Android 15 could bring a new ‘Home Controls’ screensaver that lets you control Google Home devices

Android 15 may introduce a game-changing feature called the ‘Home Controls’ screensaver which is designed to streamline Google Home devices management. This novel screensaver grants users instant access to their favorite Google Home devices directly from their device’s lock screen, eliminating the need to unlock and navigate through applications.

While currently unavailable in the publicly released Android 15 Developer Preview 2 or Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, Mishaal Rahman successfully activated the feature for demonstration purposes. Once officially launched, the Home Controls screensaver will be integrate with existing screensaver options, accessible through Settings > Display > Screen saver.

The Home Controls screensaver appears differently on a phone than it does on a tablet. Here’s are the images:

The functionality of the Home Controls screensaver is straightforward yet impactful. It displays a minimalistic interface showcasing the user’s favorited Google Home devices alongside the current time. This user interface mirrors the one encountered in Android 14 when leveraging the Google Home app as the Device Controls provider. Here, users can access the Google Home controls dashboard through the designated Quick Setting tile or lock screen shortcut in Android 15.

An intriguing aspect of the Home Controls screensaver is its origin within the SystemUI app, independent of the Google Home app itself. However, a current limitation exists – compatibility solely with Google Home devices. This necessitates the development of individual screensavers by other smart home application providers for broader integration.

On a positive note, the placement of the implementation code under the “com.android.systemui” path suggests potential availability on non-Pixel devices in Android 15. This signifies the code’s likely inclusion in the Android Open Source Project’s (AOSP) SystemUI app in the near future, paving the way for broader adoption.