Unable to change downtime for google home mini

[stu4]

I have Google Home setup with 3 google minis, 1 hub, and 1 regular speaker.

All devices are on the same 'home', and on the same wifi network.

Using the google home app on my Samsung S22, I am unable to change the downtime for 2 of the google minis.

If I click the device -> settings -> Notifications and Digital Wellbeing -> Digital Wellbeing -> Downtime, the screen goes opaque and nothing happens - I can leave it this way indefinitely - if I touch the screen, it displays a message "Only the device owner can change these settings".

I am the device owner, so this does not make sense.

I do not have this issue with the other mini, nor the hub or regular speaker.

I also do not have any issues with controlling other aspects of the two affected minis - it's just the downtime settings that are affected.

I have reinstalled Google Home on my phone, but this did not fix the problem.

I do not want to factory reset the google minis that are having the issue - I remember that setting them up was a huge pain.

Any suggestions on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.

[Ameria]

I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing difficulties changing the downtime settings for two of your Google Minis using the Google Home app on your Samsung S22. It seems like you're encountering a specific issue with those devices. However, I'll do my best to provide you with some suggestions on how to resolve this problem.

Firstly, please ensure that you have the latest version of the Google Home app installed on your Samsung S22. It's possible that updating the app could address any known issues or bugs related to the downtime settings.

If updating the app doesn't resolve the problem, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify device ownership: Double-check that your Google account is indeed the device owner. You can do this by following these steps:
- Open the Google Home app on your phone.
- Tap on the "Settings" menu, usually represented by a gear icon.
- Select "Assistant settings" or "Google Assistant" and navigate to "Voice and Video" or a similar section.
- Look for the "Voice Match" or "Voice Recognition" option and ensure that your voice is recognized and linked to the Google account you're using.

2. Clear cache and data: Clearing the cache and data of the Google Home app might help resolve the issue. Please note that this action will reset any customizations you have made within the app, but your devices and their configurations should remain intact. To clear the cache and data:
- Go to the Settings menu on your Samsung S22.
- Select "Apps" or "Applications" and locate the Google Home app from the list.
- Tap on the app, and then choose "Storage" or "Storage & cache."
- Select "Clear cache" and "Clear data" options.

3. Restart devices: Try power cycling the Google Minis that are experiencing the problem. This process can help refresh their settings and connections. To restart a Google Mini:
- Unplug the power cord from the device.
- Wait for about 10 seconds.
- Reconnect the power cord and let the device boot up fully.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you may need to consider contacting Google Support for further assistance. They can provide specific troubleshooting guidance based on your devices and account settings.

Please note that if you're hesitant to perform a factory reset on the affected Google Minis, it's understandable. Factory resetting should generally be considered a last resort since it would erase all device settings and require you to set them up again.

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the problem with the downtime settings on your Google Minis.

[Ameria]

I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing difficulties changing the downtime settings for two of your Google Minis using the Google Home app on your Samsung S22. It seems like you're encountering a specific issue with those devices. However, I'll do my best to provide you with some suggestions on how to resolve this problem.

Firstly, please ensure that you have the latest version of the Google Home app installed on your Samsung S22. It's possible that updating the app could address any known issues or bugs related to the downtime settings.

If updating the app doesn't resolve the problem, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

- Reconnect the power cord and let the device boot up fully.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you may need to consider contacting Google Support for further assistance. They can provide specific troubleshooting guidance based on your devices and account settings.

Please note that if you're hesitant to perform a factory reset on the affected Google Minis, it's understandable. Factory resetting should generally be considered a last resort since it would erase all device settings and require you to set them up again.

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the problem with the downtime settings on your Google Minis.

[Muddi]

Hello stu4,

Thanks for sharing details about the issue. I know the feeling when you can't change some settings on Digital Wellbeing. To confirm, how many accounts are linked on the Google Home app? Have you tried using a different phone/tablet?

Let's go ahead and restart your Google Home Minis by unplugging them from the power source, and leave them unplugged for 1 minute. Once done, plug them back with intervals and see if you will still have issues adding them to Digital Wellbeing. If it's still the same, the last option is to reset your Home Minis to refresh all the settings on your device.

Let me know how it goes.

Cheers,

Muddi

[stu4]

Have tried all your suggestions (except resetting) multiple times.

I ended up resetting the unit because it seemed to be the only way. It did fix the problem, but it's not great that I had to resort to that.

[Muddi]

Hi there,

Awesome news! I'm really glad to hear that resetting the device did the trick and got everything back up and running smoothly. I totally get that it can be a bit of a pain to do a factory reset, but it's definitely worth it if it means avoiding further issues down the line. 

If you have any other questions or concerns, just let me know and I'll do my best to help. Otherwise, I'll go ahead and close out this thread in 24 hours.

Cheers,

Muddi