an NFC-enabled Android phone near the lock, and the phone does not need to be unlocked. Unlock on Approach uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) to detect a user walking up to the door and can open it automatically. Users must enable the hands-free option in Google Wallet.
Google says several locks are supported at launch: the Aqara U400, Schlage Sense Pro and Nuki Keypad 2 NFC. For more options, see smart locks for Google Home. The Schlage model supports NFC at launch, with UWB support to follow. Google says additional locks are planned, but has not named them in the announcement.
A single digital home key can control multiple compatible locks, and household members connected to the same Google Home account can add their own key to their personal Google Wallet, alongside other smart home access options. The feature is built on Aliro, an open standard intended to let smartphones work with compatible smart locks. Availability still depends on the lock and the rest of the user’s home setup.
Can Google Wallet Unlock Your Door? A home key for Android
Google Wallet is adding digital keys for compatible smart locks. The feature is in public preview through Google Home, with access depending on your lock, phone and home hub.
Two ways to unlock
The method depends on the phone and lock hardware you have.
- Hold the back of an NFC-enabled Android phone near the lock.
- The phone does not need to be unlocked.
- UWB detects you approaching the door.
- Hands-free access needs an Aliro UWB-compatible phone and must be enabled in Wallet.
Locks Google lists
These are the compatible models named so far.
Check your setup
A Wallet key alone is not enough to open the door.
It must be a compatible, Aliro-enabled model.
NFC is needed for tap access; approach unlocking requires UWB support.
You need a Matter-enabled Google Hub with a Thread Border Router.
Phone Access Comes to Google Wallet
Putting a home key in Google Wallet gives Android users another way to enter their homes without carrying a separate key or opening a smart-lock app. The two methods serve different situations: NFC tap access requires a deliberate gesture at the lock, while UWB approach unlocking is designed to work hands-free when a supported phone detects the user nearby.
The practical reach is limited for now by compatibility. A Wallet key alone is not enough: users need a supported lock, an eligible phone for their chosen unlocking method and a compatible Google Home setup. That means the announcement adds a new option for some households rather than making all smart locks or Android phones work as home keys.
Aliro’s role could matter as the ecosystem grows. The standard is intended to support interoperability between phones and locks, but the currently listed hardware remains limited. Google has not provided a date for broader lock support, so the near-term usefulness will depend on how quickly manufacturers bring compatible products to market.
Products Worth Considering
LG UltraGear 32-inch Curved QHD Gaming Monitor (2560×1440, 180Hz, 1ms, 1000R, HDR10)
Logitech MX Keys S Combo Wireless Keyboard and Mouse, Graphite
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Vlogging Camera with 1-Inch CMOS Sensor and 4K/120fps Video
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How Google Home Access Is Changing
Google Home already offered some smart-lock unlocking functionality. The new development is the ability to use the phone’s NFC and UWB capabilities through Google Wallet, including a tap-based option and hands-free unlocking for supported devices. The feature places a digital key alongside other credentials stored in Wallet rather than relying only on the existing Google Home controls.
Digital home keys are not new across mobile platforms: Apple and Samsung users have had similar conveniences, according to the announcement. Google’s addition gives its Android users a Wallet-based route, though the feature’s initial device and lock requirements mean it is not yet a universal substitute for physical keys.
Google describes the feature as based on Aliro, an open standard for smartphone-to-lock access. The company has named three compatible lock products so far and says more are coming. That announced list, rather than the wider number of smart locks already on the market, defines what users can currently expect to work.
““over the coming weeks””
Compatibility and Watch Support
Google has not specified exactly when the public preview will reach each user or when the planned wider rollout will be complete. It also has not announced additional compatible locks or a timetable for adding them. The current list includes three products, with UWB support for the Schlage Sense Pro due to follow its NFC launch support.
Wear OS smartwatches are not supported at launch. Google’s wording leaves future watch support open but does not confirm that it is planned or give a timeline. The announcement also does not establish that every Android phone with NFC will support hands-free unlocking; that method is limited to Aliro UWB-compatible phones.
Users will also need a Matter-enabled Google Hub with a Thread Border Router, such as the second-generation Nest Hub. The announcement does not provide further details about how availability may vary by region or whether all listed locks will be sold and supported in every market.
Rollout and Lock Expansion
Google says the feature is available in public preview for the Google Home app and that access will expand to everyone “over the coming weeks.” Users interested in trying it will need to check whether the feature is available to their account and confirm that their lock, phone and Google Home hub meet the requirements.
The next practical milestones are a broader rollout, more compatible lock models and any update on smartwatch support. Google has not set dates for those developments. Until then, the supported lock list and the difference between NFC tap access and UWB approach unlocking remain the key limits on who can use a Wallet home key.
Source: rss
Key Questions
Can Google Wallet unlock any smart lock?
No. It currently works with compatible Aliro-enabled locks. Google lists the Aqara U400, Schlage Sense Pro and Nuki Keypad 2 NFC, with more models expected but not yet named.
Does the phone need to be unlocked to tap into the home?
Google says Tap to Unlock does not require the Android phone to be unlocked. The user holds the back of an NFC-enabled phone near the lock reader.
Which phones support hands-free unlocking?
Unlock on Approach requires an Aliro UWB-compatible Android phone. Google gives the Pixel 10 Pro series and later as examples; NFC alone is not enough for this hands-free method.
Can a Wear OS watch unlock the door?
Wear OS watches are not supported at launch, according to Google. The company has not confirmed whether or when watch access will be added.
What else is needed besides a compatible lock?
Users need a Matter-enabled Google Hub with a Thread Border Router, such as the second-generation Nest Hub. Requirements also depend on whether they want NFC tap access or UWB approach unlocking.
Source: theverge.com
