The Nest Mini (2nd gen) has no screen, so setup is done entirely through the Google Home app, and almost every failure comes from one of four things. First, the app and its permissions: on Android the app needs Location and Nearby devices, and on iPhone it needs Bluetooth and Local Network, and without them it never sees the speaker. Second, the power: the Mini ships with its own adapter, and a weak USB charger can leave it rebooting in a loop that interrupts setup.
Third, the network: the speaker must join a 2.4 or 5 GHz network that the phone is also on, and a guest network or a network with client isolation blocks it. Fourth, an earlier setup: a Mini that belonged to someone else, or that you set up before, will not appear until it has been reset. When the Mini is plugged in it plays a chime; if you hear no chime, check the power first.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest Mini (2nd gen) will not complete setup or pairing”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A permission the Google Home app lacks
What separates it The app says Searching for devices and never finds the Mini
How to confirm Allow Location and Nearby devices on Android, or Bluetooth and Local Network on iPhone
- 2
A weak or wrong power adapter
What separates it The Mini reboots or the lights flash
How to confirm Use the supplied adapter plugged directly into a wall outlet
- 3
A guest or isolated network
What separates it Setup fails at the Wi-Fi step
How to confirm Join the phone to the main network, with no client isolation
- 4
A speaker already set up
What separates it The app does not show it
How to confirm Factory reset: mute the mic, then press and hold the center until the reset sound
- 5
An old app or a phone glitch
What separates it The app errors midway
How to confirm Update Google Home, restart the phone and try again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The phone, its OS version and the permissions given to Google Home
- Whether the Mini plays its start-up chime
- The network name and whether the phone is on it
- Whether the speaker was set up before or belongs to someone else
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedPlug it in and wait for the chime
ReversibleUse the supplied adapter and a wall outlet, and wait for the Mini to start up and play its chime before you open the app.
Check the app's permissions
ReversibleOpen the phone's app settings and allow Location and Nearby devices, or Bluetooth and Local Network on an iPhone.
Join the phone to the right Wi-Fi
ReversibleThe Mini connects to the network the phone is on, so use your main network, not a guest network.
Start setup in Google Home
ReversibleTap Add, Set up device and follow the prompts; stay within a few meters of the speaker.
Reset the speaker if it is not found
ReversibleSlide the mic switch off, then press and hold the center of the top for about ten seconds after the reset sound begins.
Update and retry
ReversibleInstall the latest Google Home, restart the phone and run setup from the start.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- No screen means the app is everything
- The speaker gives a chime and lights; every setting is chosen on the phone.
- Mic switch
- The mic switch on the side is also part of the reset method.
- A used speaker
- A second-hand Mini needs a factory reset before you can add it to your account.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If setup fails on a second phone and a second network, contact Google Nest support
- !If the Mini shows no lights at all with a known-good outlet, ask about a replacement
- !If the speaker belongs to another account, the previous owner must remove it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why can't the Google Home app find my Nest Mini?+
A refused permission, the wrong network or a speaker that was set up before and needs a reset.
How do I factory reset a Nest Mini?+
Switch the mic off and press and hold the center of the top until the speaker confirms the reset.
Does the Mini need 2.4 GHz?+
It joins 2.4 or 5 GHz, but both devices must share the network.
Do I need a Google account?+
Yes, setup links the speaker to a Google account in the app.