Google Home Expands Mortise Lock Support, Fixes 360p Camera Streaming Bug

Q: What hidden hardware complexities forced Google to finally separate latch and lock controls specifically for European smart door owners?

Google had to separate the controls because many European smart doors are not a simple one-bolt deadbolt. They often use mortise hardware with a Euro-profile cylinder and, in many cases, a multipoint locking system where the lock bolt and the spring latch are mechanically distinct parts. That means a door can be in several real-world states that standard U.S.-style smart-lock software usually ignores: locked, unlocked but still latched shut, or unlocked and unlatched so it can actually open. On some European doors, the handle, internal gearbox, latch, and multiple hooks or bolts along the frame all interact, and some setups even require lifting the handle before full locking engages. A basic “lock/unlock” toggle does not accurately reflect that hardware. The update suggests Google finally aligned its software with those mechanics. By exposing unlatch separately from unlock, Google Home can now match compatible mortise locks that independently control the latch and the locking bolt. That is why the platform can also report more precise states such as “unlocked and latched,” rather than treating every unlocked door as physically openable. In short, the hidden complexity was the layered mechanical design of many European entry systems: separate latch and bolt functions, frequent use of mortise and multipoint hardware, and door states that are more nuanced than a standard deadbolt model can represent.

3 articles · Updated · Android Authority · Aug 20

Google said its latest Google Home update is now live, adding independent latch-and-bolt control for mortise smart locks and clearer status readouts such as “Unlocked and latched.”
The release also fixes a bug that locked live camera feeds at 360p, addressing one of the more visible smart-home issues in the platform.
Google Home now shows a new in-app alert when a payment method fails for a paid subscription, while temperature-unit handling has been made more consistent.
iOS users also get improved Fahrenheit rounding, fewer camera-related crashes, and playback controls that stay visible if a camera feed goes offline.
The changes build on Google’s broader August Home and Gemini updates aimed at smoothing device control, media requests, and other smart-home annoyances.