The Nest Mini has no battery and runs from its mains adapter, so every power symptom is about the supply. A Mini that will not turn on, shows no lights, restarts at random or drops offline when the volume is high is usually a loose, worn or weak adapter. Check that the adapter's plug is fully seated in the speaker's socket and that the adapter is in a working wall outlet, not a switched strip. Try another outlet, and if you have it, another adapter of the same rating, since a worn plug gives intermittent power.
Do not use a lower-power phone charger. A restart caused by loud music is a sign of a weak supply. After a power cut, the Mini may take a few minutes to rejoin the network, and unplugging for ten seconds starts it afresh. The Mini is a small speaker with a modest adapter, so plugging it into a USB port on a TV or a computer is not a substitute. If the speaker restarts only when it plays loud bass music, move the volume down a few notches and see whether the restarts stop, which confirms a power cause.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest Mini (2nd gen) has power or battery problems”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A loose plug
What separates it The Mini flickers when touched
How to confirm Reseat the plug at the speaker and the outlet
- 2
A weak or wrong adapter
What separates it It restarts at high volume
How to confirm Use the supplied adapter
- 3
A bad outlet
What separates it It works elsewhere
How to confirm Use another wall outlet
- 4
A power cut
What separates it It is offline afterwards
How to confirm Unplug for ten seconds and restart the router
- 5
A faulty speaker
What separates it No lights with a known-good adapter
How to confirm Contact Google Nest support
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The adapter used
- Whether the plug is firmly in
- Whether it restarts at loud volumes
- Whether a power cut preceded it
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedReseat the plug
ReversibleAt the speaker and the outlet.
Use a wall outlet
ReversibleNot a strip.
Try the supplied adapter
ReversibleNot a phone charger.
Unplug for ten seconds
ReversibleThen replug.
Restart the router after a cut
ReversibleThen the speaker.
Contact Google if there are no lights
ReversibleWith a known-good adapter.
Lower the volume as a test
ReversiblePlay music at a medium volume for an hour; if the restarts stop, the adapter or the outlet cannot supply the peaks.
Inspect the adapter and cable
ReversibleLook for a bent plug, a frayed cable or a warm adapter, and replace the adapter if any of these is present.
Plug into a different room's outlet
ReversibleA circuit shared with a heavy appliance can dip when the appliance starts, which restarts a small speaker.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- No battery
- All power faults are the supply.
- Volume
- A weak adapter shows at high volume.
- The plug is the weak point
- Round power plugs on small speakers wear at the connection, so a Mini that works only when the cable is held at an angle needs a new adapter.
- USB ports
- Powering the speaker from a USB socket on another device usually delivers too little current.
- Shared circuits
- Appliances such as fridges and heaters can cause small voltage dips.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If there are no lights on a known-good adapter and outlet, contact Google Nest support
- !If it restarts on the supplied adapter, ask Google
- !A hot adapter means unplug it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the Nest Mini have a battery?+
No.
Why does my Mini restart?+
A weak or loose adapter.
Can I use a phone charger?+
Use the supplied adapter.
Why is it offline after a power cut?+
It needs a few minutes to reconnect.
Can I power the Mini from a power bank?+
Only a bank that supplies the right voltage and current; the supplied adapter is the safe choice.
Why does it restart when music is loud?+
The adapter or outlet cannot supply the peaks.