Cannot change placement of Nest Hub in Google Home

[TheBuster]

I have two 2nd gen nest hubs. One is brand new. Neither can be successfully reassigned to a different "placement" once they've been setup.

If I click placement and try to assign the hub to a different room, the app will also ask for a new device name. If I try to reuse the current name it will say "This device already exists. Please use a different name." So I type a new name but neither change actually works. If I click "not now" on the new device name, the placement still doesn't update either.

I can successfully edit the device name by itself if I click on that directly, but cannot change placement or name by clicking placement.

The only thing I've found that works for changing placement is to remove the device from my home and re-add it to a different room during setup.

I'm using a OnePlus 9 pro on the latest OS version, and the Home app is up to date.

[Azarco]

Hey TheBuster,

We're sorry to hear that you're having problem changing your Google Nest Hub devices placement — let me help you out.

Have you tried reinstalling your Google Home app? Also, try using a different phone to see if you'll get the same result.

Keep us posted!

Thanks,

Alex

[Azarco]

Hey TheBuster,

How's it going with your Nest Hub's placement? Did reinstalling your Google Home app help? 

Best,

Alex

[TheBuster]

Hi Alex, thanks for replying. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the home app, with no difference in this issue 

I also checked all the other devices in my Google home though, and you'll be interested to know that this issue is not limited to just the hub displays. I have several nest cameras both wired and battery, 3 Google WiFi routers in a mesh setup, several nest mini speakers, a Chromecast, and several other devices added through integrations with non-Google apps. Of the Google devices, only one of the nest minis and the Chromecast can be resigned to a different placement. I noticed that those two devices and all of the non-Google devices have a blue bar that appears at the top of the placement list. This bar says "select room" and "save". All of the other nest devices just show a list of rooms to select from with "not now" and "next" at the bottom. I'm happy to provide screenshots if you tell me where to send them.

Thanks

[Azarco]

Hey TheBuster,

Thanks for letting us know and we appreciate the update. Have you tried using a different phone to check if you'll get the same result? Also, you can attached screenshot copy of your Google Home app on this thread so that we can have a better look.

Regards,

Alex

[Azarco]

Hey TheBuster, 

I know you have other things to do, let us know once you have the chance to take a screenshot of your Google Home app. Also, did you get the same result when you use a different phone?

Best,

Alex

[Azarco]

Hey TheBuster,

One quick final check in here since activity has slowed down. We'll be locking the thread in the next 24 hours, but if you still need assistance, feel free to start a new thread in the community and we’ll be happy to help.

Thanks,

Alex

[TheBuster]

Hi Azarco, thanks for checking in, and apologies for the slow responses on my end.

I couldn't get an actual photo to upload here, but here are the links to those screenshots. 

This is the screen most of my nest devices get if I try to change their placement. This is the one that does NOT work. Room selection on this screen does NOT work. 

And this is the screen that only one of my nest minis, my chromecast, and all of the non-google devices in my home get, when I do exactly the same thing to try to change placement. This DOES work, and placement is successfully changed. Room selection on this screen works as expected. 

I don't get why there is a difference. Specifically with the nest minis, why would one of them randomly get the app screen that works, while all the others get the screen that doesn't work?

Finally, I was able to check this using my wife's phone, which is also logged into our Google Home via her account. All the behavior I have described is exactly the same on hers. This includes the same one nest mini and chromecast get the working room selection screen, while all the other nest minis and other nest devices get the broken room selection screen.

I hope this is helpful.

[Azarco]

Hey TheBuster,

Thanks for the picture it helps me a clear view of your Google Home app. Could you try creating a new home structure and transfer your devices there. Once done, you can delete the old home that you have. Resetting your device might help too.

Let me know  how it goes.

Best,

Alex

[TheBuster]

I created a new "test home" in the app. Moving any of these devices to the new home, then trying to change their placement within "test home" gets me the exact same results. Same screens, etc.

Again, I tried all of this from my wife's phone also, which is logged into google home with her Google account. Everything is exactly the same using her phone and her account. So I think we can rule out the phone, the google account, and restarting any of the devices make no difference. I have also factory reset one of the hub displays, and that makes no difference either. Of course, factory resetting the device, or just deleting it from my home allows me to effectively reassign a new placement for the device while I'm adding it back to my home, but as SamaraiBigEd also stated, device placement is supposed to be able to be changed within device settings in the app without having to remove or reset anything. As I've stated several times now, this works fine on ONE of my nest minis (out of four that I have) as well as my chromecast. Why it doesn't work for any of my other nest devices and why is isn't even consistent across the four nest minis makes no sense and is pretty apparently a bug in the app and/or device software.

[Azarco]

Hey folks,

SamuraiBigEd, we hear you! We're always looking for ways to improve and we'll take it as feedback. Do you still have other questions?

TheBuster, thanks for doing those steps. Could you fill out this form and let us know once you're done.

Regards,

Alex

[Princesss]

Hi TheBuster,

We've received your form-- thanks for filling that out.  I'll consider this post as complete and will lock the thread in 24 hours. Please keep an eye on your email as someone from our team will reach out to you to assist you further.
 

Best,

Princess

[SamuraiBigEd]

I am having the exact same problem.

[Azarco]

Hey SamuraiBigEd,

We apologize for the inconvenience, have you tried the suggested steps above? Let us know if resetting your device and creating a new home structure works for you.

Thanks,

Alex

[SamuraiBigEd]

I deleted the device and re added, That fixed the problem, but this is an issue Google needs to address, you are supposed to have the ability to change it from your settings.