Google Home Hub 1st Generation Troubleshooting

Despite being plugged in, the Hub won’t turn on

The Hub doesn’t have a battery, so the device won’t operate when not plugged in.

Make sure that the power supply is firmly pressed into an outlet, and the charging cable is making a good connection to the Hub.

Double check that the outlet is functional by plugging in a different device, or try another outlet that you know works before moving on.

Inspect the charger. Make sure there’s no exposed wiring or kinks in the cord. If you have another device that uses the same charging port, see if the Hub charger works for it. If not, or if the charger seems damaged in any way, you can purchase a replacement for around $10.

If your Hub has been knocked around a bit, or the charging cord has been tugged one-too-many times by a curious cat, it’s possible that the charging port is damaged; it will probably seem excessively loose or wobbly.

Try unplugging and replugging the charging cord a few times, as it might need just the right position to engage.

If the port doesn’t seem damaged, try cleaning out any lint or debris that might be lodged inside with a toothpick.

If all else fails, you may need to replace the charging port altogether. Thankfully, it's a pretty quick process requiring basic tools; check out our guide on that here.

The device can power on without issue, but won’t respond to input

Simply unplug and replug the power supply and let your Hub reboot. This is the best first step for pretty much any device.

Using a microfiber cloth and lens/electronic cleaner, buff off any grime that may have built up on the screen throughout use. Make sure your hands are dry; touchscreens hate wet fingers.

Press and hold both volume buttons (located on the back) for about ten seconds. You'll hear Google Assistant confirm that it's resetting your Hub, and a warning will pop up on the screen. While this will restore the Hub to factory settings, it’s a good step before more drastic measures.

If your Hub recently got wet, or lives in a place where it might be splashed, reference this guide on steps you can take to help mitigate water damage. If all else fails, you might need to replace the screen entirely.

Certain pixels are stuck on a certain color, and won’t change regardless of what’s on the screen

Stuck pixels are usually red, green, blue, or yellow, and can often be resolved with a restart or reset. If you see a cluster of them, though, it’s likely that your screen is physically damaged and needs replacing.

Dead pixels are black or very dark, and will never change no matter how much your screen changes. There’s no real way to fix dead pixels without replacing the screen, so if you open your Hub and see dead pixels right off the bat, reach out to Google or the retailer where it was purchased for a replacement device.

If you can’t return or replace your unit, the screen can be replaced with a set of basic electronic repair tools.

The Hub can't establish a connection to the internet

Its current location might be too far away to make a strong connection.

Make sure your mobile device’s OS is updated to the most recent version, and restart the Google Home app.

Unplug your router’s power source and wait 10 seconds before plugging it back in. Wait for the connection to reset and try connecting your Hub again.

1.) Navigate to the WiFi settings

2.) Open the list of available networks and find “GoogleHomeXXXX” (XXXX will be a random number assigned to your Hub).

3.) If you successfully connect to the Hub through your mobile device, open the Google Home app and follow the onscreen prompts.

4.) If all else fails, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Google Home app and repeat steps 1-3.

What good's a smart-home without audio?

Navigate to the settings on your Hub via the display, and make sure that Google Assistant is enabled.

Make sure your Hub isn't muted (switch on back of display) and ask your Google Assistant to increase the volume with this verbal command: "Ok, Google, turn it up." There are also onboard volume controls that you can adjust via the display. Make sure your volume is turned up at least halfway; if the Google Assistant isn't replying to your commands whatsoever, move on to the next step.

Follow the reboot/reset instructions in this troubleshooting section.

If you've exhausted your options and are sure that it's a hardware issue with the speaker itself, it's time to replace it. Check out our handy guide on how to do just that!

Hub is giving answers no one asked for

Noise interference is the most common cause of a Hub that's jabbering to nobody. Try moving the Hub away from any TV’s, radios, speakers, or ambient conversation that might confuse your Google Assistant. If the Hub isn’t in use but you still want to bump some tunes or watch your favorite show, simply mute the Hub using the switch on the back.