Notification

To get the most out of Google Home, choose your Help Center: U.S. Help Center, U.K. Help Center, Canada Help Center, Australia Help Center.

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 Nest Mini Google Home Max Google Nest Audio
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

Listening

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

Thinking

Google Assistant is thinking.

Multi-colored lights continuously pulse

Responding

Google Assistant is responding.

4 solid orange lights

Mic muted

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 Nest and Home devices.

Setup

Description of lights What this means

4 white lights slowly pulse

Ready to set up

Google Home is ready to set up.

Learn how to set up your device

4 blue lights slowly pulse

Verify device

Google Home needs to be verified by you.

4 white lights spin clockwise

Connecting Wi-Fi

Google Home is connecting to Wi-Fi.

White lights light up from top to bottom

Downloading

Google Home is downloading an update.

6 white lights spin clockwise

Installing

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

Bootup

Google Home is booting up.

Orange lights countdown

FDR

Google Home is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset.

Learn how to factory reset your device

White lights slowly pulse

Alarm ringing

An alarm is ringing.

Learn how to set and manage alarms

White lights spin

Timer ringing

A timer is ringing.

Learn how to set and manage timers

One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes

Reminder / volume mute

Google Home 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

One centered white light appears when you make a volume control gesture

Reminder / volume mute

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

volume level

The volume level is 1 to 10.

Error

Description of lights What this means

6 solid orange lights

Long update

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

Listening

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

Thinking

Google Assistant is thinking.

White lights continuously pulse

Responding

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

Mic off

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 Nest and Home devices.

Setup

Description of lights What this means

White lights slowly pulse

Ready to set up

Your speaker is ready to set up.

Learn how to set up your device

4 solid blue lights

Verify device

Your speaker needs to be verified by you.

White lights run back and forth

Wi-Fi

Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi.

White lights light up from left to right

Downloading

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

Bootup

Your speaker is booting up.

Google Home Mini only: Orange lights countdown

factory reset

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

Alarm ringing

An alarm or a timer is ringing.

Learn how to:

One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes

Reminder

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

Volume mute

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

Volume change

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

Long update

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

Listening

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

Thinking

Google Assistant is thinking.

White lights continuously pulse

Responding

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

Mic off

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 Nest and Home devices.

Setup

Description of lights What this means

White lights slowly pulse

Ready to set up

Google Home Max is ready to set up.

Learn how to set up your device

4 solid blue lights

Verify device

Google Home Max needs to be verified by you.

White lights run back and forth

Wi-Fi

Google Home Max is connecting to Wi-Fi.

White lights light up from left to right

Downloading

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

Bootup

Google Home Max is booting up.

Orange lights countdown

factory reset

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

Alarm ringing

An alarm or a timer is ringing.

Learn how to:

One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes

Reminder

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

Volume mute

Google Home Max is skipping a track.

Learn how to control music on your device

White lights slowly pulse

Alarm ringing

Google Home Max is pairing with another speaker for stereo sound.

Learn how to pair two speakers for stereo sound

Volume

Description of lights What this means

4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture

Volume mute

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

Volume change

The volume level is 1 to 10.

Error

Description of lights What this means

2 solid red lights

Long update

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

Listening

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

Thinking

Google Assistant is thinking.

White lights continuously pulse

Responding

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

Mic off

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 Nest and Home devices.

Setup

Description of lights What this means

White lights slowly pulse

Ready to set up

Your speaker is ready to set up.

Learn how to set up your device

4 solid blue lights

Verify device

Your speaker needs to be verified by you.

White lights run back and forth

Wi-Fi

Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi.

White lights light up from left to right

Downloading

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

Alarm ringing

An alarm or a timer is ringing.

Learn how to:

One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes

Reminder

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

Volume mute

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

Volume change

The volume level is 1 to 20.

Error

Description of lights What this means

2 solid red lights

Long update

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

Listening

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

Thinking

Google Assistant is thinking.

White lights continuously pulse

Responding

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

Mic off

The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond.

System

Description of lights What this means

White lights slowly pulse

Ready to set up

Your speaker is ready to set up.

Orange lights countdown

factory reset

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

Alarm ringing

An alarm or a timer is ringing.

Learn how to:

Volume

Description of lights What this means

4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture

Volume mute

The volume is muted.

1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture

Volume change

The volume level is 1 to 10.

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