For wifi on a Nest speaker or display, Google's article says to run through the router first: is the network working for other devices, is the password right, and is the device within range. If you change wifi credentials or replace your router, connect the Google Nest or Home device to the new network: open the Google Home app, tap the device's settings, choose wifi, forget the network, then return to the home screen and add the device again. You may need a factory reset to set it up again.
The checks in more detail
Keep the device near the router during setup. Try restarting the router and modem, moving the device, turning off VPNs on the phone used for setup and, if your router has separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz names, choosing one band consistently. Google's article on the device not connecting to the network lists checks for filters, security modes and DHCP problems. If the speaker joins but audio streams stall, the issue may be bandwidth rather than connection, so check whether other devices are using the network heavily.
Check that the router's firmware is current. If the device connects to a phone hotspot but not the home router, the router is at fault. Do not use a guest network isolation setting that stops the phone and speaker from seeing each other, or casting will not work. Test the signal with a phone at the device's exact spot before moving it, since readings near the router say little about the shelf. Keep speakers away from microwaves and cordless phone bases, since both crowd the 2.4 GHz band.
Reconnect devices the same day after a router change rather than waiting for failures. When you have both a mesh system and an extender, check which one the speaker joined, since a device sticking to a far node is a common reason for poor audio streaming that no setting fixes. Keep a record of the network name, band and password on a note beside the router, since the most common reason a Nest device will not rejoin after a router change is a password that differs by one character from the one remembered.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest displays and smart speakers will not stay connected to Wi-Fi”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A new router or password
What separates it The display cannot join because the router or the password was changed
How to confirm Forget the network in the app, and set the display up again with the new details
- 2
A weak signal
What separates it The wifi drops because the display is too far from the router
How to confirm Move the display closer to the router, or add a mesh point near the display
- 3
Router filtering
What separates it The router rejects the display because filtering or the security mode blocks it
How to confirm Check the router's filters and its security mode, and change those that block the display
- 4
Band confusion
What separates it The display will not join because the router uses the same name for both bands
How to confirm Use one band name for the display, by giving the two bands separate names
- 5
Guest network isolation
What separates it You cannot cast to the display because it is on a guest network that isolates devices
How to confirm Use the main network for the display and for the phone, so that they can see each other
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the wifi password has been changed recently
- Whether a phone hotspot works with the display
- The make and model of your router
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedConfirm the network works
ReversibleConfirm the network works for other devices, because if none work, the fault is with the router.
Move the device near the router
ReversibleMove the display near the router during setup, so that it has the strongest possible signal.
Forget the network
ReversibleForget the network in the app, so that the display stops trying to use the old details.
Add the device again
ReversibleAdd the display again through the setup steps in the Google Home app, and choose your network.
Check band and filters
ReversibleCheck the wifi band and any filters in the router settings, since they can stop the display joining.
Factory reset
ReversibleFactory reset the display as a last resort, and then set it up again from the beginning.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Bands
- Models support 2.4 GHz and some 5 GHz.
- Casting
- Needs the phone and device on one network.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Nest Audio.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it joins a hotspot but not home wifi, check the router
- !If setup keeps failing, contact Google Nest support
- !If all devices fail to connect, contact your internet provider about the connection
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Speaker and display wifi steps.
Changing wifi.
Not connected.
Setup issues.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I change wifi?+
Forget the network in the Google Home app, then add the display again with the new wifi details.
Should I use one band name?+
It can help to use one band name, or two separate names, depending on your router.
Can a guest network block casting?+
Yes, a guest network can block casting, because it often keeps devices apart from each other.
Can a hotspot test help?+
Yes, a hotspot test can help, since it shows whether the display works on another network.
Can a VPN interfere?+
A VPN on the phone can interfere during setup, so turn it off while you add the display.
Who can share access?+
A home Admin can invite Members and other Admins, and each person then uses their own Google account.