Picture of the Google Mini speaker with its Reset button held in.

How to Reset Google Mini

You might want to know how to reset Google Mini smart speaker to clean out its internal data, for sale or re gifting to someone else.  Or, maybe you’d like to link it to another Google account. But then again, perhaps you wish to connect it to a different wireless network. Whatever your motivation, this article provides enough instruction to easily complete this simple task.  So to learn how to run a reset your Mini smart speaker, follow the step-by-step instructions, up next.

Considerations Before you Begin

Note that if you want to fix erratic speaker problems, you may not have to run a complete speaker reset. So, before resetting, try powering off the mini Google speaker for several seconds.  Specifically, shut it down by disconnecting its AC power cord. Then, wait some seconds.  Lastly, power the Mini up again. This often brings back normal function.

But if simply cycling the power does not solve the problem, then continue on.  Or if you wish not to fix an issue but to give the unit away instead, then again, read on.

Warning !

Once reset, you cannot work the Mini from the account where it ran from before.  To control the speaker again, run through its setup routine.  In that routine, re register the Mini to that account once again, via the Google Home app.  Or, link it to another Google account.  Either choice, the decision is yours.

How to Reset Google Mini, Step-By-Step

1. Plug the Mini to AC Power

After booting finishes, move on to step 2.

2. Press and Hold the Reset Button

Find this button in the orange area on the speaker bottom, near the DC power input USB port.

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

 

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

One light on the top then glows yellow, as shown next.

Then, the assistant tells you that you’re about to reset the Mini.  The speaker lets you know that to bail out of the reset, release the button NOW.  But keep holding it in to start the reset process.  Once that starts, do not disconnect the Mini until it enters Setup mode. Otherwise, you may brick (break) it and not be able to fix.

The first yellow light then comes on. Next, one more turns on every few seconds until the entire row of four glows. Mini speaker reset begins immediately afterwards, so long as you continue pressing the Reset button.





3. Release the Reset Button

Let go of that button when the unit plays a short chime chord sound and the yellow lights go off.

4. The Speaker Runs its Reset Routine

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

Picture of the Google Mini smart speaker. Its lights are dark during reset or when powered off.
Mini Google talking speaker. It’s lights are dark during reset or when powered off.

After a pause, the white lights return.  They show a marquee style moving pattern for three or five seconds, as seen next.

Picture of the scanning bright white lights on the speaker.
The scanning bright white lights.

Rebooting after Reset 

5. The Google Mini Then Reboots 

After three to six seconds, the speaker again goes dark as the reset function concludes. This is when the reboot afterwards starts, as depicted next.

Picture of the Google Mini speaker, lights dark after reset, prior to reboot.
Our Mini Google assistant speaker, lights dark after reset, prior to reboot.

After several to ten seconds, the lights come back on, colored medium gray.  They show another marquee pattern, as shown next.

Picture of the Google Mini smart speaker with factory default reset In progress. It shows scanning white lights on top.
The 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 Mini speaker, displaying multi colored lights during reboot.
Our Mini Google smart speaker, displaying multi colored lights during reboot.

6. Google Mini 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 Mini Then Begins Setup Mode

Thus, the speaker may now accept setup commands from the Home App. The Mini tells us this by lighting the four white lamps across the top.  These glowing dots show a dimming and then brightening action.  See this in the next photo.

Picture of the speaker in setup mode, displaying the dimming white lights across the top.
The speaker in setup mode, displaying the dimming white lights across the top.

8. Google Mini Reset Done

The light row then turns white with the four dots glowing.  Then, the unit then remains in that state, in Setup mode, until you complete the setup exercise. Note that the Mini will not function again until correctly set up and connected to a valid Google account.

You may now give your Mini Google speaker to a stranger or friend.

Related Posts to How to Reset a Google Mini

    1. How to Reset Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation
    2. Resetting the JBL Charge 3 BT Speaker
    3. How to Reset Echo Dot Gen 2 Speaker
    4. How to Reset Wonderboom 2 Bluetooth Speaker
    5. Resetting the JBL Xtreme 3 Power Bank Speaker

Other Posts About the Google Mini Speaker

    1. How to Set Sleep Timer on Google Mini
    2. Google Mini Charger Specs for Mini Google Speaker
    3. How to Change Google Mini WiFi Network
    4. Google Mini Reset Button, Where Is It
    5. How to Connect Google Mini to Bluetooth Speaker

References for Reset Google Mini

    1. Google Home Mini Official Help and Support Page

Revision History

    • 2020-05-17: Added more tags and optimizations.
    • 2019-05-07: Tuned the targeting for ‘Reset Google Mini’. Added tags.
    • 2019-01-18: First posted.