Google's factory reset article gives per-model steps. On the Nest Mini, press and hold the center where the lights are on top; after about five seconds the reset starts and you continue holding for about ten more until a sound confirms. On the Nest Audio, press and hold the center near the top. On the Nest Hub, press and hold both volume buttons on the back together for about ten seconds until the device says it is resetting.
The checks in more detail
A reset erases personal settings and disconnects the device from your account and wifi, so you set it up again in the Google Home app. Try a reboot first: unplug for about a minute and plug back in, which keeps settings. Before selling or giving the device away, remove it from your Google Home and reset it. If the reset does not seem to work, check you held the right control for long enough and that the device has power.
After a reset expect a start-up light or sound, then set it up again from the app. Note your speaker groups, routines and Voice Match settings first. If the device will not reset, contact Google Nest support. For a Hub Max, note that the camera settings and Face Match also return to default and need setting up again. Write down your routines and speaker groups before resetting, since they need rebuilding. After a reset give the device several minutes to boot before starting setup.
Do not repeat the reset button hold, since repeating can confuse the light pattern. Before a reset write down which speaker groups and routines include the device, because they are removed with it and rebuilding from memory is slower than reading a list. A reset is the right choice when a device will not join any network or behaves oddly after a router change, but it is the wrong first step for a device that is merely slow, which a reboot fixes without losing anything.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest displays and smart speakers will not reset or needs to be reset safely”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A stuck or frozen device
What separates it The device is unresponsive because it is stuck or frozen
How to confirm Reboot it first by unplugging it for a minute, and reset it only if that does not help
- 2
A wifi change
What separates it The device cannot reconnect because the wifi network or password has changed
How to confirm Forget the network in the app, and do a factory reset if the device still will not reconnect
- 3
Selling or gifting
What separates it The old owner's account remains on the device because you are selling or gifting it
How to confirm Remove the device from your account and then reset it, so the new owner can set it up
- 4
A failed setup
What separates it The setup is stuck because an earlier attempt failed partway through
How to confirm Reset the device, and then try the setup again from the beginning
- 5
Face Match issues
What separates it The Hub Max recognizes faces wrongly because Face Match was set up badly
How to confirm Reset the device, and then set up Voice Match and Face Match again, following the prompts
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model of the display or speaker that you have
- Which reset control you used, such as a button or a switch
- The routines and groups that you will need to restore afterwards
- Whether it is linked to an account
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedTry a reboot first
ReversibleTry a reboot first, by unplugging the device for a minute, since it keeps all of your settings.
Note routines and groups
ReversibleNote your routines and your groups, before you reset the device, so that you can rebuild them.
Use your model's reset
ReversibleUse the reset for your model, since the Mini, the Audio and the Hub each reset in their own way.
Hold until the confirmation
ReversibleHold the control until you hear or see the confirmation, such as a sound or a message.
Set up again
ReversibleSet the device up again in the Google Home app, joining wifi and choosing a room and a name.
Restore groups and Voice Match
ReversibleRestore your groups and your Voice Match, since a reset clears them from the device.
Contact Google
ReversibleContact Google if the device will not reset, and tell them the model and what happens.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Mini
- Hold the center where the lights are.
- Hub
- Hold both volume buttons on the back.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Nest Hub (2nd gen).
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it resets but will not set up, use the setup steps
- !If the device is second hand, check that the old account has released it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Reset steps per model.
Reboot.
Setup issues.
Speaker and display wifi steps.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I reset a Nest Mini?+
On a Nest Mini, hold the center where the lights are for about fifteen seconds.
How do I reset a Nest Hub?+
On a Nest Hub, hold both volume buttons for about ten seconds, until the reset starts.
Should I remove it from my account first?+
Yes, remove it from your account first if you are giving it away or selling it.