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Tag: Google Mini

  • Google Home Mini Lights: What Do They Mean?

    Google Home Mini Lights: What Do They Mean?

    The Google Home Mini is an excellent device to have in your home. It’s ideal for listening to music, finding out answers to questions, and even controlling electronics in your home. However, Google is also known for its various problems such as being unable to connect.

    As the Google Home Mini doesn’t have a digital face with error messages on, understanding your Google Home via the lights it shows is the only way to resolve the issue on your device.

    Although there are a lot of different Google Home Mini Lights, it’s about understanding what the colored light is for and if it is part of a sequence. If you are trying to understand what the lights on your Home Mini mean, we have the answers.

    If you are currently stuck trying to fix your Google Home Mini, we have a breakdown of the lights on your device, what they mean and how to fix them with ease.

    What do the lights on my Google Home mean?

    Google Home Mini Lights
    Photo by Dan Farrell on Unsplash

    The lights on your Google Home Mini can mean various things, these are some of the common reasons you may see different lights on your Mini:

    • The device is starting up
    • Google is thinking
    • Your microphone is off
    • You are not connected to the internet
    • The Home Mini needs setting up again

    Understanding Google Home Mini lights

    In order to fix your Google Home, you need to understand what the lights mean. Once you have an understanding of what each color is, you will find troubleshooting this device a lot easier. Whether you’ve noticed a flashing light, different colors, or no lights at all, here’s a list of what each of the Google Home lights means.

    What do the Google Home Mini Lights mean?

    @sibuet via Twenty20

    Here is a breakdown of what each of the colored lights means and how to fix them.

    White lights

    The most common color light on a Google Mini is white, as this light is used for a lot of different things. However, depending on how many lights and the pattern of the sequence will vary on what they mean.

    4 white lights:

    This appears you’ve said ‘Hey Google’ and the device is waiting for a question

    4 white lights then fade:

    When you speak to Google but the command isn’t understood, if you still need an answer, ask again

    White lights run from left to right:

    Your Google assistant is thinking

    White lights continuously pulse:

    Google is providing a response to your question/request

    White lights flash twice and then fade:

    Google understands your request, but it doesn’t require a response such as changing the song.

    All the colors – Red, Blue, Orange and Green

    Google Home Mini Lights
    @sibuet via Twenty20

    All of the colors (red, blue, orange, and green) at one time on your Google Mini just advises that your speaker is booting up. Allow it time to do this, once these lights are gone you should be able to use your speaker.

    These lights will move from left to right and are nothing to worry about.

    Orange lights

    When your Google Home presents 4 orange lights, this means the microphone is turned off. Therefore Google can’t detect any requests or respond. If you turned this off in error, not to worry it’s easy enough to turn back on.

    • Next to the power cable, there should be a raised button
    • Slide this across and you should be greeted with ‘your microphone is on’, vice versa if you are turning the mic off.

    If your Google Home Mini starts having orange lights that are going up one by one, it means you need to factory reset the device. We have broken this down into easy steps in order to make resetting your Google Home easier.

    Here’s how to factory reset your device:

    1. Switch the mic off on your Google Home via using the slider, the lights will turn orange
    2. Press and hold the center of the Mini where the lights are
    3. After 5 seconds the device will begin to factory reset
    4. Keep holding for a further 10 seconds or until a sound confirms the device reset.
    5. Once this is done you will be greeted with a device that acts like it is new, so you will need to go through the setup process again.

    Red lights

    As with most devices, red lights on a Google Home Mini are due to an error. On the Google Home Mini, you will see 2 solid red lights when there is an issue. This error usually occurs when something happens during an update.

    If your device is experiencing the two solid red lights, here’s how to fix this issue:

    1. Use the cable which came is in the box as opposed to alternative cable
    2. Plug your Google Home Mini into the wall socket
    3. Then unplug the device
    4. Wait 10 minutes, then plug it back in.
    5. Allow the device time to start up
    6. If the error happens again repeat the above steps

    Blue lights

    If you notice 4 blue lights on your Google Home Mini, this means your Google Mini is verifying the device. If you notice the blue lights haven’t gone away after 10 minutes, then you will need to factory reset your Google Home Mini.

    Useful Google Home Mini Commands

    Google also has a range of touch commands, although the majority of them can be done via voice. Here are some commands that can be done via touch:

    Stop and start

    Without speaking to Google you can stop and start media, via tapping the middle of your Google Home Mini, these commands include:

    • Play, pause and stop your music
    • End a call
    • Stop a ringing alarm or timer

    Volume commands

    The volume on your Google Home Mini can also be changed via touching the device.

    • To turn the volume up tap the right side of the speaker, you can do this up to 10 times for max volume
    • To turn the Google Home Mini down press the left side of the speaker, this can be pressed 10 times to mute. When muting your sound, this won’t mute the Google Assistant. This can only be done via the button on the back of the device.

    Power

    In order to turn off the power of your device, you need to unplug your device. You will be unable to turn it off completely without doing this.

    Conclusion

    Although the Google Home Mini lights can be confusing to understand. Especially when you are having issues with the device not working. We hope this guide has resolved any questions you may have with regards to the lights on your Google Mini. But if you find yourself unable to fix the error, it may be worth returning the device to Google as it could be faulty.

    If your Google Home Mini isn’t functioning correctly and you are unsure what the error is, here are some troubleshooting guides to help resolve this issue:

  • Google Home Mini Keeps Saying Something Went Wrong: A Guide To Fix

    Google Home Mini Keeps Saying Something Went Wrong: A Guide To Fix

    If you own a Google Mini, you’re likely to have heard Google Home Mini keep saying something went wrong. Even when you’re not in the room. This glitch is becoming more widespread, with the users of the Mini wondering what has happened to their device.

    The weirdest part of it is that your Google Home often says something went wrong when it hasn’t even been spoken to. Some users believe the issue is due to Google mishearing someone and believing it heard “Hey Google!”. Others advise it is due to traffic or other loud sounds.

    Therefore we’ve decided to take a look into why Google Home Mini keeps saying something went wrong and how to fix it. Whether it’s a new model or an older one, we expect these troubleshooting techniques to be successful.

    Google Home Mini Keeps Saying Something Went Wrong

    Google Home Mini Keeps Saying Something Went Wrong
    Photo by Thomas Kolnowski on Unsplash

     

    If you use Google Home, you are probably aware of the error message that says “something went wrong”. Some reasons your device may do this is due to:

    • Internet dropouts
    • A programme crash
    • Your music is being played on another device
    • The google home app isn’t updated

    How to fix Google Home Mini issues

    Google Home Mini Keeps Saying Something Went Wrong
    Photo by Thomas Kolnowski on Unsplash

    If your Google Home mini is experiencing the ‘something went wrong error’, we have some quick and easy troubleshooting tips to get your Mini back in order.

    Fix 1. Reboot your Google Mini

    Although this may seem like an obvious fix, rebooting your Google Mini can actually help to resolve a lot of issues. Especially when your device has become disconnected from the internet. To reboot your Google Mini all you need to do is unplug the device from the power, wait a few minutes, plug it back in and then allow another few minutes for it to start up.

    You will know when your device is ready as it will say ‘I’m your Google assistant’. When this happens you will have to set up your device via the Google Home app. Treat it like it is a whole new device. This allows you to then reconnect and see if your issue has been resolved.

    Fix 2. Reset your device your Google Home Mini

    If rebooting your device didn’t work, next we’d recommend resetting the device, here are the steps in order to do this:

    1. Press and hold the small button underneath the device for 20 seconds
    2. After this time you will hear a tone, which advises the device is now resetting
    3. Remove your finger and follow your device to restart
    4. Once this has been set up, you may need to reset your device in the Google Home app, however, this issue is fairly straightforward.

    However, if this method was not successful, we’d advise checking out our next easy fix.

    Fix 3. Change Google Assistant language

    Next, we’d recommend changing the language of your Google Assistant. Obviously, you will want to use a language you understand. If you are English speaking and your Google device struggles to understand you, this is an ideal way to fix this.

    Within your Google Home Mini, there are many variations of language variations. From American English to British English and even different parts of the UK such as Irish. If you’re unsure how on how to change these settings, here’s how to do so:

    1. Open the Google Home app
    2. Select your picture in the top right-hand corner
    3. Choose Assistant settings
    4. Followed by Assistant voice
    5. Then choose your language from a drop-down
    6. If you use more than one language you can select a second one below.

    Fix 4. Check your internet speed

    If you are so far not having any success with fixing the issue at hand, we’d recommend turning your attention to your internet connection. As your Google Home Mini does require a strong internet connection in order for it to work.

    Before rebooting your router, it’s worth seeing if the internet connection is a problem first. You can do this by using a Speed Test site. By allowing the site to run a quick test on your connection, you will be able to find out how strong your connection is.

    For download speed, the higher the number the better, but the will vary depending on your package. Find your maximum speeds from your Broadband provider and decide whether this is high enough. However, if you notice you are not getting good speeds, we’d recommend rebooting your router.

    How to reboot your router

    If the above hasn’t been successful, we’d next advise you to reboot your router. If you are unsure of to do this, here’s how:

    1. Unplug your router at the wall
    2. Allow the router to switch off completely
    3. Wait 3 minutes
    4. Plug the router back in
    5. Allow a further 5 minutes for the router to be up and running again.

    You can then retest your speed and see if this is any better.

    Fix 5. Update the Google Home app

    Another simple fix is to update the Google Home app, as the device is run through the app primarily. In order to make sure you are running the latest version of the app, head to the Google Play Store or the App Store. Search ‘Google Home’ then if there is a button to press update, click this and allow your app to update.

    Then attempt to use your Google Device again.

    Fix 6. Clear the Google Home app cache

    If are still unable to fix the Google Home Mini Keeps Saying Something Went Wrong Error, next we’d recommend removing any cached data. The cache simply holds all of the old versions of app data. Including bugs and other issues which may stop the app from running correctly. To delete your Google Home App Cache on iPhone, here’s how:

    • Close your Google Home app, and make sure you’ve removed it from your carousel
    • Head to settings > Choose Apple ID
    • Next choose iCloud, then Manage Storage
    • Scroll down to find the Google Home app
    • Click this then choose delete data
    • This will delete any data for the Google Home app in the iPhone and also the cloud.

    To clear the Google Home app cache on Android devices:

    • Head on to Apps > Settings > Applications > Application Manager
    • Tap Google Home app
    • Then choose Storage
    • Tap clear cache, then click clear data
    • Finally, tap ok and your Google Home data should be removed.

    Fix 7. Delete Google Home voice data

    If clearing the cache of your Google Home app hasn’t been successful, we’d recommend deleting the stored Google Home voice data. If you are unsure of how to do this, we have broken this down into easy to follow steps:

    1. Launch your Google Home app
    2. Select your image in the top right-hand corner
    3. Next, click ‘My Activity’ and choose ‘Saving activity’
    4. You can choose to then turn off any save data including saving audio, web and app activity
    5. Then click ‘close’
    6. You can then scroll down to the search bar which says ‘Search your activity’
    7. Under the option, you will see delete with a drop-down. You can then select, a time period.
    8. Alternatively, go to Auto-delete and choose when you’d like data to be deleted, e.g. 3 months, 18 months etc

    Once this has been completed all of your Google Home voice data should have been removed.

    After removing save data, close the app and then reopen it before attempting to speak to Google again.

    Conclusion

    We hope these tips have been successful when trying to fix the issue when your Google home mini keeps saying something went wrong.

    However, we hope this won’t be necessary if these fixes do not work, we’d recommend contacting customer service. The error may be due to a defective device, therefore will be unable to be fixed via troubleshooting. If you’re looking to contact Google Support, you can do so here.

    If you are having issues with other programs not working, you may find these posts helpful:

  • Google Mini Won’t Connect: How To Fix This Connection Error

    Google Mini Won’t Connect: How To Fix This Connection Error

    Smart devices such as the Google Mini and the Amazon Alexa are great to have in your home. But these devices can be temperamental and prone to dropouts. However, when your smart devices disconnect and you are unable to reconnect them this can frustrating.

    As Google Home requires an internet connection to work, when it doesn’t have this, you will experience issues with your assistant.

    Therefore we have compiled a list of easy fixes to help you fix your Google Mini and get it connected once again.

    Why won’t my Google Mini connect?

    Google Mini Won't Connect
    Photo by Davide Boscolo on Unsplash

    If your Google Mini won’t connect, there are numerous causes for this. Including the following:

    • Your internet connection is not stable
    • You’re too far away from the router
    • Your app is out of date
    • The software in the mini is outdated

    What are the signs your Google Mini is having issues?

    Although there are many signs that your Google Mini is having issues, here are some of the most common issues.

    • You regularly hear your Mini say ‘something went wrong, try again’
    • Your music cuts out frequently
    • You are unable to find the device
    • There are lights appearing on the device without you speaking to it

    How to fix Google Home Mini won’t connect

    Google Home Mini
    Photo by Kevin Bhagat on Unsplash

    Regardless of what your issue is with the Google Mini, getting it to connect is important as without this you will be unable to use it. Therefore we have some easy fixes to allow you to use your Google Mini once again.

    Fix 1. Restart your Google Home Mini

    Have you tried turning it off and on again? This tends to be the most common solution to many problems with technology. Although it seems simple, it can be an effective fix for a lot of tech problems. If you’re unsure of how to restart your Google Home Mini, here’s how:

    1. Switch off your phone completely
    2. Next disconnect your Google Home Mini from the power, e.g. unplugging it at the wall or taking the wire out
    3. Leave your Google Mini turned off for 5 minutes
    4. Turn your phone back on
    5. Next replug the Google Home Mini, allow time for this to start back up properly
    6. Retry the Google Home Mini set up.

    However, if this fix was not successful, you do not worry as we have plenty of other easy fixes.

    Fix 2. Switch between 2.4GHz and 5GHz

    It is likely that if you have a dual broadband router then you will be able to switch between two channels, 2.5GHz and 5GHz. Your devices will only connect to one at a time, but depending on what has a stronger signal and what the device supports. If you have an older model of phone it is likely your phone will only be able to use 2.4GHz therefore this method won’t be effective.

    However, if you are using a device that allows a switch between the two doing this can help to reset the connection to the Google Home device. Your Google Home is set to mirror what your smart device is doing.

    If you are already on 5GHz try switching to 2.4GHz, if you’re unsure how here are some easy steps to do so:

    1. Head to Settings on your phone
    2. Followed by Wifi then select your Wifi name – and mostly likely 2.5GHz
    3. Choose the network ending in 5GHz instead (however, if this doesn’t come up it’s likely that your device does not support this)
    4. Connect to this, allow your Google Home some time to switch and then try to speak to your Google Home again.

    Fix 3. Make sure your Google Mini app is up to date

    Although this seems obvious if you don’t have your phone or tablet set to auto-update you may miss updates for apps, without even knowing. If you’re unsure of how to update your apps here’s how:

    1. Head to the Play Store or the App Store on your device
    2. Search for ‘Google Home’ then next to the app it should say ‘update’ if one is required
    3. After pressing update allow your phone time to update
    4. Once updated, try to speak to your Google Home and see if there is any communication

    Fix 4. Unplugging the Google Home fix

    The unplug method can be a successful method, but it does require patience and a little bit of time. The way in which this method works is:

    • Unplugging your Google Home Mini from the wall
    • Plug it back in and wait for the lights to come on as it starts up
    • Then unplug it again, repeat this a further 10 times (be sure to count how many times you’ve done this)
    • On the 11th plugin, allow your device to load up as before, once loaded, follow with ‘Hey Google’
    • Your Google Home will then advise you to set it up from the Google Home app, although this may seem annoying, it usually fixes the device.

    However, if this method does not work for you, we’d recommend following our next fixes.

    Fix 5. Move your Google Mini closer to your router

    Although the Google Mini is supposed to work from a distance, users have found that moving the device closer to the router does help with your connection dropouts. Plug your speaker in near your router and see if this makes a difference. If you find it does, it was likely that your device was too far away from the router, therefore struggling to keep a strong and stable connection.

    Fix 6. Try manually connecting to the device hotspot

    The next method on our list is to manually connect to the device hotspot, if you’re unsure how to do this, not to worry as we have broken this down into easy steps. Here’s how to manually connect to the device hotspot.

    1. Go to your Wifi settings on your mobile/tablet
    2. Open the list of Wifi networks, and look for one which states ‘GoogleHome’ followed by numbers, your device may also still hold any names it has been given since then
    3. Select the device and see if it will let you connect this way
    4. If you can successfully connect this way, open the Google Home app again and try set up the device as you would with a new Google Home Mini.

    Fix 7. Airplane Mode On and Off

    Following on from this, if you’re still having issues we’d recommend trying to turn Airplane Mode on. By doing this you are closing down all connectivity to your phone. Next head to settings and turn on Wifi manually. This will turn your Airplane mode off automatically.

    Once this has happened, allow a few minutes for the app to reboot then try again.

    This method may result in you needing to restart the Google Home Mini, including setting up the data again.

    Conclusion

    Whether you’re a tech novice or an expert, trying to resolve issues with a device can be confusing. Not to mention long-winded! Therefore, we hope one of these suggestions is an Easy Fix to your Google Home Mini issues. We hope these tips have been useful when your Google Mini won’t connect and hope you are able to reconnect soon.

    If you’re having issues with the other devices in your home, you may find our other guides helpful: