How to factory reset your Google Home, Mini, & Max

Google Home and the other variants are portable smart speakers that host an Artificially Intelligent assistant that lets its users control appliances that are compatible with being controlled by AI. If you own devices like a smart TV, AI-supported lights, smart cameras, and other similar devices that offer smart home control for any sized smart home, you will be able to access all of them with an appropriate voice command directed to the ultra-responsive Google Assistant. 

Sometimes when you have problems with the Google Home box, you may have to reset it. This article contains the instructions to factory reset the Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, and Google Nest Mini.

How to Factory Reset a Google Home

If you wish to perform a full-on factory reset of your Google Home, your first step should be to plug in the device and turn it on. The Google Home does not have a dedicated factory reset (FDR) button so we have to use the microphone mute button. 

Press and hold the microphone button at the bottom of your Google Home for 15 seconds to reset it. You’ll hear the Google Home device warn you that extended pressing and holding of the microphone switch will wipe the memory and settings configurations of the Home. 

How to Factory Reset Google Home Mini

If you own a Google Home Mini, you need to know that there are two generations of the Google Home Mini – the First and Second. 

Difference between First and Second Gen Home Mini

You have to turn your Google Home Mini over and if you do not see a wall mount screw slot, it means you have the first-gen device. 

Gray First Generation Google Home Mini connected to a socket and lit LED lights in the middle

But, if you notice the presence of a wall mount slot, you have a second-gen Mini.

Gray colored Google Home Mini with lit LED lights in the center

Before we get to factory resetting, you need to know that the Google Home Mini can not be reset using the Google Home app, which controls the smart devices that are produced by Google and you will have to factory reset your Google Home Mini (Current generation Home Mini and older models) with the button.

Resetting First Generation Models Google Home Mini

In the first-gen Mini, you will find the  Factory Reset (FDR) button below the power cord. Press and hold this reset button for approximately 15 seconds for the factory reset to be done. Once the resetting is complete, you’ll hear a chime.

Orange colored Google Home with LED lights glowing in the middle

Resetting Second Generation Models Google Home Mini

The process of performing a reset of your Second Gen model is different from that of the First Gen. 

There is no dedicated factory reset button, so you have to turn the mic switch to the off position and press and hold the center of the Google Home Mini 2nd gen for 12 – 15 seconds. You will see the LED light pulse orange and hear a chime. This means that the factory wipe is complete. 

How to Factory Reset a Google Home Max

Much like the Google Home Mini, the Google Home Max also has a button dedicated to resetting the device and removing all factory data from it. This button can be found near the power socket on the smart speaker. 

Press and hold this little button for about 12 to 15 seconds. Google Assistant will warn you that the factory data reset process has commenced. Once this announcement is complete, you can stop pressing the button. 

How to Reset a Google Nest Mini

The Google Nest Mini is like the Second Generation Google Home Mini. It does not have an FDR (Factory Data Reset) button. 

Google Nest Mini displaying Airwave Data

To reset this, Turn off the Microphone switch on the side of the Google Nest Mini. This will turn the LED lights orange. Press the center of the Google Nest Mini, right over the LED lights. It takes about 5 seconds for the reset process to automatically begin. You have to keep holding for 10 more seconds to finish the resetting. 

You can also perform a simple power cycle of the device and charge it up again, to see if it helps. You have to perform the initial setup process once again as you will lose all the data and have technically new smart speakers.

Why do I need to Reset My Google Smart Speaker?

There are a couple of reasons why you might need to reset your Google Smart Speaker:

  1. Connectivity Issues 

If there are some problems like connectivity issues, resetting the device is the only solution to troubleshooting the Home device. Rebooting it should clear the settings configuration and set it back to default. 

  1. Resell it for a few bucks

If you are looking to sell the Smart Speaker, you will want to factory reset your Google Home device to get rid of all the personal data on the smart speakers. And a full reset is the only way to get rid of all the things that contain the existing data which might cause the loss of privacy. There is nothing you can possibly do about the old hardware. 

When You Needn’t Reset Your Device

If you wish to rename the device, log into a different network, change your Google Account or connect with other devices, you should be able to do so with the Home App. You needn’t go about resetting the devices.

log into a different network, change your Google Account or connect with other devices

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset my Google mini to a different WiFi network?

Open the Google Home application and select the Google Home mini, in which you wish to switch to a different wi-fi network. Select the Wifi settings and choose Forget. You should then be able to connect to another network using the credentials. 

How do I connect my Google Mini to a new WiFi?

Launch the Google Home app and touch the connected Mini, open the Wi-Fi settings and select Forget. You can then scan for smart home devices and connect to another network. 

Why is my G-Home mini not working?

Launch the Google Home app on your android device and touch the hamburger menu.  Go to More settings and then, Google Account settings. In this, touch Update Personal data. Or you can move your Google Home Mini so that you get the network properly. You can also do a simple factory reset process to fix this. This issue can be caused because of hardware damage or inadequate bandwidth. 

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