Multiple devices responding at the same time

[seknav]

Issue began week of December 20.

I've had multiple Google Home and Nest speakers in our home for years. Nothing has changed in the past 6 months. 2 weeks ago, multiple speakers are answering when the wake command is issued. I say 'Hey Google, what is 1+1?' and two or three speakers will respond with the information or action that has been requested. There are four speakers on the floor I'm on. One that I'm next to, and others in completely separate rooms respond. There is one in a bedroom (2nd gen Mini) and one in the bathroom (Nest Audio) which regularly go rogue. The other in another bedroom is silent.

I understand that upon hearing the wake command, multiple devices negotiate with each other to decide which will respond. In this case they don't seem to be following that procedure (the one in the other room or the bathroom jump in even though the one I'm standing next to is closest).

I've rebooted the devices and the wake sensitivity is already set to low.

Why is this happening and how can I resolve it?

I have read existing articles but this specific issue (multiple devices on the same network responding to one wake command) is not covered.

I asked this question in the Google Assistant community but was asked to post it here.

[Eieia]

Nope, not a chance. I work as sysadmin and I have a bonkers network in terms of size, speed etc. So def not our fault, but something at Google. Out of the box, everything worked out perfectly.. but for a short period of time. 

[GodsRaven]

Nope.  Not me.

[Wolflingdaddy18]

My situation got better, and has now gotten worse to the point that my hubs are virtually (pardon the pun) useless.

When I got a replacement phone a few weeks ago [Galaxy S21Ultra] it started taking over- it would answer and comply to commands. While that was good, the fact that the hub(s) would continue to TRY to respond and then tell me there was a "glitch" continued in every instance. Then I realized that if the phone wasn't in the vicinity, the exact same issues were occurring.  Occasionally, my hub in the bedroom will work, but it's only about 5% of the time. I reset everything a few months ago and even changed my router from 5/2.4 to just 2.4 for those devices. I'm probably going to switch back since some of my devices are noticeably better on the hybrid that  includes 5Ghz.  Really frustrating to not be able to do anything with these expensive paper-weights.  Most of the time, the screens just stay on "loading" and won't consistently show any of the panels until I ask for them, or navigate to them by hand. These things are just not ready for prime time.

Google home still works on my phone if it's nearby, but still only about 50% of the time. 

[GodsRaven]

I'm not sure if thiis is due to some sort of software update they've recently done, or we both just happen to be at the same point in degradation in our software.  I'd vote for the former.  Mine started the exact same thing just recently as well.  I noticed they're coming up with "new and improved" hardware soon, so as far as I'm concerned that means they've screwed it up even more and want us to pay for the screwups.  I see the evidence of this in the newer software updates.  Well, I'm not paying more money to get rid of their problems.  They need to make my stuff work I already bought, which hasn't worked right since.  Then, I might consider upgrading some day.  Now, I don't trust Google.  

[djma]

I've been experiencing these same for the past month or two. I've done the basic stuff like restarts but I'm definitely not trying to do factory reset on everything because ain't nobody got time for that.  No changes in my network it just sort of just came out of nowhere and it's getting really annoying now.

[Tareq1]

In this hard economy, Google needs to let those people go, who suggested reset/reboot solution. They have no clue about the root cause of the problem. Need put some real software developer to look into those problems and solutions.

[GodsRaven]

Won't happen.  Until people actually stop buying their products, they won't do anything.

[worekarolis]

Still having same issue. It keeps coming back after some time...

[Denman]

And I thought I was the only one! This has been going on for many months in my home. Speakers answering that are FAR away when I'm right in front of another speaker. Or speakers simultaneously answering. I'm glad to know this is a Google issue. Resets, changing sensitivities, Wifi signals and all of the other things mentioned here do nothing to help. What happened over at Google and why aren't they addressing the issue? Life was much simpler before I started buying Nest minis!

[GodsRaven]

They don't care.  They're making money from people buying this stuff.  Until it affects their bottom line, they're not going to do anything.

[TIDCDAD]

I see even the community experts have stopped providing advice on this. Google home support has become abysmal. They used to be very responsive, but since the NEST rebrand their user support has become non-existent!

[GodsRaven]

Yup.  They are making money from people who aren't aware of this problem, so they don't care.  Best thing we can do is to post bad reviews.

[swd10a]

Now I do NOT want to JINX anything.... but Google has started to work BETTER the last 2 weeks...ok, it STILL is nuts having other devices answer to my questions... even when I ask a certain device DIRECTLY from a few inches away from it. and it STILL listens to conversations... since my You Tube TV account uses the SAME Google account as my Google Home account.... I WILL suddenly "see" commercials in You Tube TV... that are about something I was JUST talking to my wife about 10 minutes earlier... (weird as hell if you ask me) ... BUT asking it to turn lights on and off is suddenly working again.... usually... ok, after only asking it 3 times instead of 20... but whatever updated... fingers crossed it continues.

[swd10a]

Update: Well... as usual, this all lasted for a few weeks then back to ground Zero. So I am giving up. Do not care anymore. I have accepted that any of my MANY Google devices will answer my questions... or not... and listen to me as a NOT so Subtle "eavesdropper"... then start rambling on and on about something I mentioned to my wife out of the Blue 2 hours before and "Here's More Information about...." ... VERY CREEPY. The most BIZARRE... or not, is that I will SUDDENLY start getting commercials via my Wi-Fi streaming service which uses You Tube TV and which I have tied my Google account into for account verification. (Thought it would make things... Easier.) Kind of upsetting when I start seeing Funeral Home commercials within 10 minutes after talking with my wife about Retirement. ... is this where we are? 

So.. NO more buying ANYTHING from Google or NEST. Will wait until WAY DOWN THE ROAD until I hear in passing ... that.. OMG. Google finally figured their CRAP out!... after another 15 years. Maybe then? Naw. 

[Wolflingdaddy18]

You all aren't going to believe me. I've got everything working correctly. I'm not 100% sure what made the most difference, but here is what has happened over the last two months. You decide.

My last connected device updated to Android 13.

I made sure my devices were all on the same network in my home. 5G is what's working now.

And here is what brought it all together today- I contacted my ISP and had them turn off the local WiFi that had somehow turned itself on from their modem/router and had them change it to a "bridge".  Rebooted router, phone & computer. 

Both Google Nest devices working correctly almost instantly. I'm stunned.

[Bigholty]

I'm on virgin fibre 1000mbs speed , I've got the Google nest WiFi hubs one upstairs one in the conservatory ( approx 12 meters and one floor in-between) . My virgin router has been switched to modem only , I still have this problem of other devices answering.

I know my virgin router is modern only because if I switch the power off to the Google WiFi hubs I've no signal in the house at all, so that at least proves I've no WiFi bleeding over from another source...

So what ever you have done or Google had down hasn't happened here.... Yet.

But I will admit it's starting to get better but far from perfect.. I'm still convinced it's the sensitivity of the mics on other devices, as it's only the other devices that are within 6 meters of each other that answer.. Non of the upstairs devices ever answer to commands given to the units downstairs..

[GodsRaven]

Mine is still a mess too.  Sometimes I think they pay one or two people to come here and say it's fixed.  This has been going on for at least a year now.  I haven't said anything in quite awhile because they don't care.  When I can afford it, I'm going to switch to Alexa, and switch from my Chromebook.  Google sucks.

[tortugatucson]

Yes having the same problem here with multiple devices answering. I haven't had this problem for years and now it's popped up like others are saying. It seems to me that it might be based on the updated version of Home? It is super annoying.

[OurAngryBadger]

Good luck, nothing will fix it and Google doesn't seem interested in fixing it. I've had this problem for about 8 months now, resets of the devices didn't work. I was originally on the Google Nest router system, and switched to an Asus router a few weeks ago. That seemed to fix it for about a week, then the problem returned. Most of the "fixes" in this thread (changing ISP router, disabling IPv6, etc.) don't apply to me as I don't have an ISP router or modem, only a fiber ONT which both the Google Nest and now Asus router functioned as the modem; and IPv6 has never been enabled on either. This is for sure a Google problem, and once your devices have it, like a stubborn virus it doesn't go away.

[Wolflingdaddy18]

I'm telling you all, this time is different. 

Every other time I've done something {3-4 times) like this, it works for minutes, to a few hours. 

I'm getting immediate, correct responses from all devices now- it's been about 24 hours. It started getting better in December when some of my devices started updating. But getting rid of competing WiFi signals (even though none were connected) has totally fixed it. 

[GodsRaven]

No.  It's not different.  Give it a bit of time.  It's still a mess.

[Wolflingdaddy18]

Over four months and my network is still working fine. I have had some minor issues with some update a few weeks ago, but that has already cleared up. A little disappointed that nobody seems to have been able to replicate my success, but to each their own.

[ktiedt]

The only dissapointment here is Google for effectively abandoning its Nest eco system. Our cameras are worse than the 4K IQ cameras of 2018, the features of Nest Aware are worse... The voice assistants are flakier today than they were during internal Google Dogfooding of these devices... 

Google jumped the shark and no longer effectively supports Nest, Nest Aware or its brand new line of "battery cameras" in any meaningful way.

[GodsRaven]

You are the correct one out of all these responses.  I see people saying, "oh, it's fixed now!", but they don't realize that it's just a matter of time.  It's annoying that I see a new "solution" again, different from the old one LOL, but nothing ever works right.  This problem has been going on for at least a year now.  

I'm disabled, on a fixed income, and rely on this technology because of my disability.  Unfortunately I put money into this and it's getting worse and worse all the time.  I've reset everything, rebooted, re-whatever.  At this point I really HATE Google.  I'm about to get rid of my Gmail because of it.  I bought a Chromebook a couple years ago and was considering buying a new one for my next laptop, but I'm starting to see that I'm not going do that either.  It's another Google "love it in the beginning, but hate it the longer I have it" technology ".   Google is the Pinto of computer technology.   

A couple days ago I was on the phone (FaceTime) with my granddaughter.  I asked Google to play music.  Instead of my system doing it, HER Google answered and started playing!!  Google is a mess.

[Wolflingdaddy18]

For the record, I posted when mine started working again and it's been perfect ever since.

I hear your frustration and empathize. I am wondering if you, or anyone else has tried any of the things that I mentioned? Just curious. 

[Eieia]

I waited 3 weeks before posting here. It seems that my problem (multiple Google devices answering at the same time or from wrong location) is now solved. I did NOT took measures to solve the issue in the last two months: no forced updates, no resets or reinstalling. It somehow confirms me that it was Google's software all along! If it matters, I am in Romania with high internet speed (2.5gbps), 2.4+ 5ghz wireless with latest standards and high coverage. 

[somecallmetim]

I've *always* had this problem. I thought it was just standard. It has me considering moving to a different ecosystem, especially as I'm starting to look at adding more smart home products into our home. 

[ktiedt]

Over a year later and still happening... 

If it makes anyone feel better... this is the same answer (or lack of answer / support) they give to folks who naively believed in their new "security cameras" that can't even identify a Fedex or UPS truck as a "vehicle" or "motion" or anything worth notifying you over even when you specifically set up notifications for vehicles on your property.

[laffingleigh]

Hi there,

I am repeatedly have issues of late where the closest Google Nest hub is not responding and, instead, one that is much further away is responding. In my head, it seemingly is a new issue. I don't recall this always being the case. I have read through other posts and the best fit answers was to adjust the "Hey Google" sensitivity. Even turning the sensitivity on the lowest for one and the highest for the closer one didn't fix the problem.

Help!

[Dan_A]

Hi laffingleigh,

Thanks for reaching out. Our team is already investigating this. I'll merge this with the similar trending issue on this thread in the community. I suggest that you follow the main thread for updates because this thread will be locked automatically once it is merged with the main one.

Best,

Dan

[laffingleigh]

Hi Dan,

I am concerned on this other thread as it shows as "Answered". This is not answered so I'm hoping this doesn't get ignored?

Thanks,

Leigh

[Frankiel2]

Good luck! I’ve been having this problem for at least 6-8 months.  Google apparently dropped the ball with their Home & Nest products.  I have Alexa too and it is 1000x better and faster at responding and controlling smart devises.  I am beyond disappointed 

[Boesman]

Smart homes are a myth. It's just not worth the effort considering the amount of obstacles put there by coroprates who are doing their upmost to screw it up for everyone. Due to their greed. Due to the fact that won't work with each other. If will remain a pipe dream because they're never going to work with each other. Their own devices don't even work with each other. Try getting google, Xiaomi, ring, Arlo etc to play together. It's impossible unless you're a geek. I'm back to doing the manual thing. And my life is normal again, the way it's supposed to be. The hundreds of hours I've spent trying to get this to work is just not worth it. So Google, Amazon and all the rest of them can just go to hell. I won't spend another cent on them. Ever.

[KiiFromGoogle · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone,

We recently worked with a Senior Product Manager on the Google Assistant team to write a blog about about what's happening when multiple devices respond to your Google Assistant requests. She shared some tips to help improve which device responds to requests overtime. Be sure to check out the blog post for all the details: FAQs: Using Google Assistant and Multiple Devices.

While this thread is now closed, we started a new discussion about this topic to gather feedback. You can also submit feedback for the team through your devices at any time. 

Thanks!