Picture of holding reset button in with thumb on the Google Home Mini smart speaker.

Google Home Mini Factory Reset Instructions

Here we answer the question: How to Factory Reset Google Home Mini?  You might reset your Google Home Mini smart speaker to get it ready for sale to another person.  Or, you want to link it to a new Google account. Or you wish to connect it to a new Wi-Fi network. Whatever the reason, this post will help you.  To see how to reset the speaker, follow the routine below.

Google Home Mini Factory Reset May Be Unnecessary

Note that if you want to fix erratic speaker behavior, you may not have to run a complete factory reset. So, before hard resetting, try powering off the unit for fifteen seconds.  Do this by unplugging its AC power cable. Then, wait fifteen seconds.  Finally, power it up again. This often restores proper operation.

But if simple power cycling does not fix the problem, read on.  Or if you wish not to fix a problem but to give the unit away, then again, read on.

Warning !

Keep in mind that once reset, you cannot work the Mini from the Google account where you did before.  To control the speaker again, run through the setup routine.  In that routine, relink the speaker to that account once more, via the Google Home app.  Or, link it to another Google account.  Either way, the choice is yours.

Google Home Mini Factory Reset, Step by Step Directions

1. Connect the Google Mini Speaker to AC Power

After boot completes, go on to step 2.

2. Press and Hold the Reset Button

This button is located in the orange area on the bottom of the Mini, near the power cord USB plug.

Picture of the Google Home Mini speaker, bottom view, showing the reset button.
Google Home Mini speaker, bottom view, showing the reset button.

 

Picture of holding in the reset button with thumb.
Holding reset button in with thumb.

One light on the top then lights up yellow, as shown next.  Then, the Google assistant warns you that you’re about to reset the device.  It lets you know that if you wish to abort the reset, release the reset button now.  But keep holding the button in to perform the reset to factory default state.





Factory Reset in Progress

The first yellow light then comes on. Next, one more turns on every few seconds until the entire row of four lights up. Factory reset begins shortly thereafter, as long as you keep the reset button firmly depressed.

Do not power off the unit during the factory reset.  Why?  Because doing so could render it unusable (bricked).

3. Release the Reset Button

Let go of the button when the unit emits a short chime chord sound and the yellow lights go dark.

4. The Factory Reset Starts

Reset begins once the lights go out and the unit stays dark for several seconds, as shown next.

Picture of the Google Home Mini smart speaker. Its lights are dark during reset or when powered off.
Google Home Mini smart speaker. Its lights are dark during reset or when powered off.

After a pause, the white lights come back on.  They show a scanning marquee pattern for three or five seconds, as shown next.

Picture of factory default reset in progress. showing scanning bright white lights.
Factory default reset in progress. showing scanning bright white lights.




Google Home Mini Rebooting After Factory Reset 

5. The speaker Then Does a Reboot

After some seconds, the speaker again goes dark as the factory reset completes. Then, the reboot after that reset starts, as shown next.

Picture of the lights on the speaker dark after reset, prior to reboot.
The lights on the speaker dark after reset, prior to reboot.

After several to ten seconds, the lights come back on, colored dim gray.  They show a sort of scanning pattern, as shown next. This means that a reboot after the reset is in progress.

Picture of the Google Home Mini smart speaker with factory default reset In progress. It shows scanning white lights on top.
Google Home Mini smart speaker with factory default reset In progress. It shows scanning white lights on top.

Several seconds into the reboot, the lights turn multi-colored as shown next.

Picture of the Google Home Mini speaker, displaying multi colored lights during reboot.
Google Home Mini speaker, displaying multi colored lights during reboot.

6. Reboot Finishes

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

7. The Google Home Mini Then Enters Setup Mode

This means that the unit is now ready to accept setup commands from the Google Home App. The speaker shows this by displaying the four white blips across its top.  These lights show a dimming and then brightening pattern.  See this in the next picture.

Picture of the Google Home Mini speaker, in setup mode, displaying the dimming white lights across the top.
Google Home Mini speaker, in setup mode, displaying the dimming white lights across the top.

8. Factory Reset Now Done

You may now give your Google Home Mini to another.  You need not fear that they’ll access your settings or other personal info. Or, set it up again on your existing account, perhaps with a different Wi-Fi network or device name.

The light row then turns white with the four dots glowing.  Then, the unit stays in setup mode until you run the setup procedure. Please note that the speaker will not function until fully set up and linked to a Google account.

Other Posts About the Google Home Mini Smart Speaker

    1. Change WiFi on Google Home Mini, How To Steps
    2. How to Reset Google Mini Speaker
    3. Google Home Mini Spotify Commands List
    4. How to Turn Up Volume on Google Home Mini Speaker
    5. Clearing Google Assistant Voice Recordings History Instructions

References for Google Home Mini Factory Reset

    1. Google Home Official Help and Support Page
    2. Google Home on Wikipedia

Revision History

    • 2020-05-10: Added the Other Posts About… section.
    • 2018-04-16: Revised post content for better keyword targeting.
    • 2018-03-02: Revised the content.
    • 2018-02-19: Originally published.