Fix Wi-Fi connection issues for your Google smart speaker or display

If your Wi-Fi network is listed in the Google Home app but your speaker or display can’t connect to it and complete setup, follow this article's troubleshooting steps.

Tip: If the Google Home app doesn't list your Wi-Fi network, go to Wi-Fi network not listed in the Google Home app.

Before you start

Important: You might not be able to connect your speaker or display to public Wi-Fi networks. Avoid using public networks like business networks, shared flat networks, university hall networks, school networks, mobile hotspots and pocket Wi-Fi devices.

Make sure that you:

1. Plug your Google smart speaker or display into a wall socket and check that it powers on.
2. Confirm that your Wi-Fi works by checking that other devices can connect to it.
   1. If the network is unavailable, reboot the router.
   2. If the reboot doesn't fix the problem, check with your Internet service provider (ISP) for outages in your area or if any of your network settings were recently changed.
3. Check that you have the correct Wi-Fi password.
   • The password should have at least eight characters and include both upper- and lower-case letters.
   • The password is case sensitive, so make sure that the upper- and lower-case letters are correct.
4. Update your mobile device's OS.
   • Android phone or tablet with Android 9.0 or later
   • iPhone or iPad with iOS 17.0 or later
5. Download the most recent version of the Google Home app .
6. Place your speaker or display within 4–6 m (15–20 ft) of the Wi-Fi router.

General troubleshooting

Step 1: Reboot your Wi-Fi router

• Unplug the power source for one minute, then plug it back in.
  • Netgear Nighthawk router: If you're unable to set up with the Netgear Nighthawk router, you may need to:
    1. Disable Access control.
    2. Enable Allow guests to see each other and access my local network in the guest network setup.

Step 2: Reboot your speaker or display

1. Unplug the device's power cable from the socket.
2. Leave it unplugged for one minute.
3. Plug the power cable back in.

Step 3: Force close the Google Home app

• Android:
  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold.
  2. Scroll to find the Google Home app .
  3. Swipe up on the app’s preview to close it.
• iPhone and iPad:
  1. Slide your thumb upwards. You’ll find small previews of your recently used apps.
  2. Scroll to find the Google Home app .
  3. Swipe up on the app’s preview to close it.

Step 4: On your mobile device, turn off the Wi-Fi, then turn it back on

• Android: Connect to Wi-Fi networks on your Android device
• iPhone and iPad: Connect to Wi-Fi on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Tip: If you have a dual-band router, try to set up your speaker or display on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Step 5: Try to set up your speaker or display again

When prompted to enter your password, make sure that what you've typed is accurate.

• Android device: If the 'Get Wi-Fi password option' appears when you select the desired Wi-Fi network:
  1. Tap OK.
  2. If the password fails, select No, thanks and then manually input the Wi-Fi password.
     • To make the password visible, tap the eye icon on the password box.

• iPhone or iPad: To make the password visible, tick the box for 'Show password'.

Advanced troubleshooting

If your Google smart device can't connect to your home Wi-Fi after following the General troubleshooting steps, you can try to create a temporary mobile hotspot from your phone. This allows you to test if your device can connect to any Wi-Fi network or if the issue might be your modem, router or ISP's network.

Mobile hotspots or networks created with your phone may work, but using hotspots with Google Nest and Home devices isn't fully supported. A hotspot's availability depends on factors such as the distance to an operator tower, interference and your data plan. Some operators may have additional charges for use of mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.

1. Set up a temporary mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.

   • Android: Share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
   • iPhone and iPad: How to set up a personal hotspot
2. Once you turn on the mobile hotspot, set up the device and connect it to the mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.
   • If your device connects to the hotspot, it means that your device can connect to Wi-Fi, but not to your network. Get in touch with your network provider for assistance.
   • If your device isn't able to connect to the hotspot, contact us.