Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google has added a brand new screensaver known as House Controls to Android 15.
- House Controls permits you to rapidly entry your good house controls as a screensaver.
- The characteristic isn’t unique to the Google House app or Pixel units.
Google launched the supply code for Android 15 final month, giving us a peek at how the brand new options within the newest working system work under-the-hood. The Android 15 replace introduces a number of new options equivalent to Personal House, partial display screen sharing, app pairs, and a brand new screensaver known as House Controls. House Controls is a really helpful screensaver that turns your Android gadget into a wise house dashboard when it’s docked, and after digging into the way it works, I’ve realized it’s even higher than I initially thought.
In case you aren’t conscious, Google launched the House Controls screensaver within the third beta of Android 15 launched again in June. The screensaver could be discovered beneath Settings > Show & contact > Display screen saver on Pixel units; on different Android units, the situation in Settings for altering the display screen saver could differ (if it exists in any respect).
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
After selecting House Controls because the screensaver after which docking your gadget, Android will launch the Favorites view of the Google House app. The Favorites view offers fast entry to your favorited good house units within the Google House app. By choosing this view as your screensaver, you possibly can successfully flip your Android pill (or your cellphone, should you choose) into a wise house dashboard when it’s docked.
The House Controls screensaver is among the extra helpful modifications in Android 15, and I’m shocked extra folks aren’t speaking about it. I believe a part of the reason being that Android 15 isn’t out there but for many Android telephones, so most individuals haven’t had the possibility to strive it but. As well as, those that do know concerning the House Controls screensaver may assume it solely works on Pixel units or with the Google House app. Neither is true, although.
In truth, the House Controls screensaver will work on all Android units operating Android 15 so long as they help display screen savers within the first place. As proof, the cellphone I used to show the characteristic within the pictures proven above is the Nothing Telephone 2a operating the Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta, not a Pixel cellphone.
Moreover, the House Controls screensaver doesn’t solely work with the Google House app. It really works with House Assistant, too, as demonstrated beneath:
Curiously, neither the Google House app nor House Assistant present their very own screensavers for this characteristic. With out getting too technical, the House Controls screensaver is definitely offered by the Android SystemUI app, which in flip embeds the House Management exercise of both Google House or House Assistant.
In final yr’s Android 14 replace, Google launched an API that lets apps embed a customized exercise within the Machine Controls interface. Machine Controls is the characteristic that permits you to entry your good house controls from a Fast Settings tile or lock display screen widget. SystemUI in Android 15 takes that very same customized exercise and places it in a screensaver while you allow the House Controls screensaver.
Sensible house apps needn’t do something particular to help Android 15’s House Controls screensaver aside from offering the aforementioned customized exercise. They do, nonetheless, want to make sure that the customized exercise and its controls are accessible when the gadget is locked, however that’s about it.
I’m excited for Android 15 to roll out to Android units within the coming weeks and months so extra customers can mess around with the brand new House Controls screensaver. Should you’ve tried it out already, tell us what you consider it within the feedback beneath!
