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To factory-reset a Google Home or Nest speaker, use its physical controls; you can’t do it by voice or from the Google Home app. First identify the exact model—especially whether your Mini is a first-generation Google Home Mini or a second-generation Nest Mini—then follow the matching steps below. A factory reset erases device setup and can’t be undone. If you’re only dealing with a temporary glitch, reboot the speaker instead.
Identify your device before resetting
“Google Home” may mean the original speaker, the Google Home app, or the wider product family. The reset controls differ by model:
| Device | How to identify it | Reset control |
|---|---|---|
| Google Home | Original, larger cylindrical speaker with an angled top | Microphone-mute button on the back |
| Google Home Mini, 1st generation | Small puck-shaped speaker; reset marking on the underside | Button below the power cord |
| Google Nest Mini, 2nd generation | Small puck-shaped speaker with a wall-mount slot underneath | Center of the top surface, after switching off the microphone |
| Google Nest Audio | Tall, rounded rectangular speaker | Center near the top, after switching off the microphone |
| Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max | Smart display with a screen | Both rear volume buttons together |
The two Mini models are easy to confuse. The underside reset button is for the first-generation Google Home Mini. The second-generation Nest Mini resets from the top, with its microphone switched off first.
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A factory reset restores default settings, clears device configuration and personalized device data, removes its Wi-Fi and account setup, and disconnects it from members of the Google Home structure. You’ll need to set it up again before using it. The reset does not necessarily erase Google Account-level activity or history; manage those separately in your account. Google notes that some basic device data may remain associated with the home. Google’s reset guidance has details.
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If you’re resetting because of a freeze, brief Wi-Fi issue, delayed playback, or another temporary problem, try a reboot first. It preserves settings:
- Unplug the speaker or display.
- Wait one minute, then plug it back in.
If it is accessible in the Google Home app, you can also open Home → All devices, touch and hold the device tile, then tap Settings → More → Reboot. App labels or layout may vary by version. See Google’s reboot instructions.
Use a factory reset when you’re transferring the device, preparing it for sale or gifting, or trying to resolve a persistent problem that remains after ordinary troubleshooting. If you’re giving it away, reset it while powered on, wait for confirmation, and don’t set it up again under your account. The recipient can set it up with their own Google account.
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How to factory-reset each Google Home or Nest device
Keep the device powered on and follow only the instructions for its model. The reset does not require the speaker to appear in the Google Home app.
Original Google Home
- Leave the speaker plugged in.
- Locate the microphone-mute button on the back.
- Press and hold the button for about 15 seconds.
- Listen for the reset confirmation, then release the button and wait for the reset to finish.
Use the rear button—not simply the microphone switch.
Google Home Mini (1st generation)
- Keep the Mini plugged in and turn it over to find the circular reset marking on the underside.
- Locate the factory-reset button below the power cord and press and hold it.
- After about five seconds, the reset process begins. Keep holding for roughly 10 more seconds, until the device confirms that it is resetting.
- Release the button and wait for the reset to complete.
This is the underside control on the first-generation Home Mini. It is not the microphone switch.
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Google Nest Mini (2nd generation)
- Keep the speaker powered on.
- Move the microphone switch on the side to off; the lights should turn orange.
- Press and hold the center of the top surface, where the lights appear.
- After about five seconds, the reset process begins. Keep holding for roughly 10 more seconds, until you hear confirmation.
- Release and wait for the reset to finish.
Switching off the microphone is part of the specified reset procedure. Pressing the top without doing so may not start the reset.
Google Nest Audio
- Switch off the microphone using the rear switch; the lights should turn orange.
- Press and hold the center area near the top of the speaker.
- After about five seconds, the reset process begins. Keep holding for roughly 10 more seconds, until the speaker confirms the reset.
- Release and wait for completion.
Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max
- Make sure the display is powered on.
- Press and hold both volume buttons on the back at the same time for about 10 seconds.
- When the display indicates that it is resetting, release the buttons and wait for the process to finish.
If you have a Nest Hub Max, save any important video history before resetting. Google says saved video history and snapshots deleted in this process can’t be recovered. Google also advises removing a Hub Max from the Google Home app before resetting it. Follow Google’s model-specific reset instructions if you have a display.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.After the reset: set up the device again
Once reset, the device returns to its initial setup state. To use it again:
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- Open or install the Google Home app and sign in with the Google account you want to use for the device.
- Add the device by following the app’s setup instructions.
- Connect it to Wi-Fi and assign it to a room or home as appropriate.
- Set up any preferences you need again, such as routines, media services, Voice Match, or alarms.
If you changed routers or Wi-Fi credentials, you’ll need to reconnect the device through the app. See Google’s Wi-Fi setup guidance.
Factory reset, reboot, or remove from Google Home?
| Action | Keeps settings? | Erases device setup? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reboot | Yes | No | Temporary glitches, freezing, or brief connectivity problems |
| Factory reset | No | Yes | Transfer, sale, gifting, or persistent problems after troubleshooting |
| Remove from Google Home app | Not necessarily | Not necessarily | Managing a device’s association with a home or account |
Removing a device from the app is not the same as physically factory-resetting it. For these speakers, use the physical reset procedure; do not assume app removal alone clears the device. Requirements differ for other Google Home products, so follow the instructions for that product.
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- Check the model and control. The original Home Mini uses the underside button; the Nest Mini uses the top-center surface after its microphone is switched off.
- Check the microphone switch. On Nest Mini and Nest Audio, switch the microphone off first; the lights should turn orange.
- Hold the control for the full sequence. The reset countdown and confirmation take time. On a Nest Mini, press the center rather than the edge.
- Check power. Make sure the adapter and cable are firmly connected and the device is powered on.
- Don’t rely on the app to initiate the reset. Use the hardware controls even if the device is missing from Google Home.
If power is interrupted during the reset, reconnect the device and follow the full model-specific procedure again. Once it has reset, open Google Home and follow setup instructions; if setup still fails, check the app’s current guidance for Wi-Fi and device discovery.
These instructions are not for routers, cameras, or doorbells
This guide covers Google Home and Nest speakers and displays—not Google Wifi or Nest Wifi routers, which have separate reset procedures: Google Wifi and Nest Wifi reset guidance. Nest cameras and doorbells also have model-specific procedures, and resetting can affect video history or require removing a device from an app. Use Google’s camera and doorbell instructions instead.
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