Google is bringing digital home keys to Google Wallet, allowing Android users to unlock compatible smart doors with their smartphones. The feature, announced on November 11, 2026, integrates digital keys with the Google Home app, giving users another way to access their homes without carrying a traditional key or entering a passcode.
The new functionality supports two unlocking methods: tapping an NFC-enabled phone against a compatible smart lock or automatically unlocking the door as the user approaches with supported Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. Initially rolling out through the Google Home Public Preview program, the feature is expected to reach more users over the coming weeks.
Google Wallet Adds Digital Home Keys
The new feature allows users to store a digital key for their home directly inside Google Wallet, alongside payment cards, travel passes and other digital credentials.
Google Home remains responsible for setting up compatible smart locks and managing household access. Once a lock is configured, users can add their home key to Google Wallet through the setup process or through the lock’s settings in the Google Home app.
Unlike a traditional digital key tied to an individual lock, Google’s home key is linked to the household in Google Home. This means a single digital key can work across multiple compatible locks registered to the same home.
The integration is designed to make smartphone-based home access more convenient while expanding the role of Google Wallet beyond payments and transportation.
Two Ways to Unlock a Door With an Android Phone
Google is introducing two methods for using digital home keys, depending on the smartphone and smart-lock hardware.
1. Tap to Unlock Using NFC
The first method uses Near Field Communication (NFC), the same short-range wireless technology commonly used for contactless payments.
Users simply hold the back of their Android smartphone near the compatible lock’s reader. The lock verifies the digital key and unlocks the door without requiring users to open Google Wallet or launch the lock manufacturer’s application.
Google says this functionality can work even when the phone’s screen is locked, provided the device has been unlocked within the previous few hours. Users can change the verification settings to require their phone’s screen lock or biometric authentication before granting access.
NFC-based unlocking is supported on compatible Android smartphones running Android 9 or later.
2. Unlock on Approach Using UWB
The second option offers hands-free access through Ultra-Wideband technology.
With an Aliro-compatible UWB smartphone and smart lock, the system can detect when an authorized device approaches the entrance and automatically unlock the door.
Google calls this feature Unlock on Approach. It must be enabled manually in Google Wallet and is switched off by default.
At launch, supported devices include Google’s Pixel 10 Pro series and newer compatible models, including Fold and XL variants, alongside select UWB-enabled Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
This option is designed for situations where users arrive home carrying groceries, luggage or other items and do not want to take their phone out of their pocket.
Which Smart Locks Support Google Wallet Home Keys?
The feature does not work with every smart lock currently available. Google requires a Matter-certified lock that also supports Aliro, an open access standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance.
The initial compatible products include:
| Smart lock | NFC tap unlocking | UWB hands-free unlocking |
|---|---|---|
| Aqara U400 | Supported | Supported |
| Schlage Sense Pro | Supported | Coming later |
| Nuki Keypad 2 NFC | Supported | Not listed at launch |
Google says additional compatible locks will be supported over time.
Users will also need a Matter-enabled Google Home hub with Thread Border Router functionality. Compatible devices include the second-generation Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, Nest Wifi Pro and Google TV Streamer.
This hardware requirement means that owning an NFC-enabled Android phone alone is not sufficient to use the feature.
One Digital Key Can Work Across Multiple Locks
One of the more useful aspects of Google’s implementation is that the digital key is associated with the home rather than an individual smart lock.
For households with multiple compatible entrances, the same key can work across supported locks connected to that home in Google Home.
Other household members can also add their own digital keys to their personal Google Wallet accounts, provided they have been added to the household in Google Home.
Google says the key can automatically sync across compatible Android phones signed in to the same Google Wallet account.
For temporary visitors who are not household members, Google Home supports guest passcodes. However, digital home key sharing with guests is not supported through Google Wallet at launch.
Security and Privacy Controls
Adding a smartphone-based key to a home introduces security considerations, particularly if a phone is lost, stolen or accessed by another person.
Google provides verification controls that allow users to require device unlocking before the digital key can be used. This can include the phone’s screen lock or biometric authentication.
The default NFC experience allows tapping without unlocking the screen if the phone was unlocked within the previous few hours. Users who want additional protection can enable the Require device unlock setting.
The hands-free UWB option is also disabled by default, requiring users to activate it themselves.
Users can remove their digital home key directly through Google Wallet. Google says a key is also automatically deactivated if the associated lock is removed from the home or the user leaves that household in Google Home.
Despite these protections, Google recommends keeping a physical key as a backup. Digital access should not be treated as the only way to enter a home.
Google Wallet Expands Beyond Payments
The launch is part of Google’s broader effort to make Wallet a central place for managing digital credentials. The application already supports payment cards, transit passes, loyalty cards, event tickets and digital keys for certain vehicles and properties.
The home-key integration also builds on the Matter smart-home ecosystem and the Aliro access standard. Aliro is intended to make digital access work more consistently across compatible devices and manufacturers rather than relying entirely on proprietary systems.
Google’s participation in the standardisation effort could help expand compatibility across the smart-lock market if more manufacturers adopt Aliro.
The move also brings Google closer to competing digital-wallet ecosystems. Apple has supported home keys through Apple Wallet since 2021, while Samsung has introduced similar functionality through Samsung Wallet.
The Bigger Picture
Google’s latest update shows how digital wallets are gradually becoming access-management platforms rather than tools limited to financial transactions. Smartphones can increasingly serve as keys for homes, apartments, vehicles and other secured locations.
The biggest challenge will be hardware compatibility. Smart-lock manufacturers must support the relevant standards, while households need compatible hubs and smartphones. Until those requirements become more common, digital home keys will remain a feature for a relatively limited group of smart-home users.
For the broader smart-home industry, however, the use of open standards such as Matter and Aliro could make digital access easier to adopt across different brands.
Looking Ahead
Google says the digital home key feature is beginning its rollout through the Google Home Public Preview program, with wider availability expected over the coming weeks. The company has not provided a complete country-by-country rollout schedule, and availability may depend on compatible hardware and regional support.
The next important development will be broader adoption by smart-lock manufacturers and smartphone makers. If compatibility expands, Google Wallet could become a more practical replacement for carrying physical house keys, although backup access will remain important.
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