Can't get nest mini to connect - my phone isn't supported on device utility

[Kesepton]

I am trying to connect these to my home app. Says I need to use device utility to connect the mini to Wi-Fi. When I go to download the app, it says it isn't supported on my phone because it's made for an older android. 

What can I do here?

[Sarahb4321]

Hey! I have a 2nd hand 3rd gen chromecast and im having trouble connecting and activating it. It's model NC2 6A5. This will be the 1st time I personally use it. I think ive tried all the troubleshooting suggestions on google but i keep running into roadblocks. Wondering if someone here can maybe help or just tell me if its even possible to connect. I've factory reset the chromecast. I've unplugged and plugged my router. My google home app says "Chromecast found but it needs to be activated before setup". In order to do that i need the Device Utility app which won't work on my phone cuz my phone is too new. Ive also tried connecting directly to the chromecast's SSID but it keeps saying no internet access. Can anything else be done or i do i just get rid of it? Thanks in advance!

[Wellesbournered]

Try sideloading the Device Utility APK to your phone. That worked from me.

[SheAll]

Same issue and this is a Christmas gift. I'm sure there will be many others who receive this device for Christmas despite the fact that Google hasn't figured out how to make it work with its own phone system. Let the returns begin!

[Takoyaki_uwu]

Honestly I returned mine already, I got a Amazon echo ordered. The lack of communication on this issue is horrible as this has been a known issue. I hate lack of communication in customer service and I've also ordered a new phone and swapping away from my pixel because I'm worried if I have a issue this same situation will repeat.

[eduardo13]

This is an absolute joke... How can you sell a google product, that can't be setup using a google phone? And Why the hell would I keep older phones? I only have one. This is so much garbage.

[duanetheriot]

Same issue here. It seems insane that I can't set up the new Nest Mini I got for Christmas with my Pixel phone. I have no other phones available to set this up with.

[TheWood47]

Got a new mini for Christmas and can't add to Home. Can't find the Utility Device APK app that others have suggested as a work around. Disappointed this hasn't been fixed yet...

[Wellesbournered]

Search for APK Pure Device Utility 

[Jonno_Maude]

I have a Chromecast Audio that Google Home is able to recognise is close by. But that in order to proceed in setting it up I will need to download the device utility app in order to activate the device for setup.. I've copied that text below I'm italics 

Google Home app message: Device needs to be activated before setup

You may get this message in the Google Home app when you try to set up a device that hasn’t been connected to Wi-Fi for some time (or ever). 

To set up this device, you first need to use the Device Utility app.

Note: If your device has Google TV or Android TV, you can use the setup flow on your TV to activate your device.

Activate your device for setup

Download the Device Utility app from the Google Play Store.

This real issue comes in that when I select the link to the Device Utility app from the Google store it notifies me that the app was written for an older version of Google and so I won't be able to download it.. I have a pixel 8 pro and its seeming as though I won't be able to get this Chromecast Audio working.  I really hope to be able to get this working so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated 

[Wellesbournered]

Download the Device Utility APK from APK Pure. Sideload it (you need to allow unknown apps in Settings). This should install the device utility app. I have a Pixel 8 Pro and it worked for me.

[Jonno_Maude]

Hey that worked a treat.. I downloaded the wrong app at first but when I realised I needed to download it from their website not app store I figured it out.

Thank you so much for your help

[Flavabean]

I'm running into the same issue, it says device utility app is not available as it's made for an older version of Android and im using a pixel 7. 

I have 2 Google minis which are useless rn, Google team should send us replacement products to make this work. 

[gems]

@GoogleNestTeam What is happening; where is the update?! I purposefully bought a Google Nest Mini 2nd Generation to go with my Pixel phone, after years of loyalty to Google phones and naturally assuming that the Google ecosystem exists to benefit consumers! It is absurd that this issue exists in the first place and both weeks before and after Christmas and Chanukah. Google as a major tech company owes it to consumers to address this issue and communicate to the many of us who are waiting for an update before throwing in the towel on Google products entirely. I'm in disbelief that a secondary Google app deemed necessary to go with the first Google app deemed necessary for a Google product to function at all does not work on a flipping Google Pixel! Not only is a solution overdue, it's ridiculous that almost TWO MONTHS have passed without anything from your end. Loyal Google consumers should never have to resort to reverting back to iPhone or going the sketchy EPK route to make Google products work! I've gone months without a speaker in my bathroom to save up and reward myself getting a Google speaker not a $15 wireless speaker... I'm not prepared to go months more or risk my data being stolen and devices corrupted, yet it already feels like the latter has happened from how it is currently a brick. 

Again, what is happening?! Should I toss my newly unboxed Google Nest Mini 2 that I was so looking forward to into a landfill? Waiting for response [this website also doesn't bring up any results when typing in the Associated Products box but I'm no longer surprised just profoundly disappointed in Google who claimed to be able to compete with other tech ecosystems.]

[Georgemck]

Hey, admin, can we have an update. 3 months is too long.

[Wellesbournered]

I'm posting my solution again.

Download the Device Utility APK from APK Pure website. Sideload it (you need to allow unknown apps in Settings). This should install the device utility app. I have a Pixel 8 Pro and it worked for me.

[Georgemck]

Sigh. I'm an 81 year old senior and have no idea what side loading is.

[Jaimison]

Any update?? Kind of ridiculous that you're selling gear to people that can't use it on a phone me that you also sell

[N-Crowd]

Me Too!
I just posted the following message to support and hope something is done about this issue soon.

I can't run Device Utility on my Pixel 7 -- so I can not install or connect to Google Nest speakers

- Device Utility App will not install on my phone - as the play store tells me that it is only available to run on older systems.

I'm using a Pixel 7 and have Android 15 running.

Many people seem to have this same issue, and have for some time. It appears Google is just to incompetent to fix this very serious issue. It should be a no-brainer that a company with millions of customers and hundreds of thousands of users for this type of product would make this a priority but it seems like NOT!!!

I just bought six of these Nest speakers. Should I just return them to the store?? 

They are currently just very expensive Bricks at this point, and I'm very disappointed that Google would not have proper management in place to ensure this type of thing would not happen, or if it does then at least have it fixed in a reasonable period of time.

I already returned another brand's smart speaker for the same reason several months ago and expected that this issue would be fixed, or It would at least work with Google Speakers!

I wasted hours trying to figure out how this could work, and then more time still talking to the tech support that said it was a known issue and they could not help me.

I’ve read that you can use a APK package to install a different version, but have also read that many users has serious issues because of this fix, and it seems ridiculous that Google could not fix this issue directly in short order.

[Bobzeka]

I believe I found a workaround. I opened the Device Utility app Play Store page on my Pixel phone, under install on another device, I was able to click the "install" button next to my Samsung tablet.

On the Samsung tablet, I went to that same page. Under "install on another device," I was able to click the Install button next to my Pixel 7 Pro. Now it's installed on both devices, even though it said it wasn't compatible with either. 

[Anime820Girl]

It's now January 31st 2025. Tomorrow is February first. I swapped my Alexa for this nest because I have 2 Chromecasts and a Google pixel 7a. This still hasn't been fixed meaning that I literally have an expensive paperweight right now! Google is usually pretty good with fixing things but if the issue started 3 months ago and I'm they STILL haven't fixed it, I'm already impatient, and I just got my nest mini!

[tarehart]

If you'd like to bet some play money on when this gets resolved, right this way: https://manifold.markets/tarehart/will-the-google-nest-mini-setup-pro?play=true

[abaughman3]

I was able to get the new mini connected by using an old phone via the Google Home app. When I selected the app I looked into my current Google account then it prompted me to setup the new mini so it might also work by using a different phone not just an older one.

[abaughman3]

I was able to setup the new mini via an old phone via the Google Home app. I just had to login to my current Google account then it prompted me to setup the new device. You might also be able to do it via any other phone or maybe just logout of your current Google Home app then log back in for the prompt to occur (make sure the mini is plugged in.)

[AeroRAF]

I was able to get it to work using the current iPhone Google Home app. The Android app is broken and will not work on any Android device I have tried.

[HeadKase]

This is ridiculous. When are we getting an update for this? Without this app, your product is just an expensive brick. You can't even give the app a bad review if you can't install it, or the rating would be a lot lower than 2 stars, which is sad to begin with. 

[Wellesbournered]

I'll repost my earlier response. Download Device Utility APK from APK Pure. Allow unknown sources in settings. Sideload APK. Device Utility will install.

[LaPoiscaille]

Thank you, it worked like a charm ! 

[NeedNestHelp]

I was able to activate my speaker on a Pixel 8 Pro through the following process:

(First Factory reset your device)

1) Disable VPN

2) Side Load the Device Utility App: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/device-utility/device-utility-2-2-8-2-release/device-utilit...

Note: You may have to first enable developer mode on your phone, I had already done this in the past to download Beta Apps.

3) Click the link from you notifications bar to install and launch the app

4) Follow the instructions then go to the Google Home App and add the device 

Here is a more detailed step-by-step walk through that I referenced:

https://www.androidpolice.com/reactivating-old-nest-speaker-complicated-directions/

The first time I did the process I had VPN on and was unable to find the device in Google home. So I turned VPN off, reset it again and then the whole process worked seamlessly. 

[Actionbyte]

Same Problem here, I have 8 new Nest Mini devices wich I cannot use.
I want to chande from Alexa because I want to use Youtube Music but this is really ridiculous!

[N-Crowd]

Download the Device Utility APK from APKPure. Allow unknown sources on your phone. Install APK

PS: This has been an issue for a very long time!
The Google team should ashamed of such poor support for their own product and newer phones.

[Actionbyte]

Here is my workaround:

Instructions on how to bypass the error message in the Google Play Store

Download the App Utility 2.2.8.2 as a APK-File from @APKMirror:

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/device-utility/device-utility-2-2-8-2-release/

Select the "Universal" Architecture to download it as a "apk" File.
Go to the download folder on your phone and open or install the APK file. Acknowledge warning about installation from a trustworthy source and allow execution.
The utility app is then installed without any further error messages.
Tested on a Pixel 7 with Android 15.

[kimmyjac9]

Try updating your phone's software, using an older device to set it up, or finding an alternative app. If nothing works, check the manufacturer’s support for a workaround.

[mayalcs]

Ia ir true it hasn't been fixed yet? I see messages from last year and I do not have an older version or phone. Pleas advise, this is outrageous 

[ejafman]

Still same issue here.

Incredible...running pixel 3a Running Android 12.

[minist3r]

Wow Google, just WOW.  Almost 8 months later and we still have to use a bandaid fix.

[Grml]

Seriously? 8 months later this is still open? Just bought a speaker that needs the "Device Utility". And, of course, not available to my up-to-date Pixel 8 Pro. Are you really expecting to keep old phones for years because you can't get your sh*t right? That's pathetic!