Google Home app: "Could not reach service" for any Works with Google device

[waded]

Wondering if there is any workaround info or known issue information about a behavior I'm seeing: when trying to add a new "Works with Google" device (Kasa/TP-Link) in the Android Google Home app, when on the screen where I search/select a linked service to add, tapping a service flashes the screen momentarily then shows a toast that says "Could not reach (name of service here). Please try again." This appears to be systemic - it doesn't matter which service I tap, Kasa or otherwise, the app claims they're all unreachable. This has been ongoing for 3 days,

There was no Google Home app update available.

I've tried toggling network connection (LTE vs Wi-Fi vs. both.) No VPN or Data Saver enabled. I do have an unused SIM card in the phone, haven't tried ejecting it, but that's been there better part of a year. I'm not having networking-type issues with other apps. Device control for Works with Google devices/services I set up previously is working well, from Google Home app and elsewhere, but the related linked services were authorized w/ Google prior to this problem. The Kasa/TP-Link app works to control the plug I'm trying to add.

Device is a Pixel 4a, on Google Fi using ESIM.

Final update: Thread, and my own experience, indicate this is caused by a 13.48/beta build of the "Google" Android app. (The one with the "G" logo.) Backing out of the Google app beta in Play Store, uninstalling the Google app updates, then updating it until I had a 13.47 version instead was the workaround that worked for me. 
Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity

[sconniesquatch · Accepted solution]

Good catch. Left the Google app beta, did the uninstall updates/clear cache data/reinstall updates for Google app and Google Play services. Google Home can now add third-party services/partners.

Google app beta definitely seems to be the culprit.

[sconniesquatch]

Clearing the cache and data for the Google app and Google Play services, uninstalling their updates and then updating them again has not resolved the issue. From what I can tell, I'm following the process/procedure others have found success with.

[waded]

I don't see enough replies here to be certain, but I wonder if Samsung Android 13 perhaps requires additional intervention. (I wonder what its baseline Google app version is - maybe it is not possible to get back to a version that's unaffected? The version of the Google app I have now, in a working state on Pixel 4a, Android 13 QPR1, is 13.47.8.29.arm64. As I mentioned I didn't have to touch Google Play Store / Google Play Services to get working, YMMV.)

[sconniesquatch]

Of course there would be a Samsung complication. 🙄

Updated Google app version on Android 13 (Samsung) is 13.48.9.26.arm64.

[waded]

Are you possibly enrolled in the beta for the Google app? I can't say for certain, I didn't write it down, but I think 13.48 is the beta build I had prior to leaving beta as I uninstalled/reinstalled to get to 13.47.

[sconniesquatch · Accepted solution]

Good catch. Left the Google app beta, did the uninstall updates/clear cache data/reinstall updates for Google app and Google Play services. Google Home can now add third-party services/partners.

Google app beta definitely seems to be the culprit.

[Mlabrador]

Hi folks, 

Thanks for posting in the community. 

@Willem_K & @sconniesquatch, thanks for sharing with us the troubleshooting steps. Appreciate it. 

I will be leaving this thread open for three days to give more time to other users to confirm that it is working. 

Best, 

Nikki 

[sconniesquatch]

At some point, this data needs to be relayed to the Google app dev team, so that they understand there's an issue with the current beta version and Google Home's ability to add devices/link accounts for Works with Google third-party services/partners.

[RSLH]

Hopefully this thread will gain enough traction to warrant an article on DroidLife or Android Police. This is getting ridiculous. The bulk of the Google Home feature is to work seamlessly with 3rd party apps and this is broken for many.

[Tenkely]

Dang - Still not working over here...

[RSLH]

Do you have a Samung or Pixel? I wonder if that matters as someone else mentioned above. I have a P7 and the above worked for me. After I uninstalled the update on those 22 apps (Google and Google Play Services), I restarted the phone then updated the Google app via the Play Store, and I believe the Play Services updated itself (?) since I don't have an option to update. Try to add the 3rd party service now and if that still doesn't work, restart the phone and try again. 

[sconniesquatch]

Update Google Play services here:

https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/9037938?hl=en

[Tenkely]

Pixel 7 Pro - After uninstalling Google App updates and Google Play Services all I was left with was needing to re-add my payment cards to Wallet for tap to pay... Google Home wasn't fixed. 

[waded]

What's the version of Google app that's currently installed? (Shown down at the bottom of the view of the Google app in Settings - Apps.) If it's a 13.48 version, check to see if you're enrolled in the beta for the Google app - if so, try leaving the beta before uninstall/reinstall. At least in two cases reported here, as it was in my case, getting to 13.47 instead of 13.48 seems to be the key. I didn't need to touch Google Play Services to get there.

[Mlabrador]

Hi folks, 

Sorry for the late response. Our team is working on a fix. In the meantime, please follow the steps below. I'll be leaving this thread open for more updates. 

1. Open Google Play store > search for the Google app > select uninstall.
2. Once done, the Google app rolls back to an older version.
3. Clear the Google app’s cache: 
4. Go to Android Settings > choose Apps. 
5. On the list of apps, find the Google app.  
6. Tap Storage > select Clear cache.

Best, 

Nikki 

[abhiroopb]

Just tried this on my Pixel 4XL and no luck. 

[Mlabrador]

Hi abhiroopb, 

Thanks for trying the steps. If you are also enrolled in the preview program, could you try to leave and check if you can update the Google App? 

Best, 

Nikki 

[abhiroopb]

I don't think I'm on the preview program. How do I check? 

[dkirch888]

Hello, 

I have been having this same exact issue on an iPhone for about a week. We have been trying to add back some automatic blinds through Automate Pulse 2 with very similar error messages. Since iPhone doesn't have a way to clear the cache, I deleted the app and reinstalled to no avail. Any recommendations for fixes here?

Thanks, 

Dani

[Juni · Accepted solution]

Hey folks, 
 

We appreciate your patience. Wanted to let you all know that an update has been rolled out. Please try updating your Android Google Search App (Google app) to 13.48.11.29.
 

If you haven't received the update, you can still try the workaround steps outlined before:
 

1. Open Google Play store > search for the Google app > select Uninstall.
2. Once done, the Google app rolls back to an older version.
3. Clear the Google app’s cache: 
4. Go to Android Settings > choose Apps. 
5. On the list of apps, find the Google app.  
6. Tap Storage > select Clear cache.
7. Attempt to connect or link the third-party partner device in the Google Home app again.

Thank you,

Juni

[cogneato]

Are there any other issues which might be occuring aside from not being able to link services within Google Home? (Syncing devices for example)

Or should all users of GH update to this version no matter what issue they are experiencing?

[abhiroopb]

Hi I updated to the latest version but still have the same problem. 

[Dan_A]

Hi folks,

Apologies for the delayed response. I'm chiming in to see if you're still having the same behavior with your Nest devices and devices that work with Google. Have you all tried updating the Google app on your device? It would also help if you could try a different account and see the difference.

Regards,

Dan

[abhiroopb]

Te issue is fixed for me. It looks like the services themselves were also having problems and after they updated it's working as expected.

[Dan_A]

Hi abhiroopb,

Perfect! Thank you for sharing it in the Community. We're just waiting for the others to acknowledge and we're taking this home.

Thanks,

Dan

[Dan_A]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to follow up and see if you still need help. Please let me know if you are still having any concerns or questions from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further.

Kind regards,

Dan

[Dan_A]

Hi folks,

I'm just checking in to make sure that you've seen our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this thread in 24 hours.

Cheers,

Dan

[RSLH]

Seems to be back to normal for me. I'll let other users respond on their experience. Thanks again.

[Dan_A]

Hi RSLH,

Thanks for the update. Would you mind sharing your resolution in the Community? How about the rest of the guys? How are we doing?

Excited for your reply,

Thanks,

Dan

[RSLH]

I followed sconniesquatch's (amongst others) steps below and it worked eventually. Google may have rectified and updated the Google Home app since. This was over a month ago.

- Go to Settings -> Apps
- Uninstall updates for Google app
- Uninstall updates for Google Play services
- Clear cache and data for both Google app and Google Play services
- Update Google Play services here: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/9037938?hl=en
- Download update for Google app from Google Play Store
- Restart device
- Attempt to add device/link account for Works with Google third-party services/partners 

[Dan_A]

Hi RSLH,

We really appreciate you taking the steps again and thank you for your patience. We're now waiting for the others to confirm on their status.

Take care!

Kind regards,

Dan

[Mlabrador]

Hi abhiroopb, 

You can follow these steps below. 

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Touch and hold your device's tile.
3. At the top right, tap Settings Device information Preview Program  Leave program.
4. You'll now find "Leaving" under Preview Program within Device Settings.

To learn more about the preview program you can click this link. 

Best, 

Nikki 

[abhiroopb]

Thanks, but it looks like I'm not in the preview program

[Juni]

Hi there,

We haven’t heard back from you, so I'll be locking this thread in 24 hours. Feel free to create a new one if you have more questions or have other concerns in the future.
 

Regards,

Juni

[plmosqueda]

Hi. Same issue here. Pixel 4a. 

[atllogix]

I just left beta, uninstalled updates to play service and rebooted. It's working but I don't have beta anymore.

[Hafer]

Leaving the Google App Beta fixed the issue for me. 

[febb]

I am having this problematic issue on a Samsung Galaxy S22+, which has Android 13 (OneUI 5.0). If I go to settings,  Apps, then I look for Google Play Store,  I do not see any button or menu option to "uninstall updates" on this apps. I can't even go into "details of the app in Play Store".  Google Play Store can't see itself in Google Play Store,  so I do get a "something went wrong... Try again"... and there is no way to get the details of the Play Store as to delete it's updates.

So, any suggestions where I could accomplish this on a Samsung S22 line device which, has just been upgraded to Android 13... and, as of now seems not to have upgraded Google Play Store or, can't see that anyway?

Thanks in advance.

[febb]

Ok seems I finally got it working on my Samsung Galaxy S22+ which is on Android 13  AND I am on the beta of the Google app (the "G" logo app)... Soi, what I did.

1) I didn't left the beta program of the app.  Why? Because I could lose my beta status there, beta space is limited.

2) I did manage to UNINSTALL all updates of the Google app.  

3) After uninstalling the updates of the Google app, I immediately went into the Google Home app and tapped on the button that said "Link eWelink" ... that immediately opened a web page with all required to link that 3rd party app into Google's ecosystem.  

4) After the link was made, I went back into the Play Store, searched again for the "Google app" and applied all updates again.

So, it seems, at least on the Samsung phones to be a versioning issue with the Google App.    

I didn't mess with the Play Store nor Google Play Services.

All seems to be working fine now. 

[sconniesquatch]

That's an interesting development.

So uninstalling the updates for the Google app, while remaining in the beta, allowed you to add a device for a Works with Google third-party service/partner? Would be curious to know if that process could be replicated with the same results.

[febb]

Exactly right. I stayed on the beta program of Google app (the "G" logo app) and just uninstalled all its updates.  Went into Google Home app, tapped on the link button and voila! ... I all worked fine.  Let's see if some other people can replicate this... If not, I could try unlinking the third party app,  updating Google app, trying to relink and see what's the result (should NOT work again...) then doing as described above and see if I can make it work again. 
Any takers to try this...    I may do it later, as I rather setup my home automation stuff, finish that job and then do the experiments.  
Thanks to all.