Picture of the Original Google Home smart speaker, during booting, along with AC power adapter plugged Into wall outlet..

How Do I Reset Google Home

You may decide to sell or give your Google Home device to another person. or wish to link it to a different Google account, or connect it to a different Wi-Fi network. So to do these things, we answer the question: How do I reset the first Google Home?

To unlink this device from its current Google account, to assure that it forgets the Wi-Fi connection information stored within, and to restore it to factory default (fresh out of the box) values, perform the following procedure.

Picture of the Google Home, completely unboxed, showing the original packaging opened, the unit, manuals, and power adapter.
The Google Home, completely unboxed, showing the original packaging opened, the unit, manuals, and power adapter.

Caution

Reset May Not be Necessary

Note that if you’re just trying to correct erratic speaker behavior, you might not have to run a complete reset.  So, before attempting this, try powering off the Google Home for fifteen seconds.  Do this by disconnecting its DC power cable either from the wall outlet, or from the device itself.  Then, wait for a quarter minute. Finally, power it up again.  This often restores normal operation. But if this power cycling does not solve your issues, then go ahead with the reset.  Reset also if you wish to give the unit to someone else.  Read on for details.

Warning!  

Keep in mind that once reset, you’ll no longer have control of the Google Home from the account where you controlled it before.  So to get control of it again,  run through the setup procedure again.  There, re link the speaker to that account once more, via the Google Home app.





How Do I Reset Google Home, Step by Step

1. Connect the Unit to AC Power

Once booting completes, go on to step 2.

2. Press and Hold the   Mic Mute   Button

Once the light ring finishes spinning and flashing in its multi-colored way, and goes completely dark after booting, press and hold the  Microphone Mute button, found on the back near the top of the Google Home, for five seconds.

Notice that the ring of lights on the top begin glowing orange as you hold in the button.  In varying brightness levels and patterns, these show a sort of  countdown to reset that is in progress, as pictured next.

Picture of the Google Home, about to reboot, showing the orange light ring, indicating that a reboot is imminent.
The Google Home, about to reset, showing the orange light ring, meaning that a reset is imminent.

3. Confirm Reset by Continuing to Hold the   Mic Mute Button In

After five seconds or so, the Google Home says in its female voice, “You’re about to completely reset Google Home.  To cancel, release the button.”  Now is the time to release the   Mute  button, if you no longer wish to erase all settings.





4. Keep the   Mic Mute   Button Depressed to Continue with How Do I Reset the Google Home

Keep pressing to continue with the reset.

Next, the orange ring goes out.  Then it turns white in a spinning pattern as reset begins, pictured next.

Picture of the unit displaying a white spinning light ring pattern.
The unit displaying a white spinning light ring pattern.

5. Reset Finishes, and Reboot Begins

After about ten seconds, the top panel goes dark.  Then a system reboot begins, with a multi-colored pattern emerging after the hard reset is complete, as shown next.

Picture of the booting in progress, ad the unit displays the multi colored light ring, indicating that.
The booting is in progress as the device displays the multi colored light ring, indicating that.

6. Reboot Finishes

Then, you hear the startup complete music and then the unnit speaks, “Welcome to Google Home.  To get started, download the Google Home app on a phone or tablet.”





7. The Device Enters   Setup   Mode

Then, the Google Home goes into   Setup  mode.  This means that the unit is now ready to accept setup directives from the Home app.  The unit tells us this by displaying the four white blips in the light ring in a gradually dimming and then brightening pattern, as shown in the next picture.

Picture of the device in setup mode, displaying four white dots indicating as such.
The unit in setup mode, displaying four white dots indicating as such.

8. Done with How Do I Reset My Google Home !

You may now feel free to give your Google Home to another without fear. They will not have access to the settings or other personal info in your Google account.  Or, you can set it up again on your existing account, perhaps with a different WiFi network or device name.

Then, shortly later, the light ring turns white with the four dots glowing.  The unit then remains in   Setup  mode until someone goes through the setup procedure.  The speaker will not work fully until set up and linked to a Google account via the internet.

Other Google Home Posts

    1. How to Turn On Google Home Bluetooth
    2. How to Pair JBL Xtreme with Google Home
    3. Google Home Setup Instructions

References for How Do I Reset a Google Home

    1. Google Home Official Help and Support Page

Revision History

    • 2023-02-22: First published.