If you use the Google Home app to control your smart devices, you will soon enjoy a redesign that makes it easier to adjust volume, brightness and more. The update comes as part of version 2.49, which was spotted by 9to5Google. It has a description from Google that reads, “updated home view helps you adjust your devices with fewer taps.”

The major change in this update takes the form of tiles that replace the large device icons with new interactive elements. You can slide left or right on each of your gadgets to control volume or brightness without having to tap on the specific gadget. If you do tap, it will then turn your device on or off. The background will tell you the current state.

If you long-press on the device, you’ll then see the full controls for each gadget. Cosmetically, these new tiles also have rounded corners that are more in keeping with other Material You elements than the previous Google Home design.

You can see screenshots of the updated app above - thanks to Mishaal Rahman for providing these. The update has begun rolling out to Android devices, but Google says it may take a "few weeks" to hit your smartphone. It’s rolling out now to iPhone users as part of the version 2.49 update.

You will have to enter the Google Home app to get to these controls, but this new redesigned homepage should make it far easier for you to control your gadgetry in one place without having to tap through multiple menus to find each piece of smart home equipment. We already rank Google Home among the best smart home apps for Android, and this new update should make one of our top picks even easier to use.

UPDATE: 2022/03/23 06:13 EST BY JAMES PECKHAM

Google has now officially announced the update

A week after the update was first spotted, the Google Nest team has officially confirmed the new changes on its blog. Google says the update is rolling out "over the next few weeks", and it runs through the same changes we've previously spotted. It also shares more about privacy setting changes, which will allow you to "review and adjust your privacy controls, home activity, and Assistant data settings right in the app."

Google has also confirmed a further update that will change the feed of the Home app. It aims to make the layout clutter-free, and it will "automatically sort your home's recent and most important events." What determines an important event is currently unclear. Google says this change is coming "later this month" so you may see further tweaks to Home over the coming weeks.