Resetting Google Home Speaker to Factory Default State

You can reset all of the smart speakers in the Google line. These include the first Google Home, the Mini, and Max models. Thus, reset any of these to restore proper operation. Doing this prepares the speakers for transfer to another person. Here, we explain the Resetting Google Home Speaker to Factory Default State process.

Resetting Google Home Speaker to Factory Default State: Step by Step

1. Connect the Speaker to AC Power

First, wait for speaker to boot. After it does, then move on to the next step.

2. Press and Hold the Mic Mute Button

Once the light ring finishes spinning and flashing, wait for it to go completely dark after booting finishes. Then, press and hold the Microphone Mute button. Find this button on the back near the top of the Google Home speaker, as shown next. Hold it in for roughly five seconds.

Picture of the first Google Home speaker, rear view. Showing the -Mic Mute / Reset- button. — The first Google Home speaker, rear view. Showing the -Mic Mute / Reset- button.

While holding in the mute button, notice that the ring of lights on the top begin glowing orange. In varying brightness patterns, these give a visual cue of a countdown to hard reset.

Picture of the flashing orange light pattern, meaning that Google Home speaker resetting is about to occur. — The flashing orange light pattern, meaning that Google Home speaker resetting is about to occur.

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

Then, after about five seconds, the speaker says, “You’re about to completely reset Google Home. To cancel, release the button.” Release the Microphone Mute button NOW if you decide not to erase all unit settings.

4. Keep the Mic Mute Button Depressed to Continue with Resetting Google Home Speaker to Factory Default State

So this continues with the hard reset. After a little while, the orange ring goes out. Then, the top turns white in a spinning pattern. At this time, the speaker performs its hard reset action, as shown next.

Picture of the original Google Home with reset in progress, displaying white spinning light ring pattern. — The original Google Home with reset in progress, displaying white spinning light ring pattern.

5. Reboot Begins

Then after about ten seconds, the unit’s top goes dark. Next, a system reboot starts, with a multi-colored pattern lighting up, as shown next.

Picture of the multi colored light ring during reboot. — The multi colored light ring during reboot.

6. Reboot Finishes

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

7. The Google Home Then Enters Setup Mode

Then, after hard reset, the unit enters Setup mode. This means that the Google Home is now ready to accept setup directives from the Home app. The speaker tells us this by displaying the four white blips in a dimming and then brightening pattern.

Picture of the four glowing white dots that mean setup mode is active. Resetting the Google Home Speaker back to factory Default State is now complete. — The four glowing white dots that mean setup mode is active. Resetting the Google Home Speaker back to factory Default State is now complete.

The light ring turns white with the four dots lighting up, meaning setup mode. The unit then stays in setup until you run the setup routine. Note that the unit will not work until set up and linked to a Google account.

8. Done With Resetting Google Home Speaker to Factory Default State !

Feel free now, to give your Google Home to another person. Don’t worry that they’ll access the personal info on your Google account. They won’t. Or, you can set it up again on your own account. Perhaps with a new WiFi network or device name.

References for Resetting Google Home Speaker to Factory Default State

1. Google Home Speaker Official Support Page
2. Where to Buy the Google Home Speaker

Resetting Google Home Speaker to Factory Default State