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No matter what I do my Google Home keeps saying that the mic is off but it is not

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: Selena Culvahouse 

 

I'm trying to get my mute button on my Google Home to work it is saying that it is muted but it's not I've already tried moving the switch back and forth tried looking to see if there's anything in the button to make it not work but it's not doing anything.
 
1 Recommended Answer

Muddi
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey folks,

Thanks for sharing details about the issue here, and apologies for the delays. I know the feeling of not having a working device when needed. After looking into these reports, the team recommends resetting your device by following the steps below:

 

  • On the bottom of Home Mini, press and hold the factory reset button located below the power cord. Look for a circle etched into the base. After 5 seconds, your device will begin the factory reset process. Continue to hold for about 10 seconds more, until a sound confirms that the device is resetting.
     

If the above steps don't work, you may be running into a hardware issue. Please reach out to us to get immediate support at this link: https://bit.ly/3adTfGB

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Muddi

View Recommended Answer in original post

68 REPLIES 68

Rdianco
Community Specialist
Community Specialist
Hi Selena Culvahouse, 
 
Thank you for your message. That is definitely an odd issue that your Google Home device keeps saying the mic is off, when it is not. I would be more than happy to help find a solution with you. First, I have some questions to get a better understanding of this situation:
  • Which Google device is this post in regard to? (model name, generation number if applicable)
  • Are you trying to mute your microphone? Or are you trying to have the microphone on?
  • When you say the mute button is not working, what do you mean? Is your device toggled on mute but still responding to commands?
  • Does your device still power on and work besides this issue?
  • Have you tried to do any troubleshooting steps? (reboot, reset) If so, what have you tried so far?
I look forward to your response, thanks.
 
 
- From Frances (Community Specialist)

Hey guys, I was reading through here trying all of these and none of them worked. I have unplugged and replugged a million times, reset multiple times, flipping the switch over and over, flipping it hard, and beating this thing off of my counter top. The only thing I have gotten to work is something I discovered by accident. For me atleast, if I put the switch in a certain sweet spot, near the middle, farthest away from the muting side, it seems to work again. Hope this can help someone.

Yes mine is doing the same  mic is on and also mic is off. Like right after each other for no reason  I have to unplug I t. It's quite annoying I tried everything just wondering if you fixed the issue

Hi, As I said before try to take off bottom part and spray Wd-40 on switch connections. Worked for me. If that doesn’t help try to remove switch and use welder to connect 2 last connections(there are 3) u will not be able to turn off mic but the issues will be fixed 

Hello...yes it's working (almost 2 months now) still after I took it apart and sprayed wd40 on the connection.   It did take a little working the switch to find the sweet spot.  The rubber bottom is completely gone tho

Muddi
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey folks,

Thanks for sharing details about the issue here, and apologies for the delays. I know the feeling of not having a working device when needed. After looking into these reports, the team recommends resetting your device by following the steps below:

 

  • On the bottom of Home Mini, press and hold the factory reset button located below the power cord. Look for a circle etched into the base. After 5 seconds, your device will begin the factory reset process. Continue to hold for about 10 seconds more, until a sound confirms that the device is resetting.
     

If the above steps don't work, you may be running into a hardware issue. Please reach out to us to get immediate support at this link: https://bit.ly/3adTfGB

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Muddi

BradRapids
Community Member

I have the same issue with mine now, it just started happening in the middle of the night.

Any options to fix this?

Shriyak
Community Member

It is happening with me too. Despite the mic switch is on, it says the mic is off intermittently. I guess there is any hardware issue with mic button for multiple people. Please help fixing it, Google, or else it will just become a paperweight.

Bran
Community Member

I am having the same problem with one of mine. I have completed resets and everything and it still says it’s muted even though the mike is actually on 

Bona
Community Member

Same issue. It’s incessantly saying “the mics off.” “The mics back on”

BradRapids
Community Member

There are a lot of folks complaining about the same issue, wonder if it is a software or hardware issue? Google doesn't seem to be taking any responsibility for this common issue.

Ignis
Community Member

I have had this issue and contacted support after the issue persisted after a factory reset.

The following procedure they provided seems to have fixed it so far for me :

1 - Unplug power from device for 10 seconds

2 - plug back in and wait for the 4 LEDs light up on top

3 - Repeat step #1 and #2, for 10 times

4 - Once that's done, plug back in, and do a factory reset. 

last2g2005
Community Member

Same here...  this is really frustrating! 

nidostar
Community Member

Not sure about unplugging and plugging it in 10 times but I found a factory reset solved the problem. 

Vicolla
Community Member

I'm having the same problem and now no matter what I toggle the mic to, it is just almost immediately saying the mics off and won't listen to any commands.

nidostar
Community Member

I contacted Google Customer Service. They were very helpful but unable to resolve the problem. My GH is just over two years old so out of warranty. They "escalated" my case to the engineering team for advice. That was over 2 weeks ago and I've heard nothing. The only solution I can see is to bypass the mic switch following the YT video posted by Joe Does Stuff (How to fix the microphone on a Google Home Mini the EASY WAY!!! Google Mini Repair). I haven't tried it yet but I see no reason why it won't work. The only downside is the mic will be permanently on.

this actually worked on mine...  

Jaddddeee
Community Member

I am also having the same issue, anyone have a number for customer support 

Dunno. I chatted to them on-line via the support page.

Paula73
Community Member

I'm having the same issue, the mic is off and then says mic is on then it goes constantly mic is off, it's very frustrating, did anyone find a solution to fix it?

karzz
Community Member

I'm having the same problem also, it started last night, keeps saying mic is off and a couple of seconds later mic is back on. I've already unplugged and plugged back in, still happening.  It's so annoying!!

hoop
Community Member

same as karzz, very annoying

jaypanda
Community Member

encountering the same issue as everyone else here on my google home mini, model HOA. It started a few days ago where it decided that even though my mic switch has never been turned off from the day that i bought it, it started telling me "the mic is off". I have tried a factory reset, i have tried the unplug and replug 10 times trick offered here with another factory reset, i have tried the bypass video to keep the mic on permanently, nothing is working. Google, if you have a support page with many many people all saying theyre starting to experience the same issue at the same time, it would be really nice if someone could respond with something actually helpful, or send out an update to the software of the devices to fix this issue instead of ignoring your support page.

SOURABH003
Community Member

This has become an issue for a lot of people it seems, mine started doing this last night . @User123456 PLEASE FIX IT OR I WILL HAVE TO SWITCH TO ALEXA EVEN THOUGH I DON’T WANT TO!!!

last2g2005
Community Member

After searching series of places on the internet for solution,  it was the 2 min video on YouTube (by Joe Does Stuff) that helped me to fix mine. Note that,  You will need to disassemble your speaker (not a scary thing though... quite easy) and thus might ruin your warranty. The video itself shows a quick fix, which is, by soldering contacts. however after reading the comments by Max Borghino and Jurre, it was clear that this was an oxidation problem. So before you solder any part you can simply try cleaning the input pin on the board with alcohol. Max wrote: "This works great BUT before removing the switch and soldering the contacts, try this: Disassemble as explained here to expose the switch (stop at about 1m 10s). Now spray a little DeoxIT into the switch (directions on the can), wiggle the switch a few times, wait a bit. This will clean up the contacts if they are oxidized. This worked for me. If this fails for you, then you'll need to go with the rest of the instructions. Very nice video Joe, thanks!"

here is the link if you want to check it out

https://youtu.be/AyJTqJh5IDU

 

(A month update)

After following the steps on the link, my GH has been acting as expected. 

You need so much tools to do that and I just don't have them. Google should fix this issue, as they try to look like company with a good reputation, but we all know how much they suck.

The1shaman
Community Member

I am getting this same thing on my JBL link View just started this morning finally had to just leave it unplugged till i find an answer that works.

AuntieMarmite
Community Member

This is ridiculous the amount of us having the same issue yet Google is no where in sight.  I have 2 mini’s, and it’s the youngest that is misbehaving (bought a year apart). I’m not set up for soldering and it really shouldn’t be necessary.

I just got the HomePod as I am a fully committed iPhone user but I've a house full of bulbs and plugs that were going to be phased out.  I guess I’ll have to see how long my other mini lasts?!? 

I’ll check out the vids posted and see if I can sort something out.

Katieloulouise
Community Member

Having the same problem

too! We have 10 minis and having the issue

with 3 of them now. If Google don’t fix will bin the lot and invest in Alexa, really

regret going with Google in the first place, feels like a lot of wasted money, as customer support is atrocious. I was told on the customer support phone line that the reason I was experiencing so many issues was because I don’t have a gmail account!!! I just want a home control system that works!!!!

nidostar
Community Member

I opened up my GH Mini a couple of weeks ago and sprayed contact cleaner around the switch area. The switch worked for about an hour then went back to giving the "mic is off" message. Three days ago, undeterred, I opened the GH Mini up again but this time unscrewed the board the switch is attached to and sprayed liberally on both sides - the side the switch mechanism is on and the back (opposite) side in the hope that the spray might sneek in through the hairline gaps. I then slid the switch back and forth a few times to let the spray work in. Thus far the "mic off" message has not come back and the GH Mini is working normally. Okay, I know it's only three days but I am cautiously optimistic that this might be fixed. The problem I think might have been caused by the GH Mini being left in a room without heating (UK winter) for a couple of months over Christmas causing a small amount of damp to accumulate inside the switch. My two other GH Minis were in different rooms in the same house over the same period (also without heating) but seem unaffected so far.

Aya1526
Community Member

We're having the same issue with our GH mini. It started a couple of weeks ago, just here and there randomly saying "the mic's back on", "the mic's off". Now it's doing it throughout the night, yesterday it started during the day too. I've factory reset. I've removed it from my GH app. I tried changing to our secondary wifi. I unplugged it and left it unplugged for 27hours. NOTHING fixed it. As soon as it rebooted from factory reset it started with "the mic is on" "the mic is off". Tonight it sounded like Max Headroom. "The mic, the, the, the mic is on, the mic, the mic, the mic is on."

Google needs to fix this issue. Clearly there are many people having the exact same issue...and all at the same time?! 🤔🤨

JB13
Community Member

Thought I'd ask to the list of people experiencing this issue. It's pretty creepy when it just starts doing it in the middle of the night. 

Boston781
Community Member

YES! Why is it only happening in the middle of the night?! Just here to add to the very long list of people with the same issue being ignored by Google support. I have 5 set up and only 1 is experiencing this and of course is the one in my bedroom 😒

JaegerMaxim
Community Member

I am also having this issue. My Google Home Mini is a 1st gen version and I've had it for a few years now.

nidostar
Community Member

Sadly, though unsurprisingly, I've had no further response from Google Customer Support despite reminding them that they owe me one. The good news is that the fix I posted 2 weeks ago seems to have worked. So, if you feel up to it get inside your GH Mini and give the switch a good spray with contact cleaner.

7RM
Community Member

Im here to plus one on the mic on off stuff, Its a google home mini and ive never used the mic switch in 3 years.  

Aya1526
Community Member

Now that you mention it. Neither have we. Honestly forgot it even had a switch. 

PrateekVyas
Community Member

This is for sure a software update issue, my GH was unplugged for a week. Plugged it in today and since then “mics on - mics off”

Reset didn’t work completely- but the frequency of this announcement has gone down