Google Wallet can now hold digital home keys for smart locks

What Google is launching

Google is bringing digital house keys to Google Wallet, according to Android Central. People will be able to add a key from the Google Home app, provided they own a compatible smart lock. Once the key is set up, tapping the phone against the lock's NFC reader opens the door, or the lock can open by itself as the owner walks up to it.

The feature is live now as part of the Public Preview programme for the Google Home app. Android Central reports that a wider release is expected over the coming weeks.

How the digital key works

The automatic unlocking option relies on Aliro, an open standard for ultra-wideband access that is maintained by the Connectivity Standards Alliance. Android Central notes that Google helped develop parts of the standard.

One key covers every compatible lock in the home. Google's support page explains that the digital key is tied to the Google Home app rather than to a single piece of hardware, so there is no need to link each lock separately.

The key also syncs automatically across all compatible Android phones. Losing the phone in a pocket should not leave anyone locked out, because the key is available on other devices. Household members who use the Google Home app can add the same key to their own Google Wallet as well.

What you need to use it

The hardware requirements are specific. Android Central lists a Matter-certified smart lock with Aliro support, plus a Matter-enabled Google hub device. On the software side, the phone must run Android 9 or later.

Wear OS smartwatches are not supported at the moment. The Android Central writer expects that to change in the coming months, though that remains an opinion rather than a confirmed plan from Google.

Why it matters

Google Wallet already stores payment cards for many Android users, and house keys are a natural next step for the app. A single digital key shared across a household could replace the spare keys people hide or lend out.

The reliance on the Aliro standard also suggests Google wants door access to work across brands rather than only with its own hardware. For now, the practical advice is simple: check whether a smart lock supports Matter and Aliro, and join the Public Preview if early access is wanted.