Google's setup article for speakers and displays lists common problems and fixes. Use the latest Google Home app and keep the phone near the device with Bluetooth and location on, since setup uses them. If the app cannot find the device, Google's article says to check it is powered on and showing its set-up light, restart the phone and the device, and make sure the phone is on the same wifi you want to use.
The checks in more detail
Its guide on not finding the device in the app covers Bluetooth and permission checks. If you cannot hear the test sound during setup, Google's test sound article explains that the sound helps the phone match to the device, so raise the volume and reduce background noise. Choose the room, name the device and link it to your account. For a used device set up before, factory reset it so it forgets the old account. Seamless setup devices, some newer models, have their own troubleshooting.
If setup times out, restart the router, use the 2.4 GHz band if the device struggles and try again from the start. After setup, test Hey Google and a playback, and set up Voice Match if you want personal results. If setup fails repeatedly, try another phone. Do setup with the phone unlocked and the screen on, since a phone that sleeps mid-setup drops the link. If setup works on another phone, the first phone's permissions or version were the cause.
Set up in the room where the device will live. Keep the phone unlocked and the app in the foreground for the whole setup, since a screen that sleeps during the test sound step is a very common reason for a stall that looks like a device fault. If the app keeps offering a device you have already set up, remove the old entry first, since a leftover listing from an earlier attempt can block a clean setup and looks like a device fault.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest displays and smart speakers will not complete setup or pairing”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Bluetooth or location off
What separates it The app cannot find the device because Bluetooth or location is turned off on the phone
How to confirm Turn on Bluetooth and location on the phone, then keep the phone close to the device during setup
- 2
A quiet test sound
What separates it Setup stalls because the test sound is too quiet to be heard by the phone
How to confirm Raise the volume on the device, and reduce the noise in the room while it plays the test sound
- 3
A used device
What separates it The device is still linked to another account because it was used before
How to confirm Factory reset the device, so that it is free to be set up again on your own account
- 4
A weak wifi signal
What separates it Setup times out because the wifi signal is weak where the device is placed
How to confirm Set the device up near the router, and then move it to its final place afterwards
- 5
A band problem
What separates it The device cannot join the network because of a problem with the wifi band
How to confirm Try the 2.4 GHz band for the setup, since it is the band that most often works with a speaker
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact message shown in the app during setup
- The color and pattern of the light on the device
- The versions of the phone software and of the Google Home app
- Which wifi band the network uses
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUpdate the Home app
ReversibleUpdate the Google Home app and the phone software first, so that the setup runs on current versions.
Turn on Bluetooth and location
ReversibleTurn on Bluetooth and location for the app, and keep the phone close to the device during setup.
Power the device
ReversiblePower the device from the supplied adapter, and wait for the light that shows it is ready to be set up.
Follow the app prompts
ReversibleFollow the prompts in the app, choosing a room and a name for the device when it asks you.
Play the test sound
ReversiblePlay the test sound when the app asks, and raise the volume so that the phone can hear it.
Reset a used device
ReversibleReset a used device before you begin, and then try the setup again from the start.
Try another phone
ReversibleTry another phone if it keeps failing, since that shows whether the phone or the device is at fault.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Seamless setup
- Some models set up faster.
- Test sound
- Needs a quiet room.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If setup fails on another phone, contact Google Nest support
- !If the device is linked elsewhere, reset it
- !If the test sound fails, check the volume
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Setup issues.
Setup discovery.
Test sound.
Seamless setup.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why can't the app find my speaker?+
The usual reasons are that Bluetooth or location is off, or that the device has no power.
What is the test sound?+
The test sound is a tone that the device plays, so the phone can confirm that it is the right one.
Do I reset a used device?+
Yes, reset a used device so it is not still linked to a previous owner's account.
What are seamless setup devices?+
Seamless setup devices are newer models that finish their setup more quickly, with fewer steps.
Should I set up Voice Match?+
Set up Voice Match if you want personal results, since it lets the device recognize your voice.
Can another phone help?+
Yes, another phone can help, because it shows whether the problem lies with the phone or the device.