Google Home Guides

You need to factory data reset Nest Hub if you want to hand the device to other users or if you plan to sell or donate the device.

Actually, even if you just plan to retire the smart display (and throw it in the basement), you should also reset Nest Hub.

This Google Home guide explains when and why you need to reset Nest Hub (including Google Home Hub, Nest Hub, and Nest Hub 2nd Gen) and how to factory data reset (FDR) the smart display.  It also explains how to soft reset Nest Hub.

In this guide, Nest Hub refers to Google Home Hub, Google Nest Hub, and the 2nd Gen Nest Hub. The method for resetting these smart displays are identical.

The factory reset method discussed in this guide applies to Nest Hub devices only. To reset other Google Home devices, you may check this guide for Google Home, this guide for Google Home Mini, this guide for the 2nd Gen Google Home Mini (Nest Home Nini), and this guide for Nest Audio.

Why and when do you need to reset Nest Hub?

As a smart display, Nest Hub knows you and saves some of your … Read the rest

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After 4 years, Google finally updated the iconical cylindrical Google Home with a bigger and lounder Nest Audio in 2020.  So, the question for many existing users of Google Home is the comparison of Nest Audio vs Google Home

This Google Home guide explains the new features and improvements of Nest Audio vs Google Home to help you understand whether you should “upgrade” your Google Home, or whether Nest Audio is the right smart speaker for you.

The comparison of Nest Audio and Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen) is covered in this post (coming soon).

Before we explore the new features and improvements of Nest Audio (vs Google Home), let’s check what has not been changed (i.e., the shared features).

Nest Audio vs Google Home: what are NOT changed?

As a successor to Google Home, Nest Audio share some identical or similar features with its predecessor. This part highlights the common features of these two smart speakers.

Similar software

Both Google Home and Nest Audio share a similar software package. Google Assistant works in an identical way.

The setup and customization are also almost identical. This means existing owners of Google Home will have nothing … Read the rest

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Google Home was designed for mainstream users. Most owners will find it is easy to set up Google Home.

Actually, you can set up Google Home from a PC or any mobile devices that can run Google Home app.

In this guide, I will show you the steps involved to set up Google Home with Google Home app which is available in Android and iOS devices.

The setup process for Google Home, Google Home Mini, and Google Home max is identical. This guide applies to all Google Home devices released so far: Google Home, Google Home Mini and Google Home Max.

When do you need to set up Google Home?

You have to set up Google Home:

• when you get a new Google Home.
• after a factory data reset for Google Home.
• if you changed your wireless network.
• if Google Home cannot connect to the wireless network. You can find the status in the LED light colors in the top touch panel.

Please note, if a Google Home is working properly, you can change the WiFi network (if both old and new networks are available).

The setup option only appears when Google Home cannot connect to … Read the rest

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Google allows you to adjust the equalizer (EQ) of Google Home, Google Home Mini, and Google Home Max with the Google Home app.

You can boost or cut the bass and treble for your Google Home devices to get desired audio effects.

This Google Home guide explains what an equalizer is, when you may want to adjust the equalizer of Google Home, Google Home Mini (including Google Nest Mini),  and Google Home Max, and how to adjust the EQ for your Google Home devices.

What is equalizer (EQ)?

In a nutshell, an equalizer boosts or cuts specific ranges of the frequency of your audio without distorting it.

For example, when you use an equalizer to boost the bass (low-frequency range), the low-frequency audio signal becomes louder. A good equalizer will deliver the desired loudness of the bass. At the same time,  the change of the loudness keeps smooth so that the audio is not distorted (i.e., unbalanced).

When speakers or headphones leave factories, the manufacturer usually tunes the hardware so that the best audio quality can be achieved for most users.

High quality usually means balanced responses of all frequencies. Some audiophiles can tell you immediately whether the audio … Read the rest

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In Google I/O 2017, Google Home Mini and Google Home Max were introduced to the Google Home family.

So, there are 3 products under the Google Home line: Home, Mini and Max.

Google Home Mini was released in October 2017. Google Home Max will be released in December 2017.

So, many potential Google Home users are wondering the difference between Google Home Mini and Google Home. They need some recommendation on whether they should get a Google Home or a Google Home Mini.

This Google Home Mini guide tries to explain the difference between Google Home and Google Home Mini to help you decide whether you should get Google Home or Google Home Mini.

Please note, the second generation of Google Home was released as Nest Audio, and the 2nd Gen Google Home Mini as Nest Mini.

Google Home Mini vs Google Home: size matters

As suggested by the name, Google Home Mini is a mini version of Google Home.

The size of Google Home Mini is substantially smaller than Google Home.  The height of Google Home Mini is only about 42 mm (1.65 inches). In comparison, Google Home is about 142.8 mm (5.62 inches) high. The diameter … Read the rest

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When you need to change Google Home WiFi network settings?

After setting up Google Home, normally you will not change WiFi settings although you may change other settings for Google Home.

Some Google Home settings can be done through voice command, or through the touch panel, or through Google Home app.

For example you can adjust volume of Google Home with any of the 3 methods.

Because Google Home can only save one WiFi network info, you may have to change Google WiFi network settings if you change your WiFi network.

Sometimes, you may have to factory data reset the Google Home due to WiFi network changes.

How to use a new router without changing Google Home WiFi network settings?

You can use a new router without changing Google Home WiFi network settings.

Some guides in the internet may mistakenly tell you that you must factory data reset Google Home if you change router.

But actually, it is NOT necessary to factory data reset your Google Home.

Actually, it is not necessary to change anything in Google Home if you follow these two rules:

1. Use the identical WiFi network name (SSID) when you set up the new

… Read the rest

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You can reset Google Home Mini by holding the reset button in the bottom of Google Home Mini.

After factory data resetting of Google Home Mini, you can then set it up as a new Google Home device with Google Home App.

The way to reset Google Home Mini is different from that for Google Home.

In Google Home, you can hold the microphone button to reset Google Home. But in Google Home Mini,  microphone button was replaced with a microphone switch, and a reset button was added.

This Google Home Mini guide explains to you when you may need to reset Google Home Mini, how to reset Google Home Mini and how to check whether you reset Google Home Mini successfully.

For Google Home owners, please check this guide on how to reset it.

Please note, the 2nd gen of Google Home Mini (Google Nest Mini) does NOT have a reset button. You have to hold the touch panel to reset Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen) as explained in detail in this guide.

So, this guide only applies to the 1st Gen Google Home Mini. It is not applicable to … Read the rest

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In addition to using Google Home, Google Home Max and Google Home Mini as a Bluetooth speaker (for your mobile devices), you can also connect Google Home to a Bluetooth speaker so that you can route the audio output to the Bluetooth speaker.

All Google Home devices (Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Nest Mini, Google Home Max) can now connect to a Bluetooth speaker and send audio output to the Bluetooth speakers. Although only Google Home is used in the text, the guide also applies to Google Home Mini (including the 2nd Gen of Google Home Mini) and Google Home Max.

This Google Home guide shows you how to use, set up and connect Google Home to a Bluetooth speaker.

What’s the difference between using Google Home as a Bluetooth speaker and connecting Google Home to a Bluetooth speaker?

When you use Google Home as a Bluetooth speaker, you can play media from your mobile device and hear the sound from the Google Home speaker.

The audio was transmitted to Google Home (or Google Home Mini, Google Home Max) using the Bluetooth connection between your mobile device and Google Home.

You may need this option when … Read the rest

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You need to understand the layout of the Nest Hub (including Nest Hub 2nd Gen and Google Hoem Hub) to use the smart display effectively.

This Google Home guide explains the layout of Nest Hub, the function and usage of each part of the smart display to help you get started quickly with your Google Nest Hub.

Because the layout of Nest Hub, Nest Hub 2nd  Gen, and Google Home Hub is identical, this guide applies to all of these 3 Google smart display devices.

Why do you need to know the layout of Nest Hub?

Although you interact with Google Home Hub, Google Nest Hub, and Nest Hub 2nd Gen mainly through voice commands (Google Assistant) and the touchscreen, you may still need to use some buttons, for example,  to mute the microphone, to reset Nest Hub.

Also, if you know the location of the sensors, you may have a better understanding of some issues you may encounter due to blocked sensors.

Anyway, a smart display can work for you for at least a few years. You should spend a few minutes understanding the layout of Nest Hub. It will pay off soon.

Are there any differences in the

… Read the rest

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In the Made by Google 2019 event on October 15, 2019, Google released an updated version of Google Home Mini under the name of Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen).

Google started to brand their smart home devices under Nest in 2018. Google Home Mini actually is the last Google Home device getting the Nest brand.

As the 2nd generation of Google Home Mini, many owners and potential buyers want to know the differences and improvements of Google Next Mini (2nd Gen).

This Google Home guide compares Google Nest Mini vs Home Mini and explains the new features and some unchanged features.

The layout of Google Nest Mini (Google Home Mini 2nd Gen) can be found here.

Google Nest Mini vs Home Mini: what’s not changed?

Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) looks like the Google Home Mini. There are many unchanged features/design.

Price ($49)

Google Nest Mini has an identical price tag ($49) as Google Home Mini. It is one of the most affordable smart speakers in the market.

Similar to other Google smart speakers, Google (and some retailers) will very likely try to give you a free Google Nest Mini when you purchase some other products.

Some … Read the rest

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