Now that virtual assistants are the go-to solution for all smart home needs, lack of access to your Google home device can leave you in a bind. This is because the convenience it provides when controlling various smart devices is hard to live without.
Keep reading to learn how to resolve internet connectivity issues when your Google Home mini won’t connect to Wi-Fi.
Why is my Google Home Mini not connecting to Wi-Fi?
Below are the main reasons why your Google home mini is dropping its internet connection;
The router is not turned on
Your router’s power connection will definitely affect internet connectivity. This could be because the power switch is off, or maybe there’s a loose connection between the power cord and the electrical socket. You can use the Google Home app to check if you are connected to the Wi-Fi network.
You may have accidentally changed the SSID or Wi-Fi password
Sometimes, you might need to change your Wi-Fi password or update your SSID (the name of your Wi-Fi network). When this happens, the devices initially connected to the network will disconnect automatically and have to be reconnected to the network manually.
If your Google Home Mini cannot connect to Wi-Fi after you’ve changed the password, you must reconfigure your network settings. You can forget the Wi-Fi network from the Google Home app and reconnect to the same network.
Incorrect Router Settings
In rare cases, your router may not be configured optimally for your Google Home device. In these cases, your Mini will not be able to connect to the internet, despite being connected to your router.
This can happen if you’ve changed your router settings at any point in time. For example, some routers allow you to block certain IP and MAC addresses.
Ensure you have not accidentally blocked your Nest Mini’s IP or MAC address. You can find your Mini’s network information using the Google Home app under Settings.
Damaged Hardware and Cables
The hardware is a key aspect to properly inspect and test out to determine whether the issues are due to the hardware’s fault at the user end. For example, a worn-out cable can cause many issues with the Google Nest Mini. So inspect your cables for wear and tear.
Poor Google Home or Nest Connection to Router
Your Google home may be too far from your router to receive a good internet connection. Or your router may not be able to reach the farthest points of your home. This could also be due to Wi-Fi signal interference between your router and your google home.
Potential fixes for Google home connectivity issues
Here are some comprehensive solutions to help connect google home mini to your home network;
Ensure the Google nest hub is within Wi-Fi range
Wi-Fi signals tend to degrade over long distances. Your Nest Hub may face trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi network because it’s out of range. Ensure the Nest Hub is within your Wi-Fi router’s 15-20 feet (or 4-6 meters) range. While at it, check that thick walls or devices such as microwaves, FM radios, or baby monitors don’t obstruct the Wi-Fi signals.
Replace damaged hardware and cables
Doing a proper check on all your hardware will ensure that the issue is not at the user’s end but rather the fault of Google or their manufacturing process. For example, check and ensure the cables are properly fit, and sufficient power is relayed to the Google Nest Mini from the power outlet.
If there are any voltage variations with that specific plug point, try changing to a different plug point and make sure all features of the Google Nest Mini are working properly.
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Suppose any signs of wearing and tearing are noticed. In that case, replacing the cables from a certified Google repair store or an authentic cable from Google is best.
Connect your Google home to Wi-Fi
To ensure you’re properly connecting your Mini to Wi-Fi, start by downloading the Google Home app on your phone or tablet, then follow these steps.
- Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
- Select or enter your Google™ account info. Then, if prompted through the app, turn on Bluetooth®.
- The Google Home app should show your Google Home Mini—tap Next.
- Your Mini will play a sound and ask if you heard it—if you did, tap Yes.
- Select the location of your Mini on the device location screen, then tap Next.
- Enter a name for your Google speaker, select your Wi-Fi network, then tap Next.
- Enter your Wi-Fi network password, and tap Connect.
Limit Other Devices on Your Network
Your router and internet connection only have much bandwidth to support online activity—the more devices use the internet, the less bandwidth available. That’s especially a problem if you are trying to download shows or movies simultaneously using your Google Home or Nest. It can help pause these activities until you are done using your device.
To improve this problem, turn off your other devices connected to the internet. Or, turn off any downloads you try to complete while using your device simultaneously. You can identify a low bandwidth problem if your music starts cutting in and out or Google Home isn’t doing a good job recognizing and performing all the commands it can make.
If you’d like to have your downloads and use your Google devices simultaneously, upgrade your internet package to have more bandwidth available. Your internet plan may not be able to handle the amount of data being transferred on the same network.
Check The Connections
Check if the network connections are properly configured and enabled. Since networks involve many parts, having one faulty part can trigger issues with the whole system. For example, ensure the Wi-Fi router and modem are properly turned on. Also, check whether the modem is properly connected to your ISP.
Alternatively, you can also connect your phone to the router and check whether you have internet access. If you face any internet issues, it is safe to assume that your router/modem causes Wi-Fi issues.
Note: it is best to check with your Internet Service Provider(ISP) and rectify your internet issues before checking with the Google Nest Mini.
Restart The Devices
Restarting can help clean off any temporary software bugs within the system. In addition, a clean reboot usually solves many internet-related issues.
To soft restart your Google Nest Mini, follow the following steps:
- Connect the Google Nest Mini with the Google Home app on the phone/tablet, provided both are linked to the same Google account.
- Open the Google Home app and navigate to the Your Device option.
- From the resultant screen, click on the Settings tab.
- From the menu in the top right corner, tap on More.
- Select Reboot.
This safely reboots the Google Nest Mini, cleaning the temporary cache files and bugs. The router can be set to restart by toggling the on and off buttons and letting it settle for about 2 minutes until the system is back online.
Note: You’ll need to consult your router’s manual to restart the device properly. Normally, you can unplug it and plug it back in after waiting a few seconds. You can do the same for your Google Home to restart it, but you can also use the app.
By using the app, you avoid any long-term damage that a hard restart may cause from unplugging and plugging the device back in.
How to restart Google Home and Nest Using the App
Open the Google Home app
- Select the device
- Select the gear icon to access the Settings
- Select the three-dot icon to access more settings
- Select Reboot
It may take up to a minute, but your device will restart automatically after you finish the process.
Power Cycle The Devices
A power cycle is similar to a software reboot, but this time it’s rebooting the Google Nest Mini hardware elements. It helps drain any excess charge in the capacitors and restarts the hardware of the Google Nest Mini for a new initiation.
To perform a power cycle on the Google Nest Mini, follow the following steps:
- Unplug the Google Nest Mini from the power socket and let it idle for a minute or two.
- Plug it back into the power socket and let it sit powered on and idle for another minute.
To perform a power cycle on the router and Google Nest points if connected, follow the following steps:
- Unplug the router from the power socket and let it sit idle for a minute or two.
- During this minute, keep pressing the power button for 10 seconds to drain any excess charge.
- Plug the router back into the power socket and let it sit powered on and idle for another minute.
Check For Firmware Updates
Check to see if the Google Home app is up-to-date. If you have not updated the app for a while, this could cause problems when connecting a Google Home or Nest to Wi-Fi. It is also important to be on the latest version of the Google Home app. To update your Google Home app, follow the following steps:
- Using the Google Play store or iOS app store, depending on your operating system, search for the Google Home app from the search bar.
- Click on Google Home from their results, which takes you to the store page of Google Home.
- If you see an option to Update, click on Update and wait till the app gets updated.
If there is no option for an update on the store page of Google Home, then you are probably on the latest version of Google Home.
To update the firmware of your Google Nest Mini, follow the following steps:
- Open the Google Home app. Make sure the Google account linked with the Google Home is also linked with the Google Nest Mini.
- From the Device settings option, select the Google Nest Mini speaker from your list of connected smart home devices.
- Tap on the Current System Firmware option at the bottom of the screen to check for updates.
- In Android, open the Play Store and tap your profile picture. Select Manage Apps and look for any updates available for Google Home. Install any available updates.
- In iOS, open the App Store and tap your profile icon. Check for any pending updates for Google Home. Then, install any available Home app updates.
- After ensuring the app is updated to the most recent version, try connecting to the Wi-Fi in Google Home.
Note: You can verify whether the firmware is of the latest version by going to Google’s website.
Reconnecting Google Home or Nest After a Changed Password
If you’ve recently changed your Wi-Fi password, your Google Home or Nest will not be able to connect to the internet. No button exists on the device to easily reconnect your Google Home to your router.
Instead, you’ll go into the Google Home app to reconnect your device and get it functioning again.
To connect your device to the Wi-Fi, you must first disconnect the device if you’ve changed your password. This will reset your connection and allow you to connect to your internet with the new password enabled.
- Open your Google Home app and select the device you want to reconnect.
- Tap the gear icon to access the settings, and then tap Device Information.
- Tap Wi-Fi > Forget network.
- Back on the main screen of the Home app, tap the + button to add a device.
- Follow the setup instructions to set up the device with the new Wi-Fi password.
Use Different Names for Dual Band Wi-Fi
According to the Google support team, Google Nest Mini can only store one SSID and password at a time. Google recommends using different names for the 2.4GHz signal and 5GHz signal, respectively.
To change the names of your dual-band signals, follow the following steps:
- Log in to your router using the router Gateway.
- After identifying the router username and password, from a browser of a computer or phone connected to the internet from this specific connection, visit the router gateway.
- The router gateway can be accessed by searching for 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1 from the browser address bar.
- Alternatively, you can head over to portforward.com to check for a list of all router passwords and usernames, depending on the brand of your router.
- Navigate to the Wi-Fi settings and configure the SSID settings.
- You will notice the two separate SSIDs that relate to the dual bands of your router. Change the name and save the changes before logging out. Every router has a different layout in its gateways, so fiddle around and check for your Wi-Fi settings.
Note: This is different from logging in with your Wi-Fi. Router login and password vary between brands. They are usually etched or stuck on the router’s body or box. If the settings get confusing, it is best to contact your ISP or refer to a router guide.
Move your Google home closer to the router
If your Mini cannot communicate with your router efficiently, it could be because you’ve placed the device outside the router’s range. The best solution, in this case, is to move the Mini closer to the router, preferably away from walls and into a room with fewer electronics to reduce interference.
If your device begins to perform better, there is interference causing the connection to suffering. To keep the connection stable, you will need to find a permanent home for the speaker closer to your router. If this isn’t practical, installing a Wi-Fi range extender is an alternative.
You can also try removing electronics around your Google Home and Nest to see if that improves the connection. However, other technology may interfere with the signal and cause your issues.
If you find the router’s range too small to use your Mini effectively, you might want to consider upgrading your router with a newer model. You could also try replacing the antenna of your current router with a better one or purchasing a mesh network.
It could also be the case that your router itself needs replacing. Test this by using your phone or any device connected to the internet, and see how quickly your content loads.
Note: Once you have eliminated the router as a cause of your Google Home and Nest problems, check to see if your bandwidth could be too low.
Switch to 2.4GHz Band
If you use dual-band Wi-Fi, connect to the 2.4GHz Band, not the 5GHz Band. If you have a dual-band router, you can try to set up your Nest Hub to the 5 GHz frequency band. Several Google Nest forum users reported success with this method.
Alternatively, reconnecting it to the 2.4 GHz frequency band offers wider coverage. In addition, you’re likely to get a better signal even if your Nest Hub is away from the router.
On the other hand, when the 2.4 GHz frequency band becomes overcrowded, you may experience slow speeds or dropped connections, and switching to the 5 GHz frequency band might help. You can also try connecting your Nest Hub to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.
Turn Off Other Network Devices
Another reason your Google Home Mini might not be able to connect to the internet is the unavailability of bandwidth. This happens when too many devices are connected to the same network, or a device is performing a data-intensive task, such as downloading a movie.
You can tell if this is the issue if your Google Home Mini can connect to the internet, but the responses are very slow. Or if the music playback turns choppy, which signals a lower bandwidth issue.
You can temporarily fix this issue by disconnecting the other devices connected to your network when you want to use the Mini. However, a more permanent solution to this problem is to upgrade the internet plan that provides you with more bandwidth.
Factory Reset
Factory resetting can help solve all issues relating to the software side, including Wi-Fi disconnects, and is typically the final step you can do to eradicate your disconnect problems. Doing this will completely wipe out the Google Nest Mini and restore it to its factory defaults. But, unfortunately, this also delinks your Google account.
To factory reset the 2nd generation Google Nest Mini,
- Toggle the mic switch off from the body of the Google Nest Mini.
- Long press the touchpad area over the orange led lights to begin the process of factory reset.
To factory reset the 1st generation Google Home Mini, press and hold the factory reset button located on the underside of the body.
This usually takes a minute or two and completely resets the Google Nest Mini to just how it was out of the box.
Note: Factory resetting your devices will return them to the same form as when you first purchased them. It’s a way to start over completely from scratch, and it’s the last option to reconnect your Google Home and Nest with your Wi-Fi.
Depending on your type of Google Home device, there are different ways to factory reset them.
- Google Home: Press and hold the microphone mute button for 15 seconds
- Google Home Mini: Press and hold the FDR circle button for 15 seconds
- Google Home Max: Press and hold the FDR button near the power cord for 15 seconds
- Google Home Hub: Press and hold both volume buttons for 10 seconds
- Google Nest Mini: Turn off the microphone and press the center button for at least 5 seconds
Contact Google Support
When none of the methods outlined in this article work, it’s time to contact Google Support to see what they can do. Fill out the online form with as descriptive a message as possible to get the best help.
Make sure that when you fill out the form, you mention all the ways you have tried troubleshooting the issue. This will help the team get up to speed on helping you.
How to fix Google Home connectivity issues by the error message
Below are the main connectivity error messages and how to resolve them;
Error message: ‘Could not communicate.’
This is the most common of the three error messages. To reconnect google home mini;
- Switch the phone you’re using, the Google Home app, to airplane mode.
- Manually turn on Wi-Fi (but only Wi-Fi).
- Open the Google Home app and set it up as usual.
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Error message: Google Home can’t connect to your smart home
This can be remedied by rebooting your router or google home device. However, rebooting only works nine out of 10 times. Follow the steps below when rebooting doesn’t work:
- Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the Settings (gear symbol) icon and scroll to the bottom.
- Tap Works with Google and finds the device that quit working on the list.
- If the device is listed, tap it, then tap Unlink account, tap Unlink to confirm, then tap Settings > Works with Google again after the app returns to the home screen.
- If the device isn’t listed (or it was, but you unlinked it and navigated back to the Works with Google menu), tap the Search (magnifying glass) icon in the upper right corner and type the device’s name.
- Type the device name in the search results and follow the prompts to connect it to Google Home.
Error message: ‘Something went wrong.’
Every once in a while, Google Home can’t play music, turn on your lights or even tell you what time it is, no matter how nicely you ask. If your Google Home refuses to do anything and comes back at you with a message like, “Oops, something went wrong” or, “There’s a glitch,” the problem might be a bit beyond your control.
If you’ve tried everything and your Google Home still won’t connect, the problem may be on Google’s end. Unfortunately, if all your troubleshooting efforts do not resolve the issue, you might have to wait until Google fixes it on their end.