The Nest Hub (2nd gen) has no battery: it runs from a mains adapter, so a power problem looks like a display that will not light, restarts at random, or drops offline when the supply is poor. The first test is the adapter and the outlet: plug the Hub into another outlet and, if you can, use another adapter of the same rating, because a worn adapter or a loose barrel connector gives intermittent power.
A power strip with surge protection can add noise. If the Hub works on one outlet and not another, the outlet is the problem. If it restarts only when the volume is loud, the adapter is too weak. After a power cut the Hub may show offline for a few minutes while it reconnects, and unplugging it for ten seconds starts it afresh. If the screen stays black with good power, a factory reset is the next step.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest Hub (2nd gen) has power or battery problems”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A loose or worn adapter connection
What separates it The Hub restarts or flickers when the cable is touched
How to confirm Reseat the connector at the Hub and at the outlet; replace the adapter if it is loose
- 2
A bad outlet or power strip
What separates it The Hub works on another outlet
How to confirm Use a wall outlet directly
- 3
An adapter that is too weak
What separates it The Hub restarts when it plays loud audio
How to confirm Use Google's adapter of the rating printed on the Hub
- 4
A power cut
What separates it The Hub is offline afterwards
How to confirm Unplug it for ten seconds and restart the router
- 5
A faulty Hub
What separates it No light with a known-good adapter and outlet
How to confirm Contact Google Nest support
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The adapter's rating and condition
- Whether the Hub works on another outlet
- When the restarts happen: loud audio, video, or at random
- Whether a power cut preceded it
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCheck the connections
ReversiblePress the adapter plug fully into the Hub and the adapter into the outlet.
Try another outlet
ReversiblePlug the Hub straight into a wall outlet, not a strip.
Try another adapter of the same rating
ReversibleUse Google's adapter if you have a spare.
Restart by unplugging
ReversiblePull the plug for ten seconds and replug.
Restart the router after a cut
ReversibleLet the router come up before the Hub.
Contact support if there is no light
ReversibleWith a good adapter and outlet.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- A mains-powered display
- The Hub has no battery, so every power symptom is the supply.
- The quick test
- Another outlet and another adapter separate supply from device.
- Why loud audio matters
- A speaker draws the most current at high volume, so a marginal adapter shows its weakness first when you turn the music up.
- A flicker is information
- If the screen flickers when the cable is moved, the fault is the connector or the cable, not the software, and replacing the adapter is the fix.
- After a long outage
- Give the Hub and the router a few minutes after power returns, because the Hub waits for the network before it shows as online.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the Hub does not light with a known-good adapter and outlet, contact Google Nest support
- !If it restarts on a good adapter, ask Google about a repair
- !A hot adapter or a burning smell means unplug it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Setup connection checks for Google and Nest devices.
Google's restart and reset guidance for Nest devices.
Setup, Wi-Fi and reset problems with the Nest Hub.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the Nest Hub 2nd gen have a battery?+
No, it needs mains power.
Why does my Hub restart when I turn up the volume?+
The adapter may be too weak or loose.
Why is my Hub offline after a power cut?+
It needs a few minutes, or a restart, to reconnect.
Can I use any USB adapter?+
Use the adapter with the rating Google specifies.