Google eliminates the convenient Call Home shortcut from the Google Home app, affecting Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, and docked Pixel Tablet owners. This one-tap feature enabled quick device-to-device calls within households, ideal for reaching children or caregivers without phones or accounts. User reports and trackers confirm the quiet removal, sparking confusion among families reliant on its simplicity.
Understanding Call Home’s Role in Family Communication
Call Home leveraged the former Google Duo system for seamless operation: a single button press in the Home app connected phones to home smart displays instantly. No logins, contacts, or setups required—perfect as a digital intercom from office or nearby locations. Parents valued it for checking on kids after school or communicating with elderly relatives lacking smartphones.
Community discussions reveal daily dependence on this feature, with some users noting even Google support struggled to acknowledge its absence initially. The removal disrupts routines built around effortless home calls, highlighting a gap for households without universal phone access. This specific functionality addressed real-world needs unmet by broader communication tools.
Current Options and Added Friction for Nest Users
Google Meet remains available for calling smart displays, but requires account login on the device—defeating Call Home’s account-free appeal. Families must create supervised accounts via Family Link for children or caregivers, introducing complexity unsuitable for quick check-ins. The Broadcast button also vanishes from the Home app, though voice commands persist for house-wide announcements.
Voice broadcasting works reliably: speak the wake word followed by your message to reach all speakers and displays. Household Contacts enable voice calls to trusted individuals on supported devices. These alternatives shift reliance from app taps to voice or account-based methods, aligning with Google’s platform evolution.
Reasons Behind Google’s Feature Consolidation
Google merges Duo into Meet to unify communications under identity-based services, eliminating account-bypassing paths that raise privacy, consent, and abuse concerns. This streamlines code maintenance across Android, iOS, and displays while reducing support overhead. The change fits ongoing Assistant and Nest simplifications, retiring outdated integrations for long-term sustainability.
Though maintenance improves, loyal users lose ingrained conveniences shaping daily habits. Platform strategy prioritizes secure, authenticated flows over frictionless home-specific shortcuts. Families adapting to these shifts face transitional challenges during the refinement process.
Practical Workarounds for Household Communication
- Install Google Meet on the Nest display and link a Family Link supervised account.
- From your phone, initiate Meet calls targeting the display’s account directly.
- For announcements, use voice command: “Hey Google, broadcast [your message].”
- Enable Household Contacts in Home app settings for voice-initiated trusted calls.
- Provide feedback via Home app to request simplified “Call Home” Meet replacement.
- Consider cross-platform options like Amazon Drop In for intercom needs if essential.
Daily Impact on Smart Display Ecosystems
Nest devices anchor kitchens and living rooms, with expanding roles as docked tablets like Pixel Tablet serve as hubs. Research shows about one-third of Americans own smart speakers, with displays comprising significant market share globally—tens of millions in active use. Removing high-frequency shortcuts ripples through family routines, amplifying frustration for frequent users.
| Feature | Previous Call Home | Current Google Meet | Voice Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Required | None | Account login | Wake word only |
| Target Users | Any household member | Account holders | All devices |
| Access Method | App button | Meet app call | Voice command |
| Best For | Quick device calls | Structured calls | Announcements |
Future Developments and User Advocacy
Users seek a one-tap Meet “Call Home” tile respecting accounts while retaining household simplicity. Monitor Google support forums, Workspace Updates, and Home app release notes for replacements. Submitting feedback through the Home app channels user needs effectively during this transition.
Smart displays retain calling capabilities, though with increased steps. This consolidation may streamline Google’s ecosystem long-term but currently disrupts material daily conveniences. Families benefit from exploring voice alternatives while advocating for intuitive restorations balancing security and ease.
