Google Wallet adds digital home keys for compatible smart locks

Google has started rolling out digital home keys in Google Wallet for Android. If you have a compatible smart lock set up in the Google Home app, you can add a key to your wallet and open your door by tapping your phone. The feature needs Android 9 or later, according to 9to5Google.

Tap to Unlock uses NFC and works with a locked screen by default. You can change the verification settings to require the screen lock or a biometric check instead. A second option, Unlock on Approach, uses ultra-wideband (UWB) and needs a UWB-capable Android phone and an Aliro-compatible lock. Phones listed for this option at launch include the Google Pixel 10 Pro series and newer models, plus selected UWB-enabled Samsung Galaxy phones.

The key is linked to the Google Home app rather than to one lock, so each compatible Aliro lock works with a single key. Keys sync across Android phones signed into the same Google Wallet account. At launch, the supported locks are the Aqara U400, the Schlage Sense Pro and the Nuki Keypad 2 NFC. The Schlage Sense Pro starts with near-field support, and its ultra-wideband option is still pending. Smartwatches running Wear OS cannot use the feature for now.

The rollout begins with the Google Home Public Preview and reaches all users over the coming weeks, according to the report. Support for more lock models is planned, but no full list or dates were given for them.