Home Panel Widely Rolling Out To Chromecast With Google TV, And More

After being available as part of a Public Preview phase, the quick Home Panel for your connected smart devices is now rolling out for the Chromecast with Google TV and other Google TV sets.

The function has been available on the Google TV Streamer since launch, but as with many timed exclusive functions, it was added for the Chromecast with Google TV if you were enrolled in the Public Preview. It now appears that this feature is rolling out widely to more streaming dongles as of the past 24-48 hours. We are also seeing on Google TV-powered screens from Hisense and more.

When launching your device you’ll get a pop-up notice asking if you’d like to set up the Home Panel on your Chromecast with Google TV. The guided process allows you to even add Nest Doorbell notifications on your TV – which is a core feature from the TV Streamer. It appears that all features are intact here, too:

Control devices such as lights, thermostats, speakers and more
See live views from cameras and notifications from doorbells
Quickly access directly from the Quick Settings panel

The Home Panel is an enhanced section that appears in Google TV Quick Settings, and matches the Favorites tab in the Google Home mobile app. It is designed to let you access: Lights, Thermostats, Locks, Cameras, Plugs, Vacuums, TVs, Speakers, and other Google Home connected hardware.

Although the software version may not be tied to this Home Panel rollout, our Chromecast with Google TV hardware runs build number STTL.241013.003.12571383. Before these functions are available on your Chromecast with Google TV, you also need to be the owner or a member of a Home within the Google Home app that your Google TV profile is part of. Kids profiles do not support this function.

If you do not have any Google Home-connected smart devices or a Home associated with your account, this option will also not be available. While the Chromecast is now officially an end-of-life product, it is still promised more updates and the Home Panel is an excellent addition to the Google TV system.