Google’s newly launched home speakers are facing a new problem, with multiple new owners reporting the initial setup process failed before it was complete.
The setback comes just weeks after Google announced the device as its first standalone smart speaker in nearly six years, significantly diluting the company’s home audio lineup.
Even before the setup failure surfaced, the home speaker had already attracted complaints of slow and unresponsive performance in certain everyday scenarios during its first few weeks of general availability.
This pattern continues with the current setup issue, with user reports on Reddit stating that the process stops midway and the device becomes unresponsive. Owners faced with failures have resorted to factory resets, but so far that action has failed to resolve the failures in most cases.
Google confirms a fix is in the works
Google has since confirmed that a future software update will resolve the setup failure, and affected owners can quickly get the fix by unplugging the speaker and power cycling it.
Owners who don’t want to power cycle their speakers can instead wait for updates to arrive automatically. Google indicates that the rollout should reach all units within 24 hours.
The recurring problem also applies to a broader pattern across Google’s recent smart home hardware. Some new devices require repeated initial patches before settling into stable everyday performance.
Alternatives for affected owners
Rather than address early reported software issues, some buyers chose to stick with the six-year-old Nest Audio, with setup issues fueling a more unstable debut than many expected.
Some users are drawn to devices with built-in screens, such as the Pixel Tablet, which is used in speaker mode. This is because the added visual feedback is better suited for everyday interactions than devices without a screen.
Regardless of these alternatives, the Google Home Speaker is still available in retail stores, priced at £99/$99.
Google hasn’t given a specific rollout date beyond the 24-hour window, but the confirmed software fixes suggest owners of affected devices should regain normal setup functionality within that short period of time.
