How to factory reset Google Home Mini

Sometimes your Google Home Mini might not work as smoothly as it should, or maybe you’re giving it to someone else. In these cases, resetting it could be the best way to fix issues or get it ready for a fresh start. The Google Home Mini is a compact and powerful voice-activated smart speaker that fits seamlessly into your home, offering hands-free help with a variety of tasks. 

From playing your favorite music and controlling smart home devices to answering questions and managing your daily schedule, the Home Mini can greatly streamline your daily routines. But sometimes, you might run into problems like connectivity issues, unresponsiveness, or needing to pass it on to someone new, which might mean doing a factory reset. So, here’s how you can easily reset your Google Home Mini.

How to reset Google Home Mini

As of writing, there are two versions of the Google Home Mini. If you’re not sure which one you’ve got, just check the bottom of the speaker. If you see a wall-mount screw slot, it’s the second-gen, also known as the Google Nest Mini.

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If there’s no screw slot, it’s the first-gen, known as the Home Mini. Also, just a heads-up, you can’t do a factory reset using the Google Home app. For both generations, you’ll need to use the buttons on the speaker to perform a reset. With that out of the way, here’s how you can quickly and easily reset both devices.

Resetting Google Home Mini (2nd Gen)

Look for the microphone on/off switch on the side of your device and turn it off. You’ll see the LED lights on your speaker start pulsing orange. Then, press and hold the center of the Nest Mini, where the lights are located and wait for about five seconds. Your device will start the factory reset process automatically. Keep holding it down for another 10 seconds, until you hear a chime, confirming it’s done resetting.

Resetting Google Home Mini (1st Gen)

Hold down the reset button (located below the power cord at the bottom) for about 15 seconds to factory reset your device. After you’re done, you’ll hear a chime letting you know it’s all wiped clean and ready to go for the next user.

How to reboot Google Home Mini

If you simply want to reboot your Home Mini without deleting everything, you can either unplug the device, wait for about a minute, and then plug it back in, or open the Google Home app, go to Settings > Device Settings, and then tap the More button (the three dots) to select Reboot.

Some things are meant to be simple. So it’s best to let them be that way.