How to Reset Google Home Mini Speaker

You may decide to offer your Google Home Mini smart speaker for sale.  Or perhaps you wish to link it to a different Google account.   Then again, you might just want to connect it to a different Wi-Fi network. To do any of these things, you must first unlink this device from its current Google account. Further, it must forget the Wi-Fi connection information and any multi-room groups it’s in. When you reset Google Home Mini, you accomplish all of that.  You restore it to fresh out of the box values.  This prepares the speaker for a new setup and configuration.  To reset the Mini, perform the following procedure.

But First, a Reset May Not be Needed

Note.  If you’re just correcting erratic behavior of the speaker, then don’t reset yet.  In fact, a complete factory default reset might be too drastic a measure. So, before complete reset Google Home Mini, try powering off the unit for fifteen seconds. Next, wait fifteen seconds.  Then power it up again. Often, this power cycling restores proper operation. Or, move the speaker closer to the host WiFi network.  However, if none of this does not fix the problem, then do the hard reset, described next

Warning!

Once reset, you lose control of the speaker until setup again.  That is, you can no longer control the Mini from the Google account where you controlled it before. To get control back, run  through the setup procedure again.  Doing so relinks the Mini to that account once more.

How to Reset Google Home Mini

1. Connect the Google Home Mini to AC Power 

After boot completes, go on to step 2.

2. Next, Press and hold the Reset button 

Find this button in the orange area on the bottom of the Mini, near the power cord USB plug.

 

Once one light in the row of lamps on the top glows yellow, the Google Home Mini speaks a message.  It warns you that you’re about to reset.   It then offers that if you wish to abort the reset, then release the reset button now. But to proceed, continue holding the button in.

The first yellow light glows. Further, one more turn on every few seconds until the entire row of four is lit. The Google Home Mini reset begins shortly thereafter. Continue depressing the reset button.

Do not power off the Google Home during reset.  Why?  Doing so could render it unusable (bricked).

3. Release the Reset Button

When the Mini chimes and glows yellow, let go of the reset button.

4. The Reset Operation Starts

Reset Google Home Mini really gets underway once the lights go out, as shown next.

After a short pause, the white lights come back.  They display a sequential scanning marquee pattern for several seconds, as shown next.

5. Google Home Mini then Reboots

After some seconds, the Mini again goes dark as the Google Home reset completes. A reboot then starts, as shown next.

After roughly ten seconds, the lights reappear, this time, colored dim gray. Specifically, they display a scanning sort of pattern, as shown next.  This means that a reboot after the reset is in progress.

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

6. Reboot Finishes Next

Subsequently, you hear the startup complete music and then the speaker speaks and says something like, “Welcome to Google Home. So to start, download the Google Home app on a phone or tablet.”

7. The Mini Then Enters Setup Mode

In other words, the speaker can now accept directives from the Google Home App. When in setup mode, the Mini displays the four white blips across its top.  These gradually dim and brighten. For example, see these lights as shown in the next picture.

 

8. Reset Google Home Mini is Now Complete

Thus, feel free to give your Google Mini to another.  Have no fear therefore, that they’ll access your Google account speaker preferences, settings, or other personal information. Or, you may then set it up again on your existing account.  Perhaps this time, you’ll connect to a different Wi-Fi network or set a new device name.

Then, the light row turns white with the four dots glowing. Finally, the speaker enters setup mode.  It remains that way until someone executes the published setup procedure. While in setup mode, the Mini will not function further, until properly set up and linked to a Google account.

Done!

Other Posts About the Google Home Mini Smart Speaker

1. How to Set Up Spotify on Google Home Mini
2. Google Home Mini Power Adapter Specs
3. How to Connect Google Home Mini to Bluetooth Speaker
4. Google Home Mini Charger Specs for Google Mini Speaker
5. How to Set Sleep Timer on Google Home Mini Speaker
6. Unlink Google Home from Pandora, How To
7. Change WiFi on Google Home Mini, How To Steps
8. How to Reset Google Mini Speaker
9. Google Home Mini Spotify Commands List
10. How to Turn Up Volume on Google Home Mini Speaker
11. Clearing Google Assistant Voice Recordings History Instructions
12. How to Control Google Home Mini Volume
13. AC Power Adapter for Google Home Mini
14. How to Turn Down Google Home Mini Volume
15. Google Home Mini Bluetooth Pairing Instructions
16. How to Pause Google Home Mini
17. How to Resume Google Home Mini
18. Lower Volume on Google Home Mini, How To
19. Restart Google Home Mini Instructions
20. Link Spotify to Google Home Mini Instructions
21. Google Home Mini Pictures Gallery
22. Setting Up Google Home Mini Instructions
23. Google Home Mini Unboxing, Step by Step
24. How to Adjust Volume on Google Home Mini
25. Does Google Home Mini Have Bluetooth Yet?
26. Google Home Mini Volume Control, How to Set
27. How to Use Google Home Mini as Bluetooth Speaker
28. Reboot Google Home Mini, How to Instructions
29. How to Adjust Bass and Treble on Google Home Mini
30. Unlink Spotify from Google Home Mini, How To

References for Reset Google Home Mini Speaker Help

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

Revision History

• 2020-05-10: Added the Other Posts About… section.
• 2019-05-04: Added tags.
• 2019-04-02: Minor tweaks.
• 2018-03-04: Revised title and content.
• 2018-02-11: Originally published.