Does Blink Work With Google Home? Not by Default

Google Home offers smart home automation with a very impressive set of features, all that you would like to have with a Blink Home Monitoring Cam.

But, does blink work with Google home?

Blink systems, unlike most other Smart Home Monitoring systems, do not work with Google Home by default. However, you can integrate Blink devices with Google Home by creating flows with third-party services like IFTTT and Samsung SmartThings.

Alternatives that work seamlessly with Google Home include Arlo, Nest, and Ring, among many others.

Keep reading this article for more information on how you can make your Blink system and Google Home work together.

Is Blink Compatible with Google Home?

Blink is compatible with Google Home through the use of third-party services like IFTTT and Samsung SmartThings.

As a result, Blink devices integrate natively with Alexa-enabled devices like Amazon Echo Dot and Echo Show and not with Google Home.

Blink is not compatible with Google Home out of the box, however, it can be set up by integration through IFTTT and SmartThings.

Which Systems Support Blink?

With the integration of third-party apps or services like IFTTT and SmartThings, Blink systems can be incorporated with a wide range of creative services.

Here, we explore the different devices that can be integrated with Blink systems.

System	Function
Smart Lights	Blink system can be integrated with smart lights like Philips Hue or LIFX. These systems can change color when motion is detected or when the camera is armed or disarmed.
Smart Locks	Integration with smart locks enable automatic locking or unlocking of your doors when you arm or disarm your Blink system.
Thermostats	Thermostat settings can be automated to conserve energy while you are not at home or to prime your home before you reach home.
Smart Plugs	Smart Plugs can be employed to turn appliances or devices ON/OFF when your Blink system detects motion or is armed/disarmed.
Voice Assistants	Integration of services like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant can be done even though there is no official support for these services.
Notification Services	Customized notification can be sent to your device when a specific event occurs.
Security Alarms	The Blink system can be integrated to your home security system to trigger alarms or notifications when motion is detected.

Keep in mind that these integrations depend on features and functionalities supported by Blink, IFTTT, SmartThings, and the specific model of your smart home device.

How to Integrate Blink with Google Home

As mentioned above, the use of third-party services like IFTTT and Smart Things can create routines that enable Blink and Google Home to work together.

The setup for these services is extremely easy, not to mention, services like IFTTT are very safe and secure as well.

However, these services come with their own set of limitations. Let us explore what these limitations could be:

1. These automation or routines are limited in terms of their complexity. It works great for basic tasks but not for intricate automation routines.
2. There could be noticeable latency between the triggering event and the action. Depending on the services involved and network conditions, the latency can vary.
3. The automation depends on the availability and reliability of services and devices that are connected via IFTTT. If there are changes in any of the services involved, it can disrupt the automation.
4. Privacy and Security can be a concern. Depending on the services involved, IFTTT might share data with third-party services to execute the automation.
5. SmartThings could require the use of a hub to function. In the event that it requires such a hub, it adds to the cost of setup.
6. SmartThings has a relatively extensive ecosystem of supported devices. However, not all smart home devices are compatible out of the box. Some may need custom device handlers or community-developed integration.
7. There is heavy reliance on cloud processing. As a result, internet outages or service interruptions can affect automation routines.

Despite these limitations, both IFTTT and SmartThing are popular choices for the automation of smart home systems.

Integrating Blink with IFTTT

The need for integrating Blink systems with IFTTT arises due to the lack of support for smart home hubs with Blink systems.

As a result, integration of user-made solutions on IFTTT is the best place to turn to for creating routines.

IFTTT is a versatile tool that enables users to add automation and further link devices and services that are not compatible natively.

The presence of a vibrant community in the IFTTT ecosystem enables rapid solutions and intelligent workarounds.

Follow the steps below to integrate your Blink system with IFTTT:

1. On your Smartphone, access the PlayStore or AppStore.
2. Download the IFTTT app.
3. Launch the app and log in to your IFTTT account. If you do not have an account, create one.
4. Tap on Explore.
5. On the search bar, type Blink.
6. Tap on Blink icon that shows up in the result. If you are in Europe, there is a separate Blink (Europe) option.
7. Click on Connect.
8. Sign in to your Blink account when prompted. A PIN is most likely sent to your phone or email.
9. Tap on Grant Access to connect available applets on IFTTT.

Now, you have linked your Blink account with the IFTTT app. The next step is to connect the Google Home device with the IFTTT app.

To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the IFTTT app
2. Tap on Explore as before.
3. Now, type Google Assistant in the search bar and select the Google Assistant.
4. Tap on Connect
5. Select your Google Account associated with the Home device.

You have now linked both the Blink system and the Google systems with your IFTTT app. You can now create triggers and actions that can be automated with your Blink and Google systems.

To create these triggers and actions, follow the steps below:

1. Look for Applets that integrate both Google Home and Blink systems. An example is Disarm Blink with Google Home, which will turn OFF the Blink cam without relying on the Blink app.
2. This applet lets to disarm your Blink system through a predefined voice prompt.
3. Open this applet in the IFFTT app and tap on Connect to add this applet to your system. You will be asked to choose the prompt that will be the trigger for the action to take place.
4. IFTTT will prompt you to allow or not allow notifications. Tap on Allow to ensure proper flow of communication between devices.

What Can You Do with Blink on IFTTT

You can find multiple automation with Google Home and Blink systems. The process for integrating these routines is similar to the steps mentioned above.

You can also create your own conditions if you wish to do so.

The nature of the trigger can be varied but the actions that are possible are limited. The extent of the capabilities ends with arming/disarming your Blink camera or system.

In other words, you can't rely on IFTTT as an alternative if you have issues with schedules or any other obvious feature on the Blink app.

However, the trigger prompt can be as different as you would like it to be.

Using Smarthings with Blink

Samsung SmartThings is a popular smart home automation platform developed by Samsung Electronics.

This platform is designed to integrate a wide range of smart home devices and services under a unified control system.

You can integrate popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to control your smart devices using voice commands.

They also have an active developer and user community. This enabled integrations and solutions for devices that are developed by the community and not officially supported.

To connect your Blink system with Google Home using SmartThigns, follow the steps below:

1. On your Smartphone, go to the PlayStore or AppStore.
2. Download and install the SmartThings app.
3. Sign in to your SmartThings account or create a new account if you do not have one.
4. Tap on the + icon located in the top right corner of the screen to add a device to this account.
5. Here, you can search by brand or by the manufacturer of your hub. In this case, Google Home.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to add Google Home to the SmartThings app.

The next step is to link your Blink account to the IFTTT app as mentioned in the steps above.

Once you have successfully integrated the Blink account with the IFTTT app, the next step is to link the IFTTT app with the SmartThings app.

Follow the steps below to link SmartThings with the IFTTT app:

1. Open the IFTTT app
2. Tap on Explore.
3. Here, type SmartThings in the search bar and tap on the official logo of the SmartThings from the search results.
4. Tap on Connect and login to your SmartThings account on the IFTTT app.
5. Grant IFTTT access to SmartThings.

The next step is to create an applet that does the function that you would like executed when triggered by an event.

You can either create your own applet or select the premade applets available on the Blink or SmartThings page.

To integrate a premade applet, simply tap on the applet and tap on Connect. Follow the onscreen instructions and give the necessary prompts.

To create an applet, follow the instructions below:

1. On the IFTTT app, tap on the Create option.
2. Tap on Add next to If This to select the action that will trigger an effect.
3. Now, select Blink or SmartThings.
4. Select one of the available triggers.
5. Now, press Add next to Then That and select what happens after the first action (trigger event).

Once you have set up the integration, this trigger should activate the downstream conditions when the predefined situation is met.

Best Alternative Cameras for Google Home

There are multiple options in terms of security ecosystems that natively support Google Home. Here are a few that are best suited for Google Home integration.

Camera Model	Video Quality	Power Source	Smart Home Compatibility	Night Vision	Two-Way Audio	Field of View
Nest Cam	1080p HD	Wired	Alexa, Google Home	Yes	Yes	130° diagonal
Ring Stick Up Cam	1080p HD	Battery pack	Alexa, Google Home	Yes	Yes	130° diagonal
SmartThings Cam	1080p HDR	Power adapter	Alexa and Google Home	Yes	Yes	145° diagonal
Arlo Pro 4	2K HDR	Lithium-ion battery	Alexa and Google Home	Yes	Yes	160° diagonal

Nest Camera

The obvious alternative to a Blink Cam is the Nest camera as Nest is a Google product, and as a result, natively supports Google Home devices.

Nest Cam is a good option if you value out-of-the-box compatibility with Google Home and Alexa.

It also has improved features like facial recognition to recognize the faces of regular visitors like friends and family.

Arlo Camera

Arlo is an alternative to Blink cameras as they natively support Google Home and Alexa-enabled devices.

Arlo Pro 4 offers high-quality video and boasts an impressive 160° diagonal field of view. It also has a dedicated battery and as a result is much more portable than comparable devices.

Ring Camera

Ring is a pioneer in the Smart doorbell camera segment and has diversified to security cameras as well. They are a great alternative to Blink systems.

Ring cameras support both Google Home and Alexa. Additionally, they offer features like 24/7 professional monitoring, lifetime theft protection, and alarm systems.

SmartThings Camera

SmartThings camera is manufactured by Samsung and enables easy integration with services available in the SmartThings app as a bonus.

They are also a great alternative to Blink devices and support native integration with Google Home and Alexa.

Final Thoughts

Integration with third-party services opens the door for Smart cameras to access a plethora of creative functions.

Hope the information in this article has helped you make an informative decision on how to integrate Blink Cam with Google Home and explore a wide range of cool hacks.

Have a Good Day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can Blink cameras work with Nest?

Blink cameras only support Alexa. You will have to employ third-party services like IFTTT to connect your Blink system with other camera systems like Nest.

What is the Blink app compatible with?

Blink app supports only Blink systems, like Blink cams and Doorbells. The Blink app is available on Android and iOS.

How does local storage work on Blink?

Clips are stored locally only if you are using the Sync Module 2 which has a USB flash drive compatible USB port. Clips can be set to be saved directly to this USB flash drive.

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