Google Wallet adds digital home keys with NFC and UWB support

Starting today, those in the Google Home app’s Public Preview will have the option to add their digital home keys to Google Wallet, allowing compatible smart lock owners to unlock doors by simply walking up to it or tapping their phones against the lock.

For what it’s worth, unlocking smart locks with phones isn’t entirely new. You’re already able to unlock compatible locks with Google Home, complete with one-tap unlock options that save a passcode on your phone. Alternatively, you’re also able to unlock locks via their manufacturer’s dedicated app.

Samsung, on the other hand, brought digital keys to Samsung Wallet earlier this year, allowing users to unlock compatible smart locks simply by tapping their phone.

Today’s main development is that Google is now adding similar Samsung Wallet-like functionality to Google Wallet, bringing NFC and UWB unlocking to the mix. With NFC, you’ll be able to tap your phone and unlock compatible locks. With UWB, you’ll be able to unlock your door automatically just by walking up to it.

Before you get too excited, this functionality won’t work for all smart locks, at least for now. You’ll need a Matter-certified smart lock that supports Aliro, a new open access standard from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). Google has confirmed three such smart lock products that are compatible at launch:

1. Aqara U400: Supports NFC and UWB unlocking.
2. Schlage Sense Pro: Supports NFC at launch, UWB functionality coming later.
3. Nuki Keypad 2 NFC: Supports NFC unlocking only.

Requirements on the smartphone side are relatively simple. For NFC unlocking, you’ll need an NFC-enabled Android phone running Android 9 or later. For you’ll need an Aliro UWB-compatible Android phone and smart lock. Google specifically mentioned the Pixel 10 Pro series and above, including Fold and XL models. “Select UWB-enabled Samsung Galaxy phones” are also supported, Google added.

Lastly, you’ll also need a Matter-enabled Google Hub with a Thread Border Router to complete the setup. Compatible devices include the Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Nest Wifi Pro, and Google TV Streamer.

One key to rule ’em all

If you have multiple compatible Aliro locks installed around your home, a single digital key in Google Wallet will work with all of them. This is because your Google Wallet key is tied to your home in the Google Home app, instead of being tied to an individual smart lock.

Considering that, security is of utmost importance here. Both NFC and UWB unlocking work without the need to unlock your phone, provided that the phone has been unlocked within the previous few hours. This ensures that if someone gets hold of your phone, they can’t unlock your door later without first knowing the passcode to your phone. As an added safeguard, you have the option to disable automatic unlocking and have Google Wallet require screen lock or biometric verification every time you tap to unlock.

Elsewhere, UWB-powered Unlock on Approach is disabled by default to ensure that you don’t unknowingly unlock your house while walking past it.

How to add a digital key to Google Wallet

Provided that you have compatible hardware, as shared above, and that you’re running the latest Google Wallet and Google Home builds, adding a key to Google Wallet is relatively straightforward.

If you’re setting up a new Matter and Aliro-compatible smart lock, Google Home will automatically prompt you to add a digital home key to Google Wallet. If you’ve already set up your lock, you’ll be able to manually add the key by heading to Google Home > Home settings > Google Wallet key.

Although limited to Public Preview Google Home users for now, the functionality will expand to everyone over the coming weeks.