How To Clear Google Home Mini

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I use my Google Home mini mainly as a smart speaker and less as a smart hub, but even if I only use it for music and the occasional podcast, the device has become a part of my daily schedule.

One fine day, as I was getting ready for the day, I asked the Mini to play my morning playlist.

I was surprised to get no response, so I went over to check it out.

The light on the Mini was on but had stopped receiving any voice commands.

The only way I knew to get out of an issue like this was to try resetting the Google Home Mini.

So I went online to find out how.

I went to Google's support pages for the Mini as well as user forums for more "on the ground" information.

This guide, with that research in hand, should help you reset your Google Home Mini in seconds.

To reset your Google Home Mini, press and hold down the reset button under the speaker if you have a 1st generation Home Mini or press and hold the mic button if you have a 2nd generation Home Mini.

When Should You Reset Your Google Home Mini

As is the case with resetting any device, resetting the Home Mini will wipe all settings and data from the speaker.

A reset will also log the device out of any accounts that it had been in and forget your Wi-Fi information.

A reset is usually done to fix a stubborn problem that doesn't go away with a restart or an easier fix.

Since all data is wiped from the device, you can reset it before you sell the Mini to someone else or exchange it for something else at a retailer.

Whatever your reasons may be, you need to keep in mind that all the data is deleted from the device would mean that you would have to go through the initial setup process again and connect the Mini to your Wi-Fi and other devices at home.

Because of that, a reset must be reserved to be tried at the very end of a troubleshooting procedure.

Reset vs Restart

You might have always wondered why a reset and a restart are discussed separately, and there is a reason for this.

A restart turns the Home Mini on and off and does not change anything about the device.

On the other hand, a reset can restore your device to factory defaults and, as a result, wipe all data from your Home Mini.

The device will also be logged out of your Google account and remove from your Wi-Fi router.

Deciding between a reset and a restart will entirely depend on your issue and what you had tried up to that point to get it fixed.

How To Reset Your Google Home Mini

Now that you have understood the difference between a reset and a restart, it is time to see how you would go about resetting your Google Home Mini.

The Home Mini has two generations of models, and the procedure to get them to reset varies slightly.

1st Generation

To reset your 1st gen Home Mini:

Turn the Home Mini over to find the factory reset button near the power cord.
Press and keep the button held for at least 5 seconds to begin the reset process.
Keep the button held for 10 more seconds until the reset completes, and the device plays a sound.

2nd Generation

To reset your 2nd gen Home Mini (aka Nest Mini):

Look for the mic button on the side of the Home Mini and switch it off.
When the lights go orange, press and hold the center button of the device.
Keep it held for at least 5 seconds to start the factory reset process.
Keep holding the button for 10 more seconds until the speaker plays a sound to complete the reset.

How To Restart Your Google Home Mini

If you want to try a restart, you can follow the steps I've detailed below.

But before going ahead, make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network you've connected the Home Mini to.

Open the Google Home app
Choose your device and navigate to the Settings.
Press the three dots on the top labeled More
Choose reboot to begin restarting the device.

More Troubleshooting Steps

As I've mentioned before, performing a reset should be the last thing you can do, so I will talk about the alternative steps you can try before attempting a reset.

Sign out and sign back into your Google account

Your Google account is what lets the device work with your phone and know who you are.

Account issues can make the Google Home Mini not work correctly, so try signing in to your Google account again.

Sign out from your Google Account, and sign in again with the same account you have used.

See if the issue appears again; if it does, proceed to the next step.

Power cycle the Mini

A power cycle means powering down the Google Home Mini completely and powering it back on again.

To power cycle the Home Mini:

Unplug the Home Mini from its power source.
After leaving it unplugged for about a minute, plug it back in.
Turn the speaker on.

Check if the issue has been resolved and Google Assistant works properly.

Run a software update

You can't manually update the software on a Home Mini, but you can check if the firmware is up to date.

If it's outdated, force the speaker to restart, and the device will find and install updates by itself.

Before checking your firmware version, make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the Home Mini.

Open the Home app and select the Home Mini.
Choose Settings > Device information.
Scroll down to find "Technical information."
Look for an entry labeled "Cast firmware".
If your version is the same as that on Google's support page, you are good to go!

Final Thoughts

If your Home Mini was not able to connect to your Wi-Fi at any time during troubleshooting, bring it closer to your router or restart the router.

After resetting and connecting all your smart devices back to your Google Home Mini, try accessing the device settings for each connected device from the Google Home app.

If you cannot change device settings with the Google Home Mini, make sure the device you are trying to control is active.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove devices from my Google home Wi-Fi?

To remove devices from your Google Home:

Open the Google Home app.
Choose your device and go to Settings > Remove device > Remove.

Why won't Google Home find my Chromecast?

Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and try getting them connected again.

If it doesn't work, restart the Google Home and try again.

Do you have to have Google home to use Chromecast?

You don't need a Google Home to use Chromecast, but having one lets you do a lot more with your Chromecast in the way of automation and such.

How do I fix a bricked Google home mini?

To reset a bricked Google Home Mini, factory reset the device.

Be aware that a factory reset can wipe all settings and sign you out of the Google account.