How to reset a google nest speaker

The Google Nest Mini can be both a decent smart speaker for casual listening and a low-cost anchor for a Google Assistant smart home. As with any gadget though, glitches can sometimes get in the way, and one possible solution is a factory reset.

An important note: before attempting a reset, you should always try a restart first by unplugging your Mini, waiting 10 seconds, then plugging it back in. This is faster and less drastic, so if it works you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.

Read more: The best smart home devices

QUICK ANSWER

To reset a Google Nest Mini, switch off the mic, then press and hold the center of the Mini where its activity lights are located. The reset option should kick in after 5 seconds, but keep holding until you hear a confirmation sound. To reset the original Home Mini, just press and hold the reset button near the power port until you hear the confirmation tone.


JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

How to reset your Google Nest Mini (Gen 2)

How to reset a google nest speaker

Resetting the Nest Mini isn’t intuitive, but it’s still a simple process:

  • Turn off the speaker’s microphone by flipping the side switch.
  • Press and hold the center of the Mini where its activity lights (the four dots) are located.
  • Wait 5 seconds. If you’re doing things right, the reset option should kick in, but don’t remove your fingers — you’re in a fail-safe period giving you the chance to back out.
  • Hold another 10 seconds. You’ll hear a sound confirming the reset is underway, at which point you can remove your hand.

How to reset your Google Home Mini (Gen 1)

How to reset a google nest speaker

The Nest Mini’s predecessor, the Home Mini, has a dedicated reset button found beneath its power port. All you have to do to reset then is keep holding this button until you hear the confirmation tone.

What happens when you reset your Mini

As the term suggests, a factory reset strips your Mini back to the settings it shipped with. All your data is wiped, so to use the speaker again, you’ll have to set it up in the Google Home app. Make sure your device’s old listing in the app is gone before you proceed.

On top of potentially solving software issues, a reset is necessary if you’re giving or selling a used Mini to someone else. The device will otherwise be linked to your Google account, so the receiver won’t be able to attach it to their own account or even connect it to Wi-Fi — unless they perform their own reset, of course.

With great sound, responsive microphones, and a plethora of features ranging from smart home control to the ability to act as a language interpreter, the Google Assistant-powered Home Mini gives you a ton of bang for your buck.

The current-generation speaker, the Google Nest Mini, costs around $50. But you can often get a deal and purchase the device for around $30. The original model or first-generation Google Home Mini is an amazing player for a smart home of any size, and first- and third-party developers have created all kinds of interactive skills and features that are powered by the ultra-responsive Google Assistant.

Contents

  • How to reset Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
  • How to reset Google Home Mini (1st Gen)
  • Just need to reboot?
  • Selling or trading in your Google Home Mini

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Google Home Mini

Despite the value, with all of the new smart speakers and displays coming onto the market, you might be staring at your Home Mini and thinking to yourself, “I wish I had a smart display,” or even, “I wish I had an Alexa device instead.”

If you’re thinking about swapping out your Home Mini for one of Google’s larger smart speakers or displays, or for another brand entirely, you can get a few bucks in cash or trade-in value out of your old hardware. Before you go trading gear in, you’re going to want to factory reset your speaker.

We also share some tips on how to net a decent chunk of change from your old speaker. We’ll teach you how to perform a full reset of your Home Mini in this article. These guides will also help you factory reset a Google Home Hub or fix Google Nest Mini issues.

How to reset Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen)

There are currently two generations of the Google Home Mini. If you’re not sure which one you own, flip the speaker over. If there’s a wall-mount screw slot, it’s a second-gen model -- commonly known as the Google Nest Mini. If there’s no screw slot at all, it’s a first-gen.

Step 1: On the side of your device, you should see a microphone on/off switch. First, flip that to the off position. The LED lights on the top of your speaker should pulse orange.

google home mini review version 1553285316 jc6Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Step 2: After about five seconds, your device will automatically begin the factory reset process. Continue to hold for about 10 seconds. You should then hear a chime, indicating the reset process is complete.

Related

  • How to replace your AirTag battery
  • How to change Google Assistant’s voice
  • Amazon brings Matter support to 17 Echo devices

How to reset Google Home Mini (1st Gen)

For the first-gen Mini, the reset button is located below the power cord on the bottom of your device. Do note that a factory reset cannot be performed with the Google Home app. For both generations, the only way to perform a reset is with the buttons on the speaker. Completing a factory reset will clear the data from the device, and it will get the speaker ready for a new user.

Step 1: Press and hold the reset button for about 15 seconds to factory reset your device.

fix could not communicate with your google home mini rearCaleb Denison/Digital Trends

Step 2: Similar to a second-gen reset, you’ll hear a chime once your factory wipe is complete.

Just need to reboot?

If you’re trying to reboot your Home Mini instead of performing a full-on factory reset, you can try a simple power cycle.

Step 1: Begin by unplugging the device, leaving it unplugged for about one minute, and then plugging it back in.

Step 2: You can also use the Google Home app and go to Settings > Device Settings, then press the More button (the three dots), to select Reboot.

Selling or trading in your Google Home Mini

You can exchange your Google Home Mini for another product in numerous stores. Target and Walmart will shell out approximately $4 for a properly operating Google Home Mini. The benefit of selling or trading your device at these megastores is that it is a convenient and swift process. Be aware that you probably won’t make as much money as you might if you sold it directly to another person. Still, your particular situation may warrant a speedy business transaction instead of more money.

You can trade your Home Mini with an interested buyer on many different websites such as Swappa, eBay, or LetGo. Swappa’s standard rate is around $20, so you’re sure to earn bigger bucks than you would if you tried to sell it at Target or Walmart. You’ll need to invest some time and effort if you want to see that payoff come full circle. Keep in mind that you might have to wait an extended amount of time before a customer comes along and makes an offer on your product. If you’re ready to walk the extra mile, we believe you’ll earn a better return on investment.

You always have the choice to make your device a tax-deductible donation. Doing this allows you to collect something for your item during tax time, even though you're giving it away.

Is there a reset button on Google Nest?

Check for a circle etched into the bottom, then: Press and hold the factory reset button on your point. After about 5 seconds, your device will begin the factory reset process. Continue to hold the button for about 10 seconds, until there's a sound confirming the device is resetting.

How do I reconnect my Google Nest speaker?

If your speaker or display isn't connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Open the Google Home app ..
At the top left, tap Add Set up device New device set up new devices in your home..
Follow the in-app steps..

How do I force a Google Nest to restart?

How to manually restart if your Nest thermostat is frozen or stuck.
Press your thermostat ring and hold it down until the screen turns off (about 10 seconds). Then let go of the ring..
Press and release the ring to turn it back on and complete the restart process. The Nest logo will appear when it begins to start up..