Google Removes Call Home Feature from Home App

Google has quietly removed the Call Home feature from its Home app in recent updates, eliminating a convenient option for users to directly call smart displays and speakers from their smartphones.

The change affects devices such as the Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, and compatible speakers, which previously allowed video and audio calls initiated through a simple button in the app. Introduced in 2019, Call Home relied on Google Duo to connect users with household members, particularly useful for checking in remotely without requiring a separate device or account on the receiving end. Users first reported noticing the button's absence in the app over the past few weeks, coinciding with a major redesign that integrated Gemini, Google's advanced AI, more deeply into smart home controls.

While the exact timing and rationale remain unconfirmed by Google, the removal aligns with ongoing transitions in the company's smart home ecosystem. The app's update replaced some traditional navigation elements with a Gemini-powered chat interface for managing devices, and officials have indicated that Gemini will handle many legacy Google Assistant functions, including those without a subscription....