Google WiFi app to be replaced by Google Home next month

Google manufactures a wide range of consumer hardware from smartphones to wireless earbuds and routers. The company’s ‘smart’ routers also include support for a host of features, which users can manage via the Google WiFi app. However, the company is reportedly shutting down the tool and moving its features into the Google Home app.

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The existing Google WiFi app allows users to control their Google WiFi and OnHub routers and manage various settings without having to open up a computer browser and enter the router’s web portal. However, on May 25th, the company will disable most of the app’s functionality, according to a report by the Verge.

If you own a Google WiFi or OnHub router and use the Google WiFi app, you won’t be able to make any changes to your networks later in May, even though you will still be able to view your network status. Around a month later, Google will remove the app completely from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store.

As with any transition, there are a few advantages and disadvantages. For starters, users will now have the option to use Assistant across their WiFI network, to perform various actions. This includes checking internet speeds, turning off WiFi, displaying your WiFi password and setting up an ad-hoc Nest network. However, these are all optional and you also manually perform these tasks with the Google Home app.

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There are only a couple of downsides here, those who own OnHun routers will not be able to use them with other Google Nest devices. This isn’t surprising, though, because it wasn’t possible before OnHub devices were migrated to the Google Home app. Similarly, adding more users to your Google WiFi app may prove to be a hassle, if you want to give them access to the device settings along with the network.