Home Mini Glitch

[pippip]

My first gen Home Mini has become largely (but not totally) unresponsive. This started weeks ago, seemed to get better by itself but now has gotten much worse. When I ask a simple question like "hey Google what time is it?" or "hey Google, what's the weather today?" there is a very long pause and a reply "hmm something went wrong, try again in a few seconds" or "there was a glitch". If I say "hey google stream BBC radio 4" sometimes I get the glitch response but the radio station plays anyway. If I ask it to "stop" it doesn't work so I have to go into the Home app on my phone and select 'stop'

As you can see, this is not an issue with connection to my wifi router, the problem is with the mini no longer responding to simple commands. Within the Home app I have rebooted the mini several times and also used the Feedback feature to report the device behaviour. I am writing now on this forum because this 'glitch' seems to be a widespread issue that other customers are also suffering from and feel it is not being properly addressed

[pereztzum]

Hi @pippip,

I understand your frustration with your Google Home Mini's inconsistent behavior. It sounds like you've already tried some good troubleshooting steps, but let's see if we can get it working reliably again. Here are a few additional things you can try:

1. Check for Software Updates:

• Make sure your Google Home app is updated to the latest version on your phone.
• Outdated app versions can sometimes cause compatibility issues with devices.

2. Adjust "Hey Google" Sensitivity:

• Open the Google Home app and go to your Home Mini's settings.
• Look for a section on "Hey Google" sensitivity and try adjusting it.
• Sometimes background noise or a quiet voice can make it harder for the Mini to pick up your wake word.

3. Factory Reset:

• This is a more drastic step, but it can sometimes resolve persistent issues.
• Be aware that this will erase all your settings and customization on the Mini.

4. Consider Alternative Reboot Method:

• You've mentioned rebooting through the Home app, but have you tried the physical unplug method?
• Unplug the power cord from the Mini itself (not the wall outlet) for about a minute.
• Plug it back in and wait for it to restart completely.

5. Report the Issue in Detail:

• While you've used the Feedback feature, consider reporting the issue in more detail on the Google Feedback.
• Mention the specific error messages you're getting ("hmm something went wrong" or "there was a glitch") and the time-frame when the issue started and worsened.

If none of these solutions work, it's possible your Home Mini might have a hardware problem. In that case, you might need to contact our Google support for further assistance.

Best, 

Brandon.

[pippip]

Hi Brandon

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I've tried all those things including hard Factory Reset, nothing works, also I don't think it's a hardware issue, I think there's something on Google's back end that needs fixing. I see other people posting with the same problem including  @Lgyonker on another thread who mentions something that can be replicated: I can stand right next to my Home Mini in a silent room (so it's not a sensitivity thing) and clearly say something simple like "Hey Google what time is it?". On the first three attempts there will be a long pause followed by the 'glitch', 'problem' etc replies... 'try again in a few seconds'. On the fourth attempt I get an immediate response with the correct time as if nothing was wrong. After that my Home Mini will respond normally to all commands for a period if I ask them in fairly quick succession, but if I leave it for a while (10 minutes maybe) and try later, we're back to square one with 'glitch'. I've tested this a few times today and it's a replicable scenario

[pereztzum]

Hi @pippip 

I'm more than happy to help you with this issue.

I understand you've already tried several troubleshooting steps. Here are two suggestions that might help:

1. Power cycle your router: Turn it off, unplug it for 2 minutes, then plug it back in and power it on.
2. Check for 2.4 GHz compatibility: If your devices support it, switching to the 2.4 GHz band on your router may improve signal strength.

If the issue persists please fill out the Contact Us Form and we'll be more than happy to help you.

Best, 

Brandon.

[pippip]

Hi Brandon

As I said it was something wrong with Google's back end because yesterday morning  everything was back working normally again. Nothing I did (powering off, rebooting, factory reset etc etc) over the last week made any difference, I just had to wait for Google to do their bit. I think it's important for customers with this "there's a glitch" issue to understand that because fiddling with your router or rebooting etc may coincide with Google fixing the Assistant back end and thereby create a false association between cause and effect when trying to troubleshoot the problem