Set up your Google Assistant device

You can use Google Assistant to ask questions and complete task on your:

• Speaker
• Smart Display
• Smart Clock

Tip: Not all Google Assistant devices work the same. For device-specific instructions, contact your manufacturer.

Languages you can use

Important: Some features aren't available in all languages or countries and regions.

On speakers, the Google Assistant is available in:

• Chinese (Simplified)
• Danish
• Dutch
• English
• French
• German
• Hindi
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Norwegian
• Portuguese (Brazilian)
• Spanish
• Swedish

On Smart Clocks, you can use the Google Assistant in:

• Danish
• Dutch
• English
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Norwegian
• Spanish
• Swedish

 

 

 What you need

• A speaker, Smart Display, or Smart Clock with the Google Assistant built in.
• Version 2.12.5 or up of the Google Home app .
• Version 1.3.57 or up of the Google Assistant app .
• Google Account.
• A phone or tablet that:
  • Has iOS 11.0 or up.
  • Has its language set to an option listed above.
  • Works with a 5-GHz Wi-Fi network.
    • Tip: This isn’t available in WPA2-Enterprise network
  • Has Bluetooth on.
• An internet connection and private wireless network.

Get started

1. Plug in your Google Assistant device.
2. Get the latest version of the Google Home app. 
   • Go to the Google Home app page, then tap Install or Update. 
     • If it shows "Installed," you already have the latest version.
3. Make sure your device has iOS version 10.0 or up. Learn how to check or update your iOS version.
4. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app .
5. Follow the on-screen steps.

Tip: If you don’t see the steps to set up your device, at the bottom, tap  Home   Add .

Fix issues during setup

Can’t find Google Assistant device in the Home app

Restart your device

1. Unplug your device.
2. After 10 seconds, plug it back in.

Restart the Home app

1.  Close the Google Home app . 
   • Learn how to force an app to close.
2. Open the Google Home app .

Setup freezes or can’t finish

Restart your device

1. Unplug your device..
2. After 10 seconds, plug it back in.

Factory reset your device (Smart displays only)

On the top of your Smart Display, press and hold the volume up and volume down buttons for 20 seconds.

Your device restarts the setup process.

Learn about the lights on your speaker

You can tell what your speaker is doing or its status by its lights.

Choose your device

The colors of the lights and how they move depend on the device. To learn what the lights on your device means, choose your device below.

Google Home	Google Home Mini (1st gen) or Nest Mini (2nd gen)	Google Home Max	Google Nest Audio	Other speakers that work with "Hey Google"

 

Google Home

Google Assistant

Description of lights	What this means
Multi-colored lights spin clockwise and pulse	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. Learn what you can ask Google Assistant.
Multi-colored lights continuously spin clockwise	Google Assistant is thinking.
Multi-colored lights continuously pulse	Google Assistant is responding.
4 solid orange lights	The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, on the back of Google Home, press the microphone mute button. Learn how to control your device by touch.

Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.

Setup

Description of lights	What this means
4 white lights slowly pulse	Google Home is ready to set up. Learn how to set up your device.
4 blue lights slowly pulse	Google Home needs to be verified by you.
4 white lights spin clockwise	Google Home is connecting to Wi-Fi.
White lights light up from top to bottom	Google Home is downloading an update.
6 white lights spin clockwise	Google Home is installing an update. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

System

Description of lights	What this means
White and multi-colored lights spin and blink	Google Home is booting up.
Orange lights countdown	Google Home is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. Learn how to factory reset your device.
White lights slowly pulse	An alarm is ringing. Learn how to set and manage alarms.
White lights spin	A timer is ringing. Learn how to set and manage timers.
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes	Google Home is reminding you that a notification is available. To getthe notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." Learn how to turn notifications on or off.

Volume

Description of lights	What this means
One centered white light appears when you make a volume control gesture	The volume is muted. Learn how to control your device by touch.
1 to 10 white lights appear when you make a volume control gesture	The volume level is 1 to 10.

Error

Description of lights	What this means
6 solid orange lights	An update is taking longer than expected. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

Google Home Mini (1st gen) or Nest Mini (2nd gen)

Google Assistant

Description of lights	What this means
4 white lights	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. Learn what you can ask Google Assistant.
4 white lights flash and then fade	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again.
White lights continuously run left to right	Google Assistant is thinking.
White lights continuously pulse	Google Assistant is responding.
4 white lights flash twice and then fade	Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing.
4 solid orange lights	The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. Learn how to control your device by touch.

Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.

Setup

Description of lights	What this means
White lights slowly pulse	Your speaker is ready to set up. Learn how to set up your device.
4 solid blue lights	Your speaker needs to be verified by you.
White lights run back and forth	Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi.
White lights light up from left to right	Your speaker is downloading or installing an update. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

System

Description of lights	What this means
Google Nest Mini: Depending on your device color, multi-colored or white lights light up from left to right Google Home Mini: Multi-colored lights light up from left to right	Your speaker is booting up.
Google Home Mini only: Orange lights countdown	Your speaker is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. Learn how to factory reset your device.
White lights slowly pulse	An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: Set and manage alarms Set and manage timers
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes	Your speaker is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." Learn how to turn notifications on or off.

Volume

Description of lights	What this means
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture	The volume is muted. Learn how to control your device by touch.
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture	The volume level is 1 to 10.
Google Nest Mini only: Lights up as your hand gets close to the device when music is playing	Nest Mini detected a hand.

Error

Description of lights	What this means
2 solid red lights	An update is taking longer than expected. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

Google Home Max

Google Assistant

Description of lights	What this means
4 white lights	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. Learn what you can ask Google Assistant.
4 white lights flash and then fade	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again.
White lights continuously run left to right	Google Assistant is thinking.
White lights continuously pulse	Google Assistant is responding.
4 white lights flash twice and then fade	Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing.
4 solid orange lights	The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, on the back of Google Home Max, slide the mic switch. Learn how to control your device by touch.

Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.

Setup

Description of lights	What this means
White lights slowly pulse	Google Home Max is ready to set up. Learn how to set up your device.
4 solid blue lights	You need to verify Google Home Max.
White lights run back and forth	Google Home Max is connecting to Wi-Fi.
White lights light up from left to right	Google Home Max is downloading or installing an update. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

System

Description of lights	What this means
Multi-colored lights light up from left to right	Google Home Max is booting up.
Orange lights countdown	Google Home Max is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. Learn how to factory reset your device.
White lights slowly pulse	An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: Set and manage alarms Set and manage timers
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes	Google Home Max is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?" Learn how to turn notifications on or off.
White lights quickly pulse	Google Home Max is skipping a track. Learn how to control music on your device.
White lights slowly pulse	Google Home Max is pairing with another speaker for stereo sound. Learn how to pair two speakers for stereo.

Volume

Description of lights	What this means
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture	The volume is muted. Learn how to control your device by touch.
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture	The volume level is 1 to 10.

Error

Description of lights	What this means
2 solid red lights	An update is taking longer than expected. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

Google Nest Audio

Google Assistant

Description of lights	What this means
4 white lights	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. Learn what you can ask Google Assistant.
4 white lights flash and then fade	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again.
4 white lights pulse quickly	Google Assistant is listening.
White lights continuously run left to right	Google Assistant is thinking.
White lights continuously pulse	Google Assistant is responding.
4 white lights flash twice and then fade	Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing.
4 solid orange lights	The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. Learn how to control your device by touch.

Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.

Setup

Description of lights	What this means
White lights slowly pulse	Your speaker is ready to set up. Learn how to set up your device.
4 solid blue lights	Your speaker needs to be verified by you.
White lights run back and forth	Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi.
White lights light up from left to right	Your speaker is downloading or installing an update. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

System

Description of lights	What this means
White lights light up from left to right	Your speaker is booting up.
White lights slowly pulse	An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: Set and manage alarms Set and manage timers
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes	Your speaker is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?" Learn how to turn notifications on or off.

Volume

Description of lights	What this means
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture	The volume is muted. Learn how to control your device by touch.
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture	The volume level is 1 to 20.

Error

Description of lights	What this means
2 solid red lights	An update is taking longer than expected. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates.

Other speakers that work with "Hey Google"

Google Assistant

Description of lights	What this means
4 white lights	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. Learn what you can ask Google Assistant.
4 white lights flash and then fade	Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again.
White lights continuously run left to right	Google Assistant is thinking.
White lights continuously pulse	Google Assistant is responding.
4 white lights flash twice and then fade	Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing.
4 solid orange lights	The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond.

System

Description of lights	What this means
White lights slowly pulse	Your speaker is ready to set up.
Orange lights countdown	Your speaker is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. For more info on how to factory reset your speaker, reach out to the device manufacturer.
White lights slowly pulse	An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: Set and manage alarms Set and manage timers

Volume

Description of lights	What this means
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture	The volume is muted.
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture	The volume level is 1 to 10.