Smart & Connected Life Smart Home 83 83 people found this article helpful How to Reset Google Home, Mini or Max Is your assistant acting up? Reset it by Daniel Nations Writer Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, The Spruce, and other publications. our editorial process Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Daniel Nations Updated on July 08, 2020 reviewed by Jon Fisher Lifewire Tech Review Board Member Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. our review board Article reviewed on May 08, 2020 Jon Fisher Smart Home Google Your Best Year Ever: College Tech Tips Amazon Appliances & Lighting Tweet Share Email What to Know If you are having problems with your Google Home device, resetting it might help it regain its mind.A factory reset is typically reserved either for selling the device or troubleshooting persistent problems with the Google Home.The process doesn't take long at all; you should have a happily working Google Home device in less than a minute. This article explains how to factory reset a Google Home Mini, Google Nest Mini, Google Home, and Google Home Max. It also provides information about when and why to reset this type of device as well as when you shouldn't try it at all. How to Factory Reset a Google Home Mini You can usually reset the device and restore it to just-out-of-the-box condition by holding down the factory data reset (FDR) button. A factory data reset erases all data stored on the device, including settings and any personal data. You can't use your voice or the Google Home app to factory reset any Google Home device. Performing a factory reset on Google Home takes under a minute when you follow these steps: The Google Home Mini has a dedicated FDR button on the bottom of the device. Look for it just below the power plug; you'll notice a simple round circle. Reset your Google Home mini with a simple button. Lifewire Press the button down for about 12-15 seconds to reset the Google Home Mini. You'll hear the Assistant confirm it is resetting the device. Release the button. Your device is now reset. How to Reset a Google Nest Mini The Google Nest Mini does not have a dedicated FDR button. It uses the Mic On/Off button instead. Switch the mic off from the side of the Nest Mini. The LEDs will turn orange. Press and hold the center of the top of device where the lights are. The reset process will begin after 5 seconds, but keep holding down for 10 more seconds until you hear a sound confirming that the Nest Mini is resetting. How to Reset a Google Home The Google Home does not have a dedicated FDR button. Instead, it uses the Microphone On/Off button for this purpose. As with the Home Mini, hold the button down for 12-15 seconds. You'll hear the Assistant confirm it is resetting the device; then you can lift up off the button. How to Reset a Google Home Max Similar to the Home Mini, the Max has a dedicated FDR button. It is located to the right of the power plug. Hold it down for 12-15 seconds to reset the device. You'll hear the Assistant confirm it is resetting the device; then you can lift up off the button. What's Next? After you reset your Google Home, you can set it up again just as you did when it was fresh out of the box. When you boot the Google Home app on your smartphone, you will be prompted that a new Google Home device has been detected. Tap the notification to begin the Google Home setup process. Why Should I Reset My Google Home Device? A factory reset is reserved either for selling the device or troubleshooting persistent problems with the Google Home. One common reason to reset the device is if you are selling your Google Home device or returning it to the store. Resetting any Google Home device will delete your personal information, including account information. Another reason to reset Google Home is when you are experiencing frequent connectivity issues or if the Google Home randomly reboots itself. In that case, you should try rebooting the device before performing a Google Home reset. To reboot, just unplug the Google Home, waiting a few seconds, and then plug it back into the outlet. When You Should Not Reset Your Device If you just want to rename the device, sign into a different Wi-Fi network, change the account you are using with Google, Pandora, Spotify (etc.), or configure smart home devices, you can do so using the Google Home app for Android or for iOS. This is the app you installed to set up the Google Home.