Android 15’s Dwelling Controls screensaver turns your system into a wise residence dashboard

Google launched the supply code for Android 15 final month, giving us a peek at how the brand new options within the newest working system work under-the-hood. The Android 15 replace introduces a number of new options corresponding to Personal Area, partial display screen sharing, app pairs, and a brand new screensaver referred to as Dwelling Controls. Dwelling Controls is a really helpful screensaver that turns your Android system into a wise residence dashboard when it’s docked, and after digging into the way it works, I’ve realized it’s even higher than I initially thought.

In case you aren’t conscious, Google launched the Dwelling Controls screensaver within the third beta of Android 15 launched again in June. The screensaver will be discovered below Settings > Show & contact > Display screen saver on Pixel gadgets; on different Android gadgets, the placement in Settings for altering the display screen saver could differ (if it exists in any respect).

After selecting Dwelling Controls because the screensaver after which docking your system, Android will launch the Favorites view of the Google Dwelling app. The Favorites view supplies fast entry to your favorited good residence gadgets within the Google Dwelling app. By choosing this view as your screensaver, you possibly can successfully flip your Android pill (or your telephone, in case you desire) into a wise residence dashboard when it’s docked.

The Dwelling Controls screensaver is without doubt one of the extra helpful modifications in Android 15, and I’m shocked extra folks aren’t speaking about it. I believe a part of the reason being that Android 15 isn’t accessible but for many Android telephones, so most individuals haven’t had the possibility to attempt it but. As well as, those that do know in regards to the Dwelling Controls screensaver may assume it solely works on Pixel gadgets or with the Google Dwelling app. Neither is true, although.

The truth is, the Dwelling Controls screensaver will work on all Android gadgets working Android 15 so long as they help display screen savers within the first place. As proof, the telephone I used to display the function within the pictures proven above is the Nothing Cellphone 2a working the Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta, not a Pixel telephone.

Moreover, the Dwelling Controls screensaver doesn’t solely work with the Google Dwelling app. It really works with Dwelling Assistant, too, as demonstrated beneath:

Curiously, neither the Google Dwelling app nor Dwelling Assistant present their very own screensavers for this function. With out getting too technical, the Dwelling Controls screensaver is definitely supplied by the Android SystemUI app, which in flip embeds the Dwelling Management exercise of both Google Dwelling or Dwelling Assistant.

In final yr’s Android 14 replace, Google launched an API that lets apps embed a customized exercise within the System Controls interface. System Controls is the function that allows you to entry your good residence controls from a Fast Settings tile or lock display screen widget. SystemUI in Android 15 takes that very same customized exercise and places it in a screensaver while you allow the Dwelling Controls screensaver.

Sensible residence apps needn’t do something particular to help Android 15’s Dwelling Controls screensaver aside from offering the aforementioned customized exercise. They do, nonetheless, want to make sure that the customized exercise and its controls are accessible when the system is locked, however that’s about it.

I’m excited for Android 15 to roll out to Android gadgets within the coming weeks and months so extra customers can mess around with the brand new Dwelling Controls screensaver. If you happen to’ve tried it out already, tell us what you consider it within the feedback beneath!