You can use Google Assistant to ask questions and complete task on your:
- Speaker
- Smart Display
- Smart Clock
Tip: Not all Google Assistant devices work the same. For device-specific instructions, contact your manufacturer.
Languages you can use
Important: Some features aren't available in all languages or countries and regions.
On speakers, the Google Assistant is available in:
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Danish
- Dutch
- English
- French
- German
- Hindi
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Norwegian
- Portuguese (Brazilian)
- Spanish
- Swedish
On Smart Clocks, you can use the Google Assistant in:
- Danish
- Dutch
- English
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Norwegian
- Spanish
- Swedish
What you need
- A speaker, Smart Display, or Smart Clock with the Google Assistant built in.
- Version 2.12.5 or up of the Google Home app .
- Version 8.10 or up of the Google Assistant app .
- Google Account.
- A phone or tablet that:
- Has Android version 5.0 or up (mobile) or Android version 6.0 or up (tablet).
- Has its language set to an option listed above.
- Works with a 5-GHz Wi-Fi network.
- Tip: This isn’t available in WPA2-Enterprise network
- Has Bluetooth on.
- An internet connection and private wireless network.
- For Smart Displays: If you already use Duo for video calling, make sure Duo is signed in with the same Google Account as your Smart Display.
Get started
- Plug in your Google Assistant device.
- Get the latest version of the Google Home app and Google app:
- Go to Google Home app page, then tap Install or Update.
- If it shows "Installed," you already have the latest version.
- Go to Google app page, then follow the same steps.
- Go to Google Home app page, then tap Install or Update.
- Make sure your device has Android 5.0 or up. Learn how to check and update your Android version.
- On your mobile or tablet, open Google Home app .
- Follow the on-screen steps.
Tip: If you don’t find the steps to set up your device, at the bottom left, tap Home Add .
Fix issues during setup
Can’t find Google Assistant device in the Home app
- Unplug your device.
- After 10 seconds, plug it back in.
- Close the Google Home app .
- Open the Google Home app .
Setup freezes or can’t finish
- Unplug your device.
- After 10 seconds, plug it back in.
On the top of your Smart Display, press and hold the volume up and volume down buttons for 20 seconds.
Your device restarts the setup process.
Learn about the lights on your speaker
You can tell what your speaker is doing or its status by its lights.
Choose your device
The colors of the lights and how they move depend on the device. To learn what the lights on your device means, choose your device below.
Google Home | Google Home Mini (1st gen) or Nest Mini (2nd gen) | Google Home Max |
Google Nest Audio |
Other speakers that work with "Hey Google" |
---|
Google Home
Google Assistant
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
Multi-colored lights spin clockwise and pulse |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. Learn what you can ask Google Assistant. |
Multi-colored lights continuously spin clockwise |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
Multi-colored lights continuously pulse |
Google Assistant is responding. |
4 solid orange lights |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, on the back of Google Home, press the microphone mute button. Learn how to control your device by touch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.
Setup
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 white lights slowly pulse |
Google Home is ready to set up. Learn how to set up your device. |
4 blue lights slowly pulse |
Google Home needs to be verified by you. |
4 white lights spin clockwise |
Google Home is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
White lights light up from top to bottom |
Google Home is downloading an update. |
6 white lights spin clockwise |
Google Home is installing an update. Learn how to troubleshoot device updates. |
System
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
White and multi-colored lights spin and blink |
Google Home is booting up. |
Orange lights countdown |
Google Home is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. Learn how to factory reset your device. |
White lights slowly pulse |
An alarm is ringing. Learn how to set and manage alarms. |
White lights spin |
A timer is ringing. |
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes |
Google Home is reminding you that a notification is available. To getthe notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." |
Volume
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
One centered white light appears when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume is muted. |
1 to 10 white lights appear when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |
Error
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
6 solid orange lights |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Google Assistant
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 white lights |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
White lights continuously run left to right |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
White lights continuously pulse |
Google Assistant is responding. |
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
4 solid orange lights |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.
Setup
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
White lights slowly pulse |
Your speaker is ready to set up. |
4 solid blue lights |
Your speaker needs to be verified by you. |
White lights run back and forth |
Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
White lights light up from left to right |
Your speaker is downloading or installing an update. |
System
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
Google Nest Mini: Depending on your device color, multi-colored or white lights light up from left to right Google Home Mini: Multi-colored lights light up from left to right |
Your speaker is booting up. |
Google Home Mini only: Orange lights countdown |
Your speaker is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. |
White lights slowly pulse |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes |
Your speaker is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." |
Volume
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume is muted. |
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |
Google Nest Mini only: Lights up as your hand gets close to the device when music is playing |
Nest Mini detected a hand. |
Error
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
2 solid red lights |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Google Assistant
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 white lights |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
White lights continuously run left to right |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
White lights continuously pulse |
Google Assistant is responding. |
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
4 solid orange lights |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, on the back of Google Home Max, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.
Setup
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
White lights slowly pulse |
Google Home Max is ready to set up. |
4 solid blue lights |
You need to verify Google Home Max. |
White lights run back and forth |
Google Home Max is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
White lights light up from left to right |
Google Home Max is downloading or installing an update. |
System
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
Multi-colored lights light up from left to right |
Google Home Max is booting up. |
Orange lights countdown |
Google Home Max is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. |
White lights slowly pulse |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes |
Google Home Max is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?" |
White lights quickly pulse |
Google Home Max is skipping a track. |
White lights slowly pulse |
Google Home Max is pairing with another speaker for stereo sound. |
Volume
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume is muted. |
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |
Error
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
2 solid red lights |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Google Assistant
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 white lights |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
4 white lights pulse quickly |
Google Assistant is listening. |
White lights continuously run left to right |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
White lights continuously pulse |
Google Assistant is responding. |
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
4 solid orange lights |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google devices.
Setup
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
White lights slowly pulse |
Your speaker is ready to set up. |
4 solid blue lights |
Your speaker needs to be verified by you. |
White lights run back and forth |
Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
White lights light up from left to right |
Your speaker is downloading or installing an update. |
System
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
White lights light up from left to right
|
Your speaker is booting up. |
White lights slowly pulse |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes |
Your speaker is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?" |
Volume
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume is muted. |
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume level is 1 to 20. |
Error
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
2 solid red lights |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Google Assistant
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 white lights |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
White lights continuously run left to right |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
White lights continuously pulse |
Google Assistant is responding. |
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
4 solid orange lights |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. |
System
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
White lights slowly pulse |
Your speaker is ready to set up. |
Orange lights countdown |
Your speaker is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. For more info on how to factory reset your speaker, reach out to the device manufacturer. |
White lights slowly pulse |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
Volume
Description of lights | What this means |
---|---|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume is muted. |
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |