How to Factory Reset Your Google Home

15-Feb-2024

If you have a Google Home smart speaker and wish to switch to a different or newer device, then you may wish to give away or sell your device to another user. In that event, you would be well advised to factory reset your device to erase your personal data before passing it on. By the same token, if your Google Home device is running into problems due to a software malfunction, then a factory reset is an equally useful option for troubleshooting and potentially solving performance issues.

Either way, if you’ve never carried out a factory reset on your Google Home before, you might be unsure about where to start, especially given that there are now multiple versions of the device. If so, there’s no need to worry because we’ll provide you with all the instruction you need in this step-by-step how-to guide.

How to factory reset your Google Home

Depending on the specific iteration of the Google smart speaker you own, the steps for performing a full factory reset can vary slightly. Below, we’ve provided instructions for factory resetting each of the currently existing versions.

Locate the factory reset button on the back of your Google Home speaker.
Press the factory reset button and hold it for approximately 12 seconds.
The device will inform you that you are about to perform a complete reset. Continue holding the button until you see four orange lights on the front of the device and hear the tone.
Wait until you hear the welcome message indicating that the process is complete.

How to factory reset Google Home Max

How to factory reset your Google Home Max

Locate the factory reset button on the back of your Google Home speaker.
Press the factory reset button and hold it for approximately 12 seconds.
The device will inform you that you are about to perform a complete reset. Continue holding the button until you see four orange lights on the front of the device and hear the tone.
Wait until you hear the welcome message indicating that the process is complete.

How to factory reset Google Home Mini 1st Gen

How to Factory Reset your Google Home Mini (1st Gen)

Locate the factory reset button on the underside of your Google Home speaker.
Press the factory reset button and hold it for approximately 15 seconds.
The device will inform you that you are about to perform a complete reset. Continue holding the button until you see four orange lights on the top of the device and hear the tone.
When you hear the welcome message, the process is complete.

How to Factory Reset your Google Home / Nest Mini 2nd Gen

How to Factory Reset your Google Home/Nest Mini (2nd Gen)

Locate the microphone mute button on the side of your speaker and switch it off to mute the mic.
Press your finger on the center of the speaker, where the lights display, and hold it there for approximately 15 seconds.
The device will inform you that you are about to perform a complete reset. Continue holding the button until you see four orange lights on the top of the device and hear the tone.
Wait until you hear the welcome message. The process is complete.

How to Factory Reset your Google Nest Audio

Locate the microphone mute button on the back of your speaker and switch it off to mute the mic.
Press the top of the speaker, above the light display, and hold your finger there for approximately 15 seconds.
The device will inform you that you are about to perform a complete reset. Continue holding the button until you see four orange lights on the top of the device and hear the tone.
Once you hear the welcome message, the device has been reset.

How to factory reset Google Nest Hub 1st Gen, 2nd Gen & Max

How to Factory Reset your Google Nest Hub (1st Gen, 2nd Gen & Max)

Locate the volume buttons on the back of your speaker.
Press and hold both volume buttons for approximately 15 seconds.
Continue holding the button until you hear confirmation that the device is carrying out a factory reset.
When you see the welcome screen, the device has been reset.

That’s everything you need to know to do a full factory reset on your Google Home/Nest smart device. If you’ve followed our guide, your device will now be completely reset, wiping all of your personal data and hopefully resolving any performance issues you were experiencing.

With your Google device now reverted to its original factory state, you are free to sell it or pass it to another user, safe in the knowledge that your privacy is protected. Alternatively, if you’re simply looking for a fresh start with your device, you can now reconfigure it and resume using it without any issues.