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Google Home/Nest Hub will not set timers or alarms

Rdianco
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Disclaimer: This thread was migrated from our previous version of the Google Nest Community. You can continue to receive updates on your thread issue here or simply ask, browse or more in the new Google Nest Community.

Original Poster: Robert Echard 

 

 

Google Home/Nest Hub will no longer set timers or alarms. Tried the reboot. No dice.
 
33 REPLIES 33

Rdianco
Community Specialist
Community Specialist
Hi Robert Echard,
 
Thank you for your message. I am sorry to hear that you are not able to set timers on your Google Nest Hub. That is a very important issue, and I would be more than happy to help you. First, I have some questions:
  • Which Google Nest Hub device is this? (1st or 2nd gen.)
  • Is your device powering on and working normally besides this issue?
  • Is your device showing up in the Google Home App?
  • Are you receiving any error messages when you try to make a timer? What does it say? 
  • Have you tried to conduct a reboot or a Factory Data Reset on the affected device? Is there any improvement?
I apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to your response. Thanks.
 
 
- From Frances (Community Specialist)

peach
Community Member

I'm having the same issue with both of my devices. I've gone through every single setting, factory reset, and still no luck. This is a main function of the device(s) and it won't work. What is the solution?

aleks-v
Community Member

1st gen.  reset the hub and a factory reset.  same issue.  same issue at friends homes to on their hubs.  most of which are 3rd gen.  i would like to upgrade to a 3rd gen but not with basic functionalities not working.  sad

The-Madhouse
Community Member

Hello, 

 

Ik have thé same problem. Nest can not set a timer, if i use thé correct frase ( hey Google set a timer for X minuten) it reply's with ''i can not set a timer at this moment, please try again in a few seconds'' device is powered on, and connected, thé weird part is, my nest hub and nest mini have thé same problem. If i move them to an other ''house'' in thé Google home app they both work.... 

If i change rooms they keep thé problem. 

So there is something ''wrong'' with my ''house'' but i can not figure out what.... Any advice? 

Experience similar timer settings issue 

same issue for me, My nest mini is saying "I cannot set a timer/alarm at the moment, please try again in a few seconds"

Oebele
Community Member

Exactly same problem here, only I don't have different rooms or houses, just the one.

AMiesem
Community Member

I have a similar issue, but also slightly different.

In my Google Home, I have:

  • 1 Original Google Home
  • 3 Nest Home Minis, purchased over the past few years
  • 3 Next Hubs, one 1st generation, one 2nd generation, and another I believe to also be 2nd generation
  • 2 Chromecast Ultras
  • 1 GE Microwave
  • 1 (recognized) Amazon Firestick

I can easily set alarms and timers on the nest minis, and have had no problem with this for years. However, the hubs seem to only rarely be able to set alarms and timers, although -- with each hub -- periods of functionality seemed to vary.

  • I have rebooted the hubs multiple times.
  • I have removed and readded every device to my home.
  • I have factory reset each device, removed them, and readded them to my home

The most recent acquisition, a 2nd generation Nest Hub, sits on my bedside table. There is an older Nest Mini sitting across the room. If I speak directly to the hub and ask it to set an alarm, it says that sorry, it can't create that alarm and to try in a few seconds. It never works.

At the same time, I can set an alarm on both my cellpone and the nest mini across the room with zero trouble, unless the hub hears me and overrides the other devices.

I found a Reddit post that suggested removing one's location and then re-inputting it would work, and I tried that, with limited success. I was able to set one alarm on my new hub, but upon trying again the following evening, it still does not work.

This is a key function that I wish to use on the hubs, as they are strategically placed in my office, my kitchen, and my bedroom. This has been extremely frustrating for me, and has been a problem for years.

The-Madhouse
Community Member

My ''system'' is just totally Broken right now. 

Ik removed all of the ''houses'' including thé rooms, made a brand new one, and now i can not ad anything to it, not even a Philips hue bulb. I get thé error that it can't communicate with thé Google service and i have to try again later.... 

What is this? And why? 

Frustrating that we can not troubleshoot this because i believe it are server errors we can't see or change. 

 

@AMiesem thé thing where it works ones i also had. After trying and trying and trying.... It set 1 timer, i was so happy, got thé girlfriend in thé room to show that I FIXED IT!!!! But after doing it a second time it failed again, i Will bever forget her face.... So much disappointment.... 😛 

 

Are there google tech's over here that can PLEASE help us? This stuff aint cheap, and it just does not work fully, it's like buying a car, evertthing works except thé headlights or something.... Frustrating

So, I went through the remove address/re-add address to location settings once again, and everything started working again. I noticed that the zip code, while previously (suggested by Google) was of the pattern #####-####, this time it was #####, which leads me to believe that some update on Google's side might have changed address lookups, which somehow negatively affected this function?

I'm guessing I might have to go through this routine again in the future, but for now, it's working again.

 

mikerod2
Community Member

this worked for me. thank you 

Curly
Community Member

Ah, we'll spotted. Reset the home address and timers magically work again. This was a UK based address which looked on before.

Jake
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey all,

 

Sorry for the late reply. I wanted to follow up and see if you are still in need of any help? Please let me know if you are still having any trouble from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further. 

Best regards,
Jake

Jake
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey all,


I wanted to check in and see if you are still in need of any help with your device? Please let me know, as I would be happy to assist, and answer any questions you may have.

Best regards,
Jake

Jake
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey all,


I want to ensure you are good to go, and everything is working properly. Please let me know if you are still having trouble, as I will be locking the thread due to inactivity. 

Best regards,
Jake

Jake
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey all,


It has been a few days since the last reply, and I am going to lock the thread at this time. If you have any questions, please feel free to create a new post. 

Best regards,
Jake

Netsrek
Community Member

I have exact the same issue. The hub 2nd edition won't set timers on voice commands, but also not using the buttons m just tells me it isn't able to do this/that right now.

It also won't tell me the weather when I place it in a routine, while just asking does work. Strange behaviour lately.

Rdfernan
Community Member

My timer and alarms were working fine (setting it with Google assistant) up until a week ago when I installed the Google home router and 1 wifi point.  Since then, the voice command to set up a timer and alarm does not work. I've tried all troubleshooting (restart, factory reset, change language, uninstall and reinstall, disable then re-enable, clear cache, etc.) This is frustrating as I use my timers and alarms frequently. Please help!!! 

Netsrek
Community Member

Hi Rdfernan, I have fixed my problems recently by creating a new "home" in the Google Home app and assigning my Hub2 to it. From then, all worked again.

I also did factory reset, power down etc. but all those things didn't help, till I changed the home where it was added to.

Good luck!

Rdfernan
Community Member

NETSREK...YOU ARE MY HERO!!!

AMiesem
Community Member

I'm starting to think this might be triggered by adding/updating devices in your home group. Maybe removing/readding your location each time a device is added/updated will fix it each time.

 

Rdfernan
Community Member

AMIESEM.....NESTREK IS MY HERO!!!

Are
Community Member

Magic! For months the counters didn't work. Just had to update the adress, no real change, just wrote the same again, and then FINALLY it works like a charm. 

DriftMoss
Community Member

I'm having the same issue. 1st with a brand new device. tried all the suggestions, even contacted Google support on the phone. they decided to replace unit and the new unit is doing the same thing. strangely enough my old home mini (1st gen) had no problems until the mic qould keep switching itself off which is what led to replacing with the new nest mini.

Creating a new home worked for me.  Check community member Netsrek message.

news4naeem
Community Member

I am also having same issue in second generation nest hub. I did factory reset / reboot but still not working. I am able to set it manually though. It says "sorry i wasnt able to set that alarm. Try again in few seconds"

Creating a new home worked for me.  Check community member Netsrek message above.

DriftMoss
Community Member

update... I fixed it.

I had to delete the home from Google home, then factory reset nest mini. After that I had to create a new home in home app and add device.

 

as a side note I also had a family group with google family link. I had to delete that group and re-create it. not sure if that applies to everyone but if you are like me then try that aswell if you're still having issue.

 

thanks google for your days of wasted emails,phone calls and chats. As ot it turns out we the community are better.

jdevhurt
Community Member

My address for Home had Zip code with the 5 digit and the extra 4 digits.  I changed it so that it had only the 5 digit and this allowed the Google homes under my Home to start allowing alarms to be set.

JaKyL
Community Member

I had this issue for a long time too. 

I fixed it by factory resetting the Google home mini. I set it up again as normal. I then deleted my home address from the google home app (Home settings, Home information).

Tested a timer and it worked. Re-added my home address to the app and tested a number of times.

It seems to work fine now. 

aleks-v
Community Member

same issue here.  completely unreliable.  i use siri for timers which is sad as siri is a horrible.

mikerod2
Community Member

Have you tried changing the zip code to remove the extra 4 numbers at the end?

Harufire
Community Member

I'm having the no timer issue with my hub in my kitchen. No errors, it just says "sorry I can't do that right now".