Google Home App Crashing on Android 16 Beta 1: What's Happening?

Key Highlights

Widespread Crashes: Android 16 Beta 1 is causing the Google Home app to crash for many users, leaving smart home controls unusable.
Temporary Fixes: Troubleshooting steps like reinstalling or clearing the cache offer limited relief, with crashes quickly returning.
Acknowledged by Google: The issue has been reported on Reddit and Google’s Issue Tracker. Google has confirmed the problem and is working on a solution.

Android 16 Beta 1 has been available for just a few days, and while the OS isn’t riddled with bugs, a few issues have surfaced that users are eager to see fixed. One of the most frustrating bugs so far is with the Google Home app, which is crashing for many users running the beta. This issue is preventing access to smart home controls, which is a dealbreaker for those who depend on their connected devices.

My Experience with the Issue

I’m currently running Android 16 Beta 1 on a Pixel 8, and the Google Home app has been completely unusable. The app crashes immediately upon opening, making it impossible to control my smart home devices. This was not an issue on Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3, which worked without a hitch.

Other users have reported similar problems on Reddit and Google’s Issue Tracker. Some have even noted that the bug affects the Google Home widget, preventing it from being added and displaying a “widget is not supported” error.

Temporary fixes like reinstalling the app or clearing the cache seem to work briefly but don’t address the issue permanently. For instance, after I reinstalled the app, it worked for a few minutes before crashing again. Many users have shared similar frustrations:

“This morning my Home app is back to crashing each time I attempt to open it. It’s as if it starts to open, then the entire app just closes without any sort of error message at all,” one user reported.

Another user added:

“Reinstalling is only a short-lived fix for me. Crash loops again after a little while.”

Is Everyone Affected?

Interestingly, not everyone running Android 16 Beta 1 is experiencing this issue. Some users report that the Google Home app works perfectly fine, even if they’re part of the app’s public preview program. For example, some of my colleagues have had no trouble accessing and using the app.

What Is Google Doing About It?

Thankfully, Google is aware of the problem. A Google engineer acknowledged the issue on Google’s Issue Tracker on January 23, stating:

“Thank you for reporting this issue. We have shared this with our product and engineering team and will update this issue with more information as it becomes available.”

Final Thoughts

If smart home control is essential for your daily life, you might want to hold off on updating to the Android 16 Beta 1 for now. For those already running the beta, keep an eye out for updates as Google works on a fix.

In the meantime, share your experience on platforms like Reddit or Google’s Issue Tracker to help highlight the issue further. Hopefully, a solution will be rolled out soon.