Setup Google Wifi older iOS

[oldTed]

Several years ago I invested in a whole bunch (6) Google Wifi Mesh devices, set them up as directed by all the online documentation, troubleshooting no problem with the iOS Google Wifi app.    Recently, I tried to run the app to look at some funny things on the network, and it said it had been retired and replaced with Google Home app.   This app will not install on my phone (or any other iPhone of family members); it seems it now requires a later version of iOS than will run on the devices I have.

My iOS latest version is 12.5.5, and my OSX latest version is 10.14.6

How do I set up, extend (add more access points), or troubleshoot my network?

A second mesh in a different State (vacation home) seems to have had one of the access points fail in some way, it no longer connects to the mesh.   I cannot troubleshoot it as Google Wifi app does not run on my phone, and apparently the new Google Nest stuff is not compatible with my older devices.

Help!   What do I do?

[olavrb]

If you don't have iOS, iPadOS or Android hardware that is recent enough to run the Google Home app, you could try to emulate Android on Windows 11.

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/android/wsa/
• https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-sideload-android-apps-on-windows-11/
• https://www.apkmirror.com/uploads/?q=google-home
• https://www.reddit.com/r/WSA/comments/suxa1n/google_home_app_listed_as_incompatible_on_wsa

Or Waydroid on Linux:

• https://waydro.id/
• https://youtu.be/dV7zFHIWxBU

Or run "Android x86" in a hypervisor or bare metal:

• https://www.android-x86.org/

I'd rather buy supported hardware, like a used iPhone SE for instance. Your outdated hardware is likely not getting security udates from Apple anymore, which is reason enough to get something newer.

• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222
• https://endoflife.date/iphone

[oldTed]

Thanks for the info; I found a way to install an old version of Google Home which will run on IOS 12.5.5 and I was able to setup and (mostly) troubleshoot my Google Wifi setup.  The remaining problem is that the network test passes all tests - except for the Mesh test.    Pretty much no information given for the inability to integrate the Mesh; it only says 'fails Mesh test, please try again' with no further information.   there is a clear hand-off between the access points (I have them wired for hardwire backchannel so that the remote access point is directly connected via a longish ethernet cable to the main access point interfaced to the ISP modem). It is perhaps the distance that causes the mesh setup failure; I have the second access point as the far bedroom is too far from the primary access point for usable WiFi; that may well be why the mesh cannot be detected, but a handoff occurs when walking between rooms.   Note this is a very old building (pre-1900) and the walls are plaster with metal mesh lath, thus essentially making all the rooms almost self contained Faraday cages, which is the worst possible thing for modern WiFi indoors.   But my WiFi is usable for now in all rooms, so I am rolling.

[Jeff]

Good to hear that things are working on a connectivity level, oldTed. It's possible that the older version of Home might be causing the mesh test to fail, but I don't have a way to test that myself. One thing you can always try is resetting your cloud services connection to see if it might clear up the mesh test issue. Instructions for that are below.

Open the Google Home app.
Tap the WiFi icon.
Tap Settings.
Select Privacy settings.
Toggle Nest WiFi cloud services OFF and wait for 30 seconds, then back ON.
Once done, close the Home app and perform a full network restart to ensure that the new settings are in place. To do this, I would recommend doing a power cycle on your network.
Disconnect the power adapter and the Ethernet cable from the Nest WiFi router.
Disconnect the power adapter from the Nest WiFi points.
Disconnect the power adapter from the modem. Allow all devices to stay disconnected from the power for 5 minutes.
Connect the power back to the modem only and wait for it to fully back up. All lights should be lit up before moving to the next step.
After the modem is back online, connect the Ethernet cable back to Nest WiFi router's WAN port (globe symbol port).
Connect the power back to the Nest WiFi router and to the Nest WiFi points. Wait until they're all fully back on.
Once you've ran through that process, see if the mesh test will properly report.

Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, oldTed.
I just wanted to check in real fast to see if you saw my reply and to find out if you still needed any help on this. If so, just let us know.
Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, everyone.
Just 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 help, I would be happy to keep it open. If there's more we can do, just let me know.
Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, everyone.
As we haven't had any activity here recently I'm going to go ahead and close the thread. If you have more to add, feel free to start a new discussion.
Thanks

[Jeff]

Hi, oldTed.
I just wanted to jump in real fast to see if you saw olavrb's reply and to see if you still needed some help on this or if you were able to get it sorted out. If you are still needing some help, just let us know and we'll be happy to continue helping.
Thanks.