Home Assistant to Google Home Integration -

Home Assistant is an amazing Open source software that builds and enables you with Smart Home capabilities. Although, you can add numerous devices and control all of them on the Singles instance. Have you ever thought of doing much more? Accessing the Voice control features? If yes, Then Integrating Home Assistant to Google Home and Unlock full access with just a Voice Command.

Is it possible to integrate Home Assistant with Google Home?

Yes, It is possible to finely integrate Home Assistant with Google Home and access all the automation on the Google Home app. In case, you have a device that is not directly compatible with Google Home, you can get help from Home Assistant.

Home Assistant + Google Home

There are two ways you can connect the two Smart Home Platforms.

Control Home assistant devices via the Google Assistant/Google Home -Using the Google Assistant SDK integration.
Control Google Home Devices on the Home Assistant Platform.

If you are an existing Google Smart Home user, This might be useful as a perfect alternative for incompatible devices. You can connect your smart home devices to HA and Then bring control on the Google Home App.

How to Add Home Assistant to Google Home?

Let’s say you have a Smart Home device that doesn’t support the Google Smart Home ecosystem but is compatible with HA. With the Integration, you can control, automate, and manage the device on your smart home platform.

So, If you are all set to control your devices connected on HA through Google Assistant and on the Google Home app, You will need to add the GOOGLE ASSISTANT Integration.

To begin with, follow the Prerequisite below ;

Install and Configure the Home Assistant Software on Raspberry Pi or your Computer. Complete the Setup.
Make sure to add your Smart device on the HA Instance that you want to control through the Google Home app- You can search by the name of your device and add, and configure it. And if you already have devices added, then continue with adding the Integration for Google.
Install and Sign up for the Google Home app on the Supported device and Set up a Smart Google assistant-enabled speaker.
Ensure that all your connected devices and whatever you are using for the process are connected to a common and strong internet source.

Check Out another great alternative:How to Add Homebridge to Google Home?

Add Google Assistant Integration on Home Assistant

The Google Assistant Integration allows users to control Home Assistant devices/entities through Voice- Google Assistant-enabled devices, Google Home app, and devices. It is absolutely Free of cost to set up. You can either go for an automatic setup (PAID) for which you need the Home Assistant cloud or for a manual setup without it which is Free.

If you are already a Cloud user – you can go for the automatic setup. If not, We will proceed with the Free Method first and also tell you how to access the Paid – No Setup method.

Let’s get into the Step-by-step guide on How to add Home Assistant to Google Home.

Set up Google Assistant Integration

Firstly, Make sure that you have installed Home Assistant and that your HA Configuration is externally accessible with a hostname and an SSL Certificate. Add a remote URL -User profile >Enable advanced mode.
You can use DuckDNS, Let’s Encrypt, or Cloudflare Tunnel to expose HA to the Internet.
Keep a Note of the Domain /IP Address and Port of your HA.
Go to Settings >System >Network>Home Assistant URL and Enter an external URL. Wait for at least 48 hours to get it confirmed and Proceed further.

Create a New Project on Google Actions Console

Navigate to Actions on Google Console and Tap on New Project.
Name the project and Click on Smart Home >Start building.
Tap on quick setup>Name your Smart Home action >Type an action name. (On your Google Home app, you will see Home Assistant appear as [test] <Action Name>
Click on Overview >Build your action>Add Actions.
Now Add your Home Assistant URL – Type https://[YOUR HOME ASSISTANT URL:PORT]/api/google_assistant – Replace [YOUR HOME ASSISTANT URL: PORT] with your IP Address/domain and the Port – 443. Tap Save.
Click on the 3 dots >Project Settings >Settings >General >Note down your Project ID.

Link your Accounts

On the Actions Console, Select Overview > Quick setup > Setup account linking >If prompted -let it be set on default >Next.
Move on to Linking type, Choose OAuth and Authorization code >Next.

Copy, Paste, and Edit the values as required ;

Client ID: Add your noted Project ID. https://oauthredirect.googleusercontent.com/r/[YOUR_PROJECT_ID]
Client Secret: Type anything, HA doesn’t require it.
Authorization URL : https://[YOUR HOME ASSISTANT URL:PORT]/auth/authorize
Token URL :https://[YOUR HOME ASSISTANT URL:PORT]/auth/token.Tap Next.

Configure your client scopes – Add Email and Name>Save.

Tap on Develop>Test> Settings >On device testing >Enable it to activate the new action.

Enable device sync

Go to Google Cloud platform>Select a project>Choose your created project.
Open menu>APIs and Services>Credentials>Create credentials>Service account.
Create the service account, select a role, service token creator, continue, and done.
To download the JSON File now, Go to Manage Service accounts >pencil icon>Keys>Add key>Select JSON >download the file.
Rename the file and add it to the config folder as your configuration. yaml.
Go to the Google Cloud Platform >API and Services/Search products and resources >Library >HomeGraph API>Enable it.
Now, Add the Google Assistant Integration Configuration to the configuration.yaml file –
```
google_assistant: !include google_assistant_integ.yaml
```

On the Google Assistant file, enter

project_id: 
service_account:
  private_key: 
  client_email:

Save changes and Restart Home Assistant

Add Home Assistant to Google Home App

Open the Google Home app>Tap on + >Set up device >Works with Google >Select [test] <Action Name> Sign in to your Home Assistant and Link. Choose and assign rooms for the HA devices listed. Once finished, Tap on Done and Finish set up.

That’s it, Now all the Home Assistant entities can be easily controlled via the Google Assistant and through the Google Home App.

You can also disable entities if you do not want them to be exposed to Google Assistant. Edit the entity_config in the integration file and set it to false. Once everything is set, Say OK GOOGLE, SYNC MY DEVICES, and start running commands for your devices.

Note that the Actions on Google Project test will expire after 30 days, so read here to learn How to fix any upcoming errors. Open project>Develop>Account Linking>Test and then sync your devices again.

Add Home Assistant to Google Home via Nabu Casa

Nabu Casa is a Paid Subscription Service that is also called the Home Assistant Cloud. This allows users to access smart home automation out of their Home network and also enhances the Home Assistant.

AUTOMATIC SETUP – Using the Home Assistant cloud/NabuCasa, you can directly connect Home Assistant to Google Home.If you do not want to go through the Lengthy project Process for Free. Then you can choose the paid method via Nabu Casa.

Follow the Below steps to Enable the Home Assistant Cloud on the Instance.

On your Home Assistant, Open Settings>Home Assistant Cloud.
Sign in if you already have an account or Start your Free trial for -1 month.
Create an account and Tap on Start Trial.
Once you create a NabuCasa account, you are now connected to your Home Assistant Cloud.

Now, Restart the HA. Open Settings >Voice Assistant>Google Assistant and Turn the toggle ON.

Tap on the Expose tab>Choose entities you want to control via Google Home/Assistant.

Select the entity and Enable the Google Assistant option on it.

Now, Open the Google Home app >Tap +>Set up device>Works with Google>Search for Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa>Add.
You could also add it through the Google Assistant on your Phone.

Check out:How to Add Home Connect to Google Home ?

Final Note

Choosing either a Paid or Free method is entirely your own preference. But, Once you connect Home Assistant to Google Home. There are a number of devices that will be available to use with the Voice assistant such as a Camera, humidifier, Lock, Lights, Sensor, Alarm, Switch, Vacuum, and much more. You will also be able to secure your devices, operating modes, TV Control, etc, with your Voice commands.