How to pair and control your Twinkly with Google Home
This article refers to Twinkly Generation I & II, Twinkly Plus and Lightwall powered by Twinkly, Twinkly PRO Wi-Fi controller
What is Google Home and How Does It Function?
The Google Home application serves as a central hub that enables users to set up, manage, automate, and control an array of smart devices within their home environment. By connecting your lights to Google Assistant, you gain the ability to create customised routines that can be executed at specific times or in response to particular triggers. This integration allows you to manage your Twinkly lights remotely and to control them through voice commands issued from your smartphone or via Google Smart Home devices.
The Google Home App is readily available for download on both the App Store and Google Play Store, ensuring that users across different platforms can easily access its functionalities.
For further information and detailed guidance, you can visit the official website at home.google.com.
Prerequisites
Before you begin the process of integrating your Twinkly lights with Google Home, it is essential to download the Twinkly application and follow the subsequent two steps:
- Connect your Twinkly lights to a local Wi-Fi network. This step is crucial as it establishes the communication link between your smart lights and the Google Home app.
- Download the Amazon Alexa app and follow the guided instructions to configure it. This step may be necessary for those who wish to use voice commands through Alexa in conjunction with Google Home.
Additionally, please ensure:
- You have installed the latest version of firmware on your Twinkly lights. Keeping your devices updated is vital for optimal performance and compatibility.
- Your Google Smart Home device, if you have one, is powered on and connected to the same local Wi-Fi network as your Twinkly lights. This ensures seamless communication between devices.
- The local Wi-Fi network has proper access to internet resources, which is necessary for remote control and updates.
- Your smartphone is also connected to the same local Wi-Fi network as both your Twinkly lights and your Google Smart Home device, if applicable. This connectivity is essential for the app to function correctly.
It is advisable to have your Twinkly account login information readily available to facilitate a smooth setup process.
How to Add the Twinkly Skill to Google Home
Step 1: Open the Google Home App. To begin, launch the Google Home application on your smartphone or tablet. If you have not yet installed the app, you can download it for free from either the App Store or Google Play Store.
Step 2: Navigate to the Devices Section. Once inside the Google Home app, locate the Devices section. This area is dedicated to managing all your connected devices and adding new ones. Tap on the Devices icon to continue.
Step 3: Add a New Device. Within the Devices section, look for the option that allows you to add a new device to your setup.
Step 4: Choose "Connect one of your devices or services." Here, you will select from various connected devices, such as light bulbs or outlets, to integrate into your Google Home setup.
Step 5: Select Twinkly from the List. Next, scroll through the list of supported devices until you come across Twinkly. Tap on the Twinkly option to proceed with its integration into your Google Home ecosystem.
Step 6: Enjoy Your Twinkly Lights! Once the setup process is finalised, you are ready to enjoy the stunning display of your Twinkly lights, which can now be controlled directly from Google Home. Feel free to experiment with various colours, patterns, and effects to create the ideal ambiance for any occasion.
Available Instructions
Applicable for Both Twinkly Generation I and II
Turn On/Off All Lights or Just One Light. For example:
- OK Google, turn Twinkly on
- OK Google, turn Twinkly off
Specific to Twinkly Generation II
Adjust the Brightness with Google Assistant:
- OK Google, set Twinkly brightness at 50%
Change the Dominant Colour. For instance:
- OK Google, set Twinkly to blue
- OK Google, set Twinkly to red
- OK Google, set Twinkly to yellow
You can also ask Google Assistant to synchronise effects by either typing or using a voice command: “synchronise devices”. This command is particularly important the first time you use your lights or whenever you add or remove lights, or if there are changes to your network settings.
For Generation II devices such as Twinkly PRO-Wi and Twinkly Plus, it is possible to turn on and activate Scenes directly via Google Home using voice commands. While Google Home does not have a dedicated section that displays all available Scenes (unlike Alexa), any Scene created in the Twinkly app is automatically synchronized with Google Home. Once a Scene is set up in the app, you can activate it at any time by saying "Activate" or "Turn on" followed by the name of the Scene.
If you want to make a Scene visible and selectable within the Google Home interface, you can do so by creating a custom Routine:
- Open the Google Home app and go to Automations.
- Tap the "+" icon in the top right corner.
- Choose Automation from the list.
- Select whether it's a Household or Personal automation.
- Tap Add action, then select Adjust Home devices.
- Scroll down and tap Add scenes.
- Choose the Scene you want to add and confirm with Add actions.
- Give your automation a name and tap Save.
After completing these steps, the Scene will appear in the Automations tab and can be triggered via on-screen selection as well.
Please note: Steps 2 and 3 (creating a Routine) are not required for voice control. As long as a Scene exists in the Twinkly app, it will always be available for voice activation via Google Assistant. If the Scene is deleted from the app, it will automatically be removed from Google Home as well.
Special note for Twinkly PRO with Ethernet controller:
Scenes are supported on this device type as well, meaning you can create and manage Scenes that include Twinkly PRO Ethernet Controllers products. However, since Google Home does not support Ethernet-based Twinkly PRO devices, any Scene that includes only PRO devices will not appear in Google. If the Scene includes a mix of PRO, Retail, and/or Plus devices, only the compatible ones will be recognized and manageable via Alexa.
Troubleshooting Tips for Common Issues:
If you're experiencing issues connecting your Twinkly device to Amazon Alexa, please refer to our updated troubleshooting guide here:
Google Home Can Fin'd Or Control My Twinkly Lights - What I Can Do?
Important Notes
- If you create a group of Twinkly lights, you will only be able to manage the entire group rather than individual lights. This grouping can facilitate easier control but may limit specific adjustments.
- Voice controls for changing colours are not available on Gold Edition devices. Users of these devices will need to adjust colours through the app instead.