Google Home app missing "Routines" button in iOS 14.6

[Rdianco]

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Original Poster: Ddan Clanad 

A year or two ago, I was able set up Routines on my Google Nest Mini using the Google Home app on my Android device. These routines worked successfully. Recently, I switched to a iOS 14.6 device. I noticed that my Routines stopped running. Also, if I ask Google Assistant anything about my created Routines, she does not recognize them. Thirdly, In the Google Home app, the Routines button disappeared. See below:

 

As a work-around, I discovered that if I asked my Google Nest Mini "Create a new routine" it would tell me to go into Google Home app, and tap on the Routines button. This is not useful to me, as there is no button. However, it would also send me a link that I can tap on that actually brings me to my routines. All the ones that I had previously set up are there. Unfortunately, the second issue remains that the routines will not run.

My Google Home App language is EN-IRL. I've tried changing it to EN-US with no luck. Any ideas how I might fix the issue?

[Rdianco]

I believe that I found a workaround that works.

Instead of changing the "language" of the iOS mobile device to EN-US, I changed the Region to The United States under Settings -> General -> Language & Region -> Region.

 

Then I deleted the Google Home App and reinstalled it.

Then, after going through the start-up wizard, the old "Routines" button was available again.

I was able to change the region back to what it was, and reboot iOS. This did not take the Routines button away again.

I tested if the routines worked by creating a timed routine and it ran successfully.

- From Ddan Clanad (Original Poster)

[Teekay]

Thank you for this info. I am in South Africa and the process worked for me!

[strandbygaard]

I'm seeing the same issue. Looking at threads on support.google.com, many users are seeing the same thing, and as of yet it doesn't appear Google is prioritizing a fix

https://support.google.com/assistant/thread/83770174/google-routines-missing-in-google-home-app?hl=e...

[GarrettDS]

Hey there,

Sorry for the late response, but I wanted to drop in here to help. 

I understand that it can be frustrating when you're not able to view things that you are wanting to view within the app but I definitely wanted to stop by and see how I could help. 

Just wanted to double check to see if you were still needing help on this? If so, what troubleshooting steps have you tried? 

Please let me know. 

Best regards, 

Garrett DS

[strandbygaard]

Tbh, I think this, and the other thread I linked to document the issue and steps taken pretty well?

Troubleshooting steps:

1. No change in setup. The only change (for me at least) leading to this issue occurring is a newer version of the app.

2. Verify that all pre-requisites are met, according to google documentation. 

3. Un- and re-install app

4. Verify problem on multiple iOS devices.

5. Test that the "Routines" button re-appears when setten English (US) language and region.

Others reported, that the "Routines" button would "disappear" after a few seconds. I found that strange, but I have also experienced this behaviour, and it can be reproduced as follows:

1. Uninstall app

2. change language and region settings to English (US)

3. Re-install app. Verify that routines button is present.

4. Change back language and region settings, e.g. to Language=English(US), and Region=Denmark.

5. Open app. The Routiones button is present, and disappears after a few secends.

I have not bothered with any of the workarounds, using voice commands for google assistant.

[GarrettDS]

Hey there, 
Thanks for providing us with those troubleshooting steps, I know this can be frustrating but I'm happy to keep helping you get to the bottom of this. 

• Instead of changing the "language" of the iOS mobile device to EN-US, will you try changing the Region to The United States under Settings -> General -> Language & Region -> Region.
• Then delete the Google Home App and reinstall it.
• Then, after going through the start-up wizard, the old "Routines" button was should be available again.
• Then you can change the region back to what it was, and reboot iOS. 
• Then you can test if the routines work by creating a timed routine and running it successfully. 

If the problem persists after all of this, I will escalate this issue to our higher tier team to see if they can recreate it and issue a bug. 

I appreciate your patience on this. 

Garrett DS

[Teekay]

Garrett

Thank you for replying again.

I am changing my region to US, but the moment I change back to South Africa, the routines button disappears

I have tried the same process on my i-pad. Same results.

I will appreciate it if you can escalate this.

Thanx

[strandbygaard]

Hi,

I have tested per your instructions. The behavior as I have observed it:

1. "Routines" button is present. Region is English (US)

2. Close Google Home app

3. Change region to Denmark

4 Open Google Home app

5. "Routines" button is visible - and then disappears within a few seconds.

This behavior has been observed independently by several users according to postings in the threads. It seems probable that this is not a fluke.

@GarrettDSI would expect that the product team can very easily reproduce this behavior. I takes but a few minutes to try out 🙂

Having to change the region to English (US) at all, is a deal breaker. It's only for testing purposes.

[GarrettDS]

Hey there, 

Thanks for letting us know about this issue. I have sent this to our engineering team and they would like you to send feedback to https://bit.ly/3agoYXR. 

Best regards, 

Garrett DS

[GarrettDS]

Hey there, 

Just wanted to jump in here to check to make sure that you saw our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours. 

Have a great day. 

Garrett DS

[GarrettDS]

Hey folks, 

It looks like we haven't heard back from the OP so I'm going to go ahead and lock the thread. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to create a new thread. 

Have a great day,

Garrett DS

[GarrettDS]

Hey Teekay, 

Sorry to hear that you're still having issues with this. Did you follow my instructions exactly and you uninstalled and reinstalled the app?

I'll go ahead and still escalate this to see if they can create a bug or anything for us on this. 

I look forward to your response. 

Best regards, 

Garrett DS

[Teekay]

Garret

I followed your instructions by the letter on both my devices.

The moment you change Region again, the routines button disappears.

It should have been there in the first place.

Please escalate

[GarrettDS]

Hey Teekay, 

Thanks for the information. I have gone ahead and sent this over to that team, and we should be getting a response very soon. 

I appreciate your patience with this. 

Best regards, 

Garrett DS

[Teekay]

I’m working a i-phone 12, IOS 14.8.

I have changed region on the phone to English US

I then un-installed the home app.

Reset the phone, installed the app again.

The routines button is then available.

Change region back to English South Africa.

The moment you open the app again, routines button disappeared.

Very frustrating.

I suppose it is because Google does not support English South Africa. I hope this can be fixed soon.

[omontanhista]

Hello, In my google home I can't make routines with devices.
In google home "desktop" there isn't the routines button, and when I use google home settings and go to routines I can't see any device in there.

I wanted to do something like "When xiaomi gateway alarm is alerted, play alarm sound in google mini". I use mostly xiaomi products.

Google HomeRoutinesHome devices