Google Wallet rolls out Google Home digital keys to Android

Google Wallet for Android is rolling out support for digital home keys if you have a compatible smart lock in Google Home.

After adding a home key to Google Wallet, you can tap to unlock with your phone. This uses NFC and “works even when your phone screen is locked” by default. However, you can adjust the verification settings in the Google Wallet app to require screen lock or biometric authentication. This requires Android 9+.

Approach unlock is also supported with an Aliro Ultra Wideband (UWB) compatible Android phone (see below) and an Aliro UWB compatible lock. Wear OS watches are not supported at launch.

• Google Pixel 10 Pro series and later
• Some UWB-enabled Samsung Galaxy phones

Behind the scenes, the digital key is linked to the Google Home app rather than a single lock. So, “each of your compatible Aliro locks will work with a single key in your Google Wallet”. Keys are added to Google Wallet using the Home app, which will prompt you to save them after setup. You can also go to Home Settings > Google Wallet Key.

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Then your key “automatically syncs across compatible Android phones connected to your Google Wallet account.”

The map in Google Wallet has a simple Google Home logo with your home name in the upper right corner.

The following locks are supported at launch: Aqara u400 (UWB and NFC), Schlage Sense Pro (NFC at launch and UWB to follow), and Nuki Keypad 2 NFC. Support for other models is coming.

Additionally, support is rolling out first in the Google Home public preview before being offered to all users “over the coming weeks.”