TL;DR
Google has added digital home keys to Google Wallet, letting compatible Android phones unlock supported smart locks by tapping or, on some devices, approaching the door. The feature is in public preview through the Google Home app and is expected to roll out more widely over the coming weeks. Availability depends on compatible locks, phones and Google Home hardware.
Google Wallet now supports digital home keys, allowing people with compatible Android phones and smart locks to open a door by tapping their phone or, on supported devices, approaching it. Google says the feature is in public preview through the Google Home app and will roll out to everyone “over the coming weeks,” though the hardware required means it will not work with every lock or Android phone.
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The new keys use Near Field Communication (NFC) for Tap to Unlock: users hold the back of an NFC-enabled Android phone near the lock reader. Google says the phone does not need to be unlocked for this method. A second option, Unlock on Approach, can open a door automatically when a user walks up, but must first be enabled in Google Wallet and requires compatible Ultra-Wideband (UWB) hardware.
Google says a single digital home key can control multiple supported locks. Household members connected to the same Google Home account can also add their own key to their personal Wallet. The feature is built on Aliro, an open standard intended to support unlocking smart locks with different phones, but the current supported-device list is limited.
Google’s announcement names the Aqara U400, Schlage Sense Pro and Nuki Keypad 2 NFC as supported locks. The Schlage model supports NFC at launch, with UWB support to follow, according to Google. Users also need a Matter-enabled Google Home hub with a Thread Border Router, such as the second-generation Nest Hub. Google says more locks are coming, but has not provided a schedule or additional model names.
Phone Keys Expand to Google Wallet
The feature gives Android users another way to access a home without carrying or taking out a physical key, and puts that capability inside Google Wallet, an app many users already use for digital credentials and payments. The approach could also make access easier to share among people in a household: each linked member can add a key to their own phone rather than relying on one person to unlock the door.
For now, the practical reach is constrained by the small selection of compatible locks, the need for a suitable Google Home hub, and phone requirements that differ between tap and hands-free entry. The announcement broadens Google’s smart-home access options, but it does not mean that any Android phone can unlock any smart lock today. The Aliro standard may support broader compatibility over time; the currently named devices set a narrower limit on what customers can use immediately.
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Aliro and Existing Digital Keys
Google Home already offered some smart-lock unlocking functions. The Wallet update adds support for using phone NFC and UWB capabilities with compatible locks, rather than relying only on the app’s existing controls. According to The Verge’s report, Apple and Samsung users have had similar digital home-key conveniences before Google’s announcement, making this a catch-up in a feature area where major phone platforms have been adding ways to use a handset as a key.
Aliro is an open standard designed to let smartphones unlock compatible smart locks across platforms. Google is building its new Wallet feature on that standard, but standardization alone does not make existing locks compatible: the lock must support the necessary hardware and software, and the user’s home setup must meet Google’s requirements. The supported-lock list and device requirements announced so far describe the feature’s initial reach, not a guarantee that every Aliro product or Android device will work.
““over the coming weeks””
Compatibility and Rollout Still Limited
Google has not announced exactly when the feature will reach every user beyond saying the rollout is expected over the coming weeks. It is also unclear which additional smart locks will be supported, when they will be added, or whether the rollout will vary by region. Although Google says more locks are coming, that statement does not establish a timetable.
Requirements also vary by unlocking method. Tap to Unlock needs an NFC-enabled phone running Android 9 or later. Unlock on Approach requires an Aliro-compatible UWB Android phone; Google’s examples include the Pixel 10 Pro series and later. Google says Wear OS watches are unsupported at launch, but has not confirmed if or when that will change. Users should check their lock and phone compatibility and Google Home hub setup before relying on Wallet as their way into a home.
Wider Access and More Locks
Google says it plans to expand the public preview to broader availability over the coming weeks and has signaled that additional supported locks will follow. The next concrete indicators will be which users receive access, which lock models are added, and whether Google provides more detail on timing.
For prospective users, the immediate step is to confirm that their lock appears on Google’s supported list and that their home has a qualifying Matter-enabled Google hub with Thread Border Router. They should also check whether their Android phone supports the specific feature they want: NFC for tapping, or compatible UWB for hands-free unlocking. No launch timing for Wear OS support has been announced.
Key Questions
How does Google Wallet unlock a smart lock?
With Tap to Unlock, hold the back of an NFC-enabled Android phone near the lock reader. The phone does not need to be unlocked, according to Google. On supported devices, Unlock on Approach can open the door when you walk up, after the option is enabled in Wallet.
Which smart locks are supported?
Google names the Aqara U400, Schlage Sense Pro and Nuki Keypad 2 NFC. Schlage Sense Pro supports NFC at launch, with UWB support to follow. Google says more locks are coming but has not announced their names or availability dates.
What phone and home equipment do I need?
Tap to Unlock requires an NFC-enabled Android phone running Android 9 or later. Hands-free unlocking requires an Aliro UWB-compatible Android phone, such as a Google Pixel 10 Pro series device or later. Users also need a Matter-enabled Google Home hub with a Thread Border Router, such as the second-generation Nest Hub.
Can I use a Wear OS watch as a home key?
Not at launch. Google has not confirmed when, or whether, Wear OS support will be added.
When will Google Wallet home keys be available to everyone?
The feature is in public preview through the Google Home app. Google says it will roll out to everyone “over the coming weeks,” but has not given a specific date.
Source: theverge.com
