If you’re a Nest Aware subscriber, your Google displays and speakers can be used to detect smoke alarms and glass breaking. The Google Home Max is now set to loose sound detection from May 8.
Google announced this change in an email to Google Home Max owners and Nest Aware subscribers today: “Important update about your Google Home Max.”
When your smart home devices hear a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm or glass breaking, the Google Home app will send a notification to your phone. You can then check any available security alarms to confirm, as well as use the e911 capability in your subscription.
This feature is still “supported on your other Google devices with your Nest Aware subscription.”
The email does not explain why sound detection is being removed, but the 2017 Google Home Max runs previous generation firmware (1.56.275994) compared to even the Google Home and original Home Mini (3.75.456944). This could be due to the more advanced speaker system with features like audio input and Smart Sound. That said, it still gets updates following its late 2020/early 2021 discontinuation.
Beyond the 2nd-gen Nest Mini and Nest Audio, it remains to be seen whether the first generation of Home/Nest devices will get the Gemini-powered Google Assistant when it launches.
Starting May 8, 2025, your Google Home Max will no longer have the sound detection feature as part of your Nest Aware subscription. Sound detection (which alerts you if glass breaking or a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm is heard) will still be supported on your other Google devices with your Nest Aware subscription.
More on Nest:
- Google ending 1st gen Nest Aware in some regions
- Google TV as the future of Gemini smart displays
- What does a new Nest speaker with Gemini look like in 2025?
Thanks Jason
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