Nest speakers and displays have no battery: they run from the supplied power adapter, so power problems are outlet, cable or adapter problems. Use the adapter that came with the device, since underpowered adapters cause restarts, reboot loops and failed updates. Plug into a working outlet, not a switched outlet or a loose strip, and test the outlet with a lamp. If the device restarts by itself, try another outlet and another cable and check for damage.
The checks in more detail
Google's reboot article shows how to restart: unplug for about a minute and plug back in. For the Nest Hub, a screen that is black but the device is on may be sleeping or at low brightness, so touch the screen or ask it to wake. Nest Mini and Nest Audio show light patterns while starting, and a device that never finishes may need a factory reset. Avoid covering vents and keep the device out of direct sun, since heat can cause shutdowns.
After a power cut the device restarts and reconnects, which can take a few minutes. A Hub Max that loses power also loses its camera features until it is back online. If the device will not power on with a known good adapter and outlet, contact Google Nest support. Note the outlet and adapter you settle on, since a swapped adapter is a common cause of a return of the fault. A device that restarts only when a heavy appliance runs may be on a circuit that dips, so try another circuit.
Label the outlet so the adapter is not unplugged for a vacuum. Keep the original box or a photo of the label, since Google asks for the model and serial number and an adapter you no longer have makes it harder to identify a mismatched power supply. A display that shows a brief boot logo then goes dark repeatedly is often on an underpowered adapter, and swapping to the supplied one or a known good outlet resolves it more often than any reset.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest displays and smart speakers has power or battery problems”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A wrong or weak adapter
What separates it The display restarts or fails to boot because the adapter is wrong or weak
How to confirm Use the adapter that came with the display, and not a phone charger or a weaker adapter
- 2
A bad outlet
What separates it The display has no power because the outlet is faulty
How to confirm Test another outlet, using a lamp to check that the outlet has power
- 3
A damaged cable
What separates it The power comes and goes because the cable is damaged
How to confirm Replace the cable or the adapter, since a damaged cable can cut the power at times
- 4
Heat
What separates it The display shuts down at random because it is overheating
How to confirm Move it out of direct sun and uncover its vents, so that it can cool down
- 5
A stuck start-up
What separates it The display never finishes booting because its start up is stuck
How to confirm Reboot it by unplugging it, and reset it only if the reboot does not help
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The adapter that the display is using
- The outlet that you have tested
- The pattern of lights that the display shows
- Whether the display has felt hot to the touch
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUse the supplied adapter
ReversibleUse the supplied adapter, and not a phone charger, since the display needs the power it was made for.
Test the outlet
ReversibleTest the outlet with a lamp, to check that the outlet gives power before you blame the display.
Check the cable
ReversibleCheck the cable for damage, such as a cut or a bend, and replace it if you find any.
Reboot
ReversibleReboot the display by unplugging it for a minute, then plugging it back in and waiting.
Keep vents clear
ReversibleKeep the vents clear and avoid direct sun, since heat can make the display shut down.
Wait after a power cut
ReversibleWait a few minutes after a power cut, since the display needs time to start and reconnect.
Contact Google
ReversibleContact Google if it will not power on, and tell them the adapter and the outlet you used.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Power
- Plug-in only, no battery.
- Displays
- The screen may be asleep rather than off.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Nest Audio.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it will not power on with a good adapter and outlet, contact Google Nest support
- !If it overheats, unplug it and contact Google for advice
- !If it restarts repeatedly, try another outlet and the supplied adapter
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Reboot.
Reset steps per model.
Speaker and display wifi steps.
Setup issues.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does a Nest speaker have a battery?+
No, a Nest speaker or display has no battery, and it needs power from the supplied adapter.
Why does it restart?+
A weak adapter or a poor outlet can make it restart, so check both of them.
Can heat shut it down?+
Yes, heat can shut it down, so keep it out of direct sun and keep the vents clear.
Does the Hub Max camera stop with power loss?+
Yes, the Hub Max camera stops when power is lost, because it has no battery to keep it running.