A long-awaited update is finally rolling out to older Google TV and Chromecast devices, giving them a powerful new smart home feature for free. Called the Home Panel, this upgrade allows users to control their Google Home-compatible devices—like smart lights, thermostats, doorbells, and more—directly from their TV screen.
After months in public preview, the feature is now available more broadly, including on some discontinued Chromecast devices and Hisense TVs running Google TV. The Home Panel originally launched with the Google TV HD Streamer last year, but is now quietly reaching more users through a recent software update.
Once your device receives the update, you should see a pop-up prompt when powering it on, inviting you to set up the Home Panel. If you’re not seeing it, make sure your Google account has smart home devices linked—otherwise, the setup prompt may not appear.
With the Home Panel, users can view and manage smart home notifications, such as a person at your Nest Doorbell, check live camera feeds, adjust smart lights, and even control thermostats—all from a panel on the right side of the TV screen. It’s similar to what Apple’s tvOS and Amazon’s FireOS offer, making your living room more connected than ever.
Important Note: This feature is tied to the main Google account used on the TV and won’t work with children’s profiles. Also, only devices linked to your Google Home app will be accessible.
This update signals that older Chromecast models are still being supported for meaningful feature additions, even without new hardware releases. That’s a big win for Google TV users who have invested in the Google smart home ecosystem.
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