To factory reset a Google Nest Mini (2nd gen), slide the mic switch on its side to off, then press and hold the center of the speaker, where the lights are, for about 15 seconds until you hear a sound. On the older Google Home Mini (1st gen), press and hold the small reset button on the bottom, below the power cord, for about 15 seconds instead.
Before you do that, decide whether you really need a factory reset. If the speaker is just acting up, a simple restart (unplug it for a minute) fixes many problems without erasing anything. A factory reset wipes the speaker and can’t be undone, so save it for serious problems or for when you’re selling or giving the speaker away.
Quick Answer
- Try a restart first: unplug the speaker, wait one minute, and plug it back in.
- Nest Mini (2nd gen) factory reset: turn the mic switch off, then press and hold the center of the top for about 15 seconds until you hear a sound.
- Home Mini (1st gen) factory reset: press and hold the reset button on the bottom (the etched circle below the power cord) for about 15 seconds until you hear a sound.
- Set the speaker up again in the Google Home app, or give it away.
In This Guide
- Restart vs. factory reset: which do you need?
- Which Mini do you have?
- Factory reset a Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
- Factory reset a Google Home Mini (1st gen)
- How to restart without erasing anything
- After the reset: set up again or give it away
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Restart vs. Factory Reset: Which Do You Need?
People often say “reset” when they mean “restart,” but Google treats these as two very different actions. As Google’s reboot help page puts it, a reboot isn’t the same as a factory reset.
- Restart (reboot) turns the speaker off and on again. Your settings, Wi-Fi connection, and linked account stay in place. Use it when the speaker is slow, won’t respond, drops music, or has a glitch.
- Factory reset returns the speaker to its out-of-the-box state. According to Google’s factory reset help page, it clears your data from the device and can’t be undone. You’ll need to set it up again from scratch.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Speaker is frozen, slow, or not answering | Restart first |
| Music or casting keeps stopping | Restart first |
| You changed your Wi-Fi router or password | Try reconnecting in the Google Home app; factory reset if the speaker can’t be reached |
| Setup keeps failing | Restart, then factory reset as a last step |
| You’re selling, giving away, or recycling the speaker | Factory reset |
| You’re switching the speaker to a different Google Account | Factory reset, then set up with the new account |
If a new router is the reason you’re here, you may not need a reset at all. See how to connect a Google Nest Mini to Wi-Fi or change networks first.
Which Mini Do You Have?
The two small Google speakers look almost identical, but the reset steps are different. Google’s device specifications page lists the differences that are easiest to check:
| Feature | Google Home Mini (1st gen) | Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Power connector | Micro USB port | Round DC power jack |
| Reset control | Factory reset button on the bottom (etched circle) | No reset button; uses a 2-stage mic off switch plus the touch center |
| Microphones | 2 far-field microphones | 3 far-field microphones |
| Bluetooth | 4.1 | 5.0 |
The quickest check: look at the power cable. A flat Micro USB plug means you have a Home Mini (1st gen). A round barrel-style plug means you have a Nest Mini (2nd gen). You can also turn the speaker over; a small etched circle on the bottom is the Home Mini’s reset button.
What you need for either reset:
- The speaker plugged into a wall outlet and powered on.
- About one minute.
- If you plan to set it up again: a phone or tablet with the latest Google Home app and your Wi-Fi password.
You can’t factory reset either speaker with a voice command or from the Google Home app. Google’s help page says you need to use the physical controls on the device. This guide reflects Google’s instructions as of September 2026.
Factory Reset a Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
Warning: A factory reset erases your settings and data on the speaker and can’t be undone. Make sure you want to do this before you start. If you only want to fix a glitch, restart the speaker instead.
- Make sure the Nest Mini is plugged in and powered on.
- Find the mic switch on the side of the speaker and slide it to off. Expected result: The lights on top turn orange, which means the microphones are off.
- Press and hold the center of the Nest Mini, where the lights are.
- Keep holding. After about 5 seconds, the reset process starts. You may hear a spoken warning that the device is about to be reset; letting go at this point cancels it.
- Continue holding for about 10 more seconds, until you hear a sound confirming the reset. Expected result: The speaker restarts in setup mode, ready to be set up again.
- Slide the mic switch back on if you plan to keep using the speaker.
The Nest Mini has no reset button. If you’re looking for a pinhole or button on the bottom, you won’t find one; the hold-the-center method above is the only way.
Factory Reset a Google Home Mini (1st Gen)
Warning: This erases your settings and data on the speaker and can’t be undone.
- Make sure the Home Mini is plugged in and powered on.
- Turn the speaker over. Find the factory reset button on the bottom, below the power cord. It’s marked by a small circle etched into the base.
- Press and hold the reset button.
- After about 5 seconds, the reset process starts. Keep holding.
- Continue holding for about 10 more seconds, until you hear a sound confirming the reset. Expected result: The speaker restarts and is ready to be set up as new.
The button is small and flush with the base, so press firmly in the center of the etched circle. Keep the speaker plugged in the whole time; the reset won’t work on a speaker that’s unplugged.
How to Restart Without Erasing Anything
A restart is the safe first step for most problems. Google offers two ways to do it.
Restart by unplugging
- Unplug the speaker’s power cord from the outlet.
- Leave it unplugged for one minute.
- Plug the power cord back in. Expected result: The speaker starts up with all your settings intact. Give it a minute before talking to it.
Restart from the Google Home app
- Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
- Go to Home, then All devices.
- Touch and hold your speaker’s tile.
- Tap Settings, then More, then Reboot.
The Google Home app is updated often, so these labels can vary slightly by app version. If you can’t find the option, unplugging works just as well.
After the Reset: Set Up Again or Give It Away
Set the speaker up again
After a factory reset, the speaker needs to be set up like a new one. According to Google’s setup help page, you’ll need the latest Google Home app, a Google Account, a phone or tablet with Bluetooth turned on (Android 9.0 or later for Android devices), and your Wi-Fi network.
- Keep the speaker plugged into a wall outlet.
- Open the Google Home app and tap the Add button in the top right.
- Tap Device.
- Scan the QR code on the speaker if prompted, or use the setup code or search option if scanning doesn’t work.
- Wait for the app to show that it’s connected, then follow the remaining steps to choose Wi-Fi, a room, and optional features such as Voice Match.
Once it’s back up, you can pair it with your phone for music again; see how to connect Bluetooth to Google Home.
Giving the speaker away
Factory reset the speaker before it leaves your hands, so the next owner can set it up with their own account. If the speaker still appears in your Google Home app afterward, remove it there too:
- Open the Google Home app and go to Home, then All devices.
- Touch and hold the speaker’s tile.
- Tap Settings, then Remove device, then Remove.
Removing a speaker from the app is not the same as resetting it. Removal only takes it off your app; the factory reset is what clears the speaker itself. Do both when you’re giving it away.
Troubleshooting
Nothing happens when I hold the center of my Nest Mini
- Check that the mic switch is fully off and the lights have turned orange before you start holding.
- Hold the very center of the top, where the lights appear, for the full 15 seconds. Letting go early cancels the reset.
- Make sure the speaker is plugged into a working wall outlet with its original power adapter.
I can’t find a reset button
You probably have a Nest Mini (2nd gen), which doesn’t have one. Check the power plug: a round plug means Nest Mini. Use the mic switch method instead.
The reset button on my Home Mini doesn’t seem to do anything
Press firmly in the center of the etched circle and keep holding for about 15 seconds. Confirm the speaker is powered on and plugged into the wall, not a USB port on a computer.
The Google Home app can’t find the speaker after the reset
Google’s setup troubleshooting page suggests working through these, in order:
- Update the Google Home app and stay in the same room as the speaker.
- On Android, allow location access for the Google Home app (Google recommends “Allow all the time” during setup).
- Restart the speaker by unplugging it for one minute.
- Turn your phone’s Wi-Fi off and back on, then force close and reopen the Google Home app.
- Move the speaker within about 15 to 20 feet of your router.
- Try setting it up from a different phone or tablet.
The speaker is still unresponsive after a restart
Before you move on to a factory reset, rule out power problems. Plug the speaker into a different wall outlet, and use the power adapter that came with it; the Nest Mini uses its own round-plug adapter rather than a standard USB charger. If the lights don’t come on at all with a known-good outlet and adapter, a factory reset won’t help, because the reset needs the speaker to be powered on. In that case, contact Google support through the Google Nest Help Center for repair or replacement options.
The speaker still shows in my app after the reset
That’s normal. Remove it with Settings > Remove device, or set it up again so the app links to the fresh device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reset a Google Nest Mini with my voice?
No. You can’t factory reset a Nest Mini or Home Mini with a voice command or from the Google Home app. It must be done on the speaker itself.
What does a factory reset erase?
It clears your data and settings from the speaker, including its Wi-Fi connection and link to your Google Account, and returns it to how it was out of the box. It can’t be undone.
Will resetting one speaker affect my other Google devices?
No. A factory reset clears data from the speaker you reset. Your other speakers, displays, and the rest of your Google Home setup stay as they are.
Will restarting the speaker delete my settings?
No. A restart keeps your settings and account. Only a factory reset erases them.
How long does a factory reset take?
Holding the button or center takes about 15 seconds. The speaker then needs a short time to restart before it’s ready for setup.
Does removing the speaker from the Google Home app reset it?
No. Removing it only takes it off your app. Use the physical factory reset to clear the speaker before giving it away.
Do I need my phone or the Google Home app to factory reset?
No. The reset is done entirely on the speaker. You only need the Google Home app afterward if you want to set the speaker up again or remove it from your home.
Summary
- Restart first by unplugging for one minute; it fixes many problems and erases nothing.
- Check your model: a round power plug means Nest Mini (2nd gen); Micro USB means Home Mini (1st gen).
- Nest Mini: mic switch off, then hold the center for about 15 seconds until you hear a sound.
- Home Mini: hold the reset button on the bottom for about 15 seconds until you hear a sound.
- Set the speaker up again in the Google Home app, or remove it from your app before giving it away.
Next step: open the Google Home app, tap Add > Device, and set up your freshly reset speaker.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.