12-26-2021 11:19 AM - edited 01-05-2022 03:02 PM
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.
Answered! Go to the Recommended Answer.
08-29-2023 11:19 AM
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!
02-02-2022 08:20 PM
If you mean the assistant activation sound, I haven't found a way to turn that off on the phone. I can turn it off on my pixel buds but not on my phone(Galaxy S21 Ultra). I don't know why they wouldn't include a setting to make it optional on the phone. Not everyone wants to be hearing that.
02-02-2022 08:33 PM
The sound wouldn't be so bad if it was actually controlled by notification volume instead of media volume. BTW, Thanks for being so active on here and willing to help others.
02-01-2022 11:13 AM - edited 02-01-2022 11:13 AM
So weird everything was working this morning and just like that.... back to multiple devices answering again. I had a brief internet outage, Comcast, which lasted about five minutes or so just before noon. After about an hour, I wondered if it was all still working and I asked for the time. My phone and two devices responded. 🤣🤪
02-01-2022 03:49 PM
I also had a brief internet outage on a different provider(spectrum). I have a nest wifi router. Maybe it's related to that. Is yours nest as well?
02-01-2022 03:43 PM
After reading some comments about the issue returning and I am happy to report that the speakers are continuing to function correctly. I checked the FW version on all of my speakers and they all have the newest firmware. One thing that I have not done and will not run is the available update to Google. There has been way too many app updates recently that are breaking the functionality of their own app. I say don't fix it if it's not broken. Auto updates off !!
02-01-2022 03:45 PM
Also, is there a way to turn off automatic firmware updates on my Google hardware?
02-01-2022 03:47 PM
No, there's not. They update as long as they are connected to the internet, period.
02-01-2022 03:50 PM
Mine are all working normally again. I also got an update to the Google app, but not sure if that was what fixed it. Do you actually NEED the Google app running to talk to the speakers? So like, if your phone dies, your speakers and smart home are useless? I don't think so? The speakers should still work independently.
MAYBE it was actually the assistant on the phone hearing you talk and causing the speakers to mess up? That's the only way I can think that the phone app update could have fixed it.
Would be interesting to know if anyone is still having this issue, if they turned their phone off or put it in another room, if that fixes the issue.
02-01-2022 03:55 PM - edited 02-01-2022 04:16 PM
Phone doesn't need to be on or be able to hear you. However, if there's something wrong with the Google app, it can cause a sort of cascade failure in the assistant that affects your entire Google account and every device linked to it. Could be why updating that app worked for you and I. I didn't touch my speakers at all as far as factory resets during the strange behavior at all. The only thing I did was install the update to the Google app and then Reboot all the speakers/displays after that.
I had no firmware updates to any of the devices either. They are all on the same versions they were before the error began since they were apparently already up to date. Nothing's changed there yet everything is now fixed and working perfectly.
02-01-2022 06:44 PM
Working for me too now. I didn't update, reset, or do anything. 🤷♂️
02-02-2022 08:12 AM
I haven't been following this forum for a few days but my speakers have seemed to be working this week. There haven't been multiple speakers answering the same question and when I ask to play music on a group it's not saying theres more than one group. I didn't do anything to get them working so not sure what occurred to get them working.
02-03-2022 02:26 PM
Problems indeed have been fixed on the side of Google.
02-03-2022 05:27 PM
Sadly not for me yet.
02-07-2022 03:53 PM
Having the same issue here 😞 really don't want to factory reset for a temporary fix.
02-22-2022 06:40 AM
I have had different Google devices answering for one another for 6 - 8 months now... it's NEVER the one you stand in front of and ask. and it goes for a few minutes. It is maddening and totally useless. Resetting hubs, displays, mini's.. my phone... doesn't help. MAY last a few hrs or even a day at most. Then Google starts talking about something I am speaking to someone about W/O saying a Google start phrase. Then... since my new smart TV is Android and linked to my Google account... COMMERCIALS start showing up that I had a recent conversation about and NEVER asked Google about at all!? .. I totally believe this is GOOGLE ACCOUNT related. NOT solved by rebooting or resetting an individual device. WAY too many weird/wild things going on with Google to go over here.... but just saying Google has got MUCH to fix and it is NOT a recent problem. I agree that totally resetting my ENTIRE Google Home is NOT an option. If that is what it would take... I would just as soon get rid of the entire $1500+ collection of these things. I am a Senior level IT tech with over 25+ yrs of experience and I have never seen anything as slip shot as this... NOT even from Microsoft!.. (and that is really saying something!) I fear that nothing short of totally clearing and/or deleting my existing Google account and starting ENTIRELY over from the start will fix this deeply messed up system... and I'm not sure it is worth it. (It there is a troubleshooting method that exists... I have tried it... with and w/o Google Support)
03-13-2022 09:32 AM
Looks like they are FINALLY working to fix/improve this whole ordeal... so that's good!!! Took a screenshot of a notification I just received from Google Assistant in regards.
03-13-2022 11:27 AM
I was receiving these questions before the issue started
03-13-2022 11:42 AM - edited 03-13-2022 11:45 AM
Yes, I've been getting these as well. I would like to note that this has been a long running issue before I started having multiple devices responding simultaneously issue. The issue brought up in this thread was not related to the wrong device responding but multiple devices responding simultaneously. I was almost accustomed to a Google home in my bedroom starting a timer when I asked for a timer in the kitchen. The issue brought up in this thread was extremely annoying to where I was considering unplugging some assistant devices. At some point, for example, if I asked for a timer in the kitchen, every Google home within an earshot would start a timer instead of just the wrong one. I could potentially have up to four or five assistant devices setting a 10 minute timer simultaneously. I will say this issue has almost completely disappeared with it maybe happening once or twice a week. What hasn't been resolved is the wrong device responding and it seems like though they are trying to fix it on the back end. Maybe this is also addressing or helping with the multiple devices issue I don't know..
04-06-2022 07:53 PM - edited 04-06-2022 07:55 PM
Mine have been doing this for YEARS. this is not something new. I would tell my kitchen hub to set a timer and it will end up being one of the bedrooms. I just asked my master bedroom hub max about the weather for tomorrow and my guest bedroom's hub mini answers. Some time 3 or 5 google hub would answer to the same request for turning off a light..... it's really annoying
I have NEVER figure out how to stop it from doing this. it's so annoying... I am about to sell all my google devices and go with Amazon
04-06-2022 09:14 PM
Funny, I just said the same thing yesterday. Alexa.
07-23-2022 05:59 PM
Agreed. Did you switch to Alexa and if so, are you glad you did?
05-05-2022 08:32 AM
I have been having this problem to some degree for the past year+... so much so that IF my Google devices quickly report back CORRECTLY, I am totally SHOCKED, as it is an anomaly. NOT the norm. I DO believe that the problem for me, and I'm SURE MOST others... lies in my Google profile... my "attempts" to clean my profile have been DEEP and with MUCH time and effort and I'm SURE NOT as complete as it should be. ... as I'm sure my profile is probably corrupted somehow? To this end. I either need to TOTALLY delete and start over... OR choose a Different NAME or create a NEW profile... with a DIFFERENT name/email address.
NO... I should NOT need to do this.... but here I am. I am a busy person. I do NOT have time to do any of this.... this is why after the 4th or 5th call to Google Support I have given up. They run too many of my devices now to NOT use it. But when I go on vacation... I MAY give it a go. Until then... Google is useless and a running JOKE. I have STOPPED buying anything new from Google. ... but this is a NEW technology.. so growing pains are expected.. as I'm sure this is happening with the OTHER platforms. ... GOOGLE needs to make a BETTER effort with their updates to these devices and their overall environment.
05-16-2022 09:32 PM
Same issue started happening with my speakers tonight
05-22-2022 04:47 PM
Conversely, I'm bummed that this didnt happen to my google assistant devices since I actually think of this as a feature! Is there a way I can ENABLE my google assistant devices to give responses simultaneously for each command?? Basically I'd like to sync the audio output of all my google devices while allowing the input commands to come from any device. This is helpful if I need to query google while going to room to room since I can still hear the response from a google device in a different area.
05-24-2022 01:34 PM
It wouldn't be all that bad if they actually synced up and answer at the same time, but the issue with mine was that they answered at slightly different times and you could not understand the response.
05-31-2022 08:45 AM
I'm having the same problem. Multiple devices have started responding. Including my phone saying bizarre things like "you need to have a valid phone signal or internet connection for me to do that" when it's near a google nest, but works fine when it's away from a google nest. It's been happening for around 4 weeks and I've factory reset everything - it's like they don't all know they're on the same network anymore.
06-17-2022 02:15 AM
Hey Google, can you please, like please fix this issue. The amount myself and many others has spent on these things to get that smart home dream and it turned into a nightmare.
06-17-2022 03:27 AM
yes ... agreed. The Google Home is the only device that I purchased that with every firmware patch gets worse and worse. Everything that used to 'just work' is broken these days. I remember when Google Home would recognize exactly what I said and just do it ... now it asks me for confirmation constantly, or even worse, just does random things that have NOTHING to do with what was asked of it.
This issue is one of the WORST though, as I have now disabled the mic on multiple google homes in order for them not to fight on who is going to respond (and then get it wrong). The Google Homes that I now have mic disabled are basically useless, except for speakers when playing music.
06-17-2022 03:49 AM
100% this, exactly my experience. The early days were wonderful for sure.
07-23-2022 06:04 PM
Yes!! Sometimes I feel as if I'm talking to someone with Alzheimer's. It used to ask me if I wanted to send a report to Google when I told it that its responses were idiotic. It no longer even bothers. I think I've sent so many that Google has put me on their "naughty list". LOL
06-18-2022 07:35 AM
This started for me about 10 days ago. I did reboot all the devices and it seemed to work for a very short time and then reverted back to my phone answering, multiple devices answering, there's been a glitch try again in a few seconds etc. I have been relentlessly reporting this through feedback to Google. Unrelated to this I did purchase an Alexa device. While both systems have their pluses and minuses, Alexa seems more stable. I find the way Alexa is organized a little less intuitive in some areas. If this doesn't get fixed soon I will consider eliminating Google except for maybe one speaker because it does provide better answers to non-smart home questions. But purely as a smart home device, I think Alexa is more reliable. Google's constant experimenting live seems to introduce a lot of bugs along the way that are very frustrating in a smart home environment.
06-18-2022 08:32 AM
07-23-2022 06:09 PM
Well, that's disappointing to hear. The one thing that was keeping me from Alexa is their proprietary attitude - inability to use some apps I want to use, etc.
I was still considering switching, however, but now I just don't know what to do. Perhaps I'll keep my Google hub in my LR, but put Alexa in my other two rooms. I'm not sure if I can do that, but it would solve the problem. I have an apartment and could hook certain things up to Alexa and some to Google. That would keep my speakers from interacting teach other.
08-08-2022 06:32 AM
This has been happening for weeks and it's driving me INSANE. Honestly about to switch to Alexa because I'm sick of this not working properly and trying to factory reset and it STILL DOESN'T CHANGE.
08-08-2022 10:52 AM
Agreed. Mine is getting worse instead of better.
08-15-2022 04:03 PM
Trued resetting and issue still persists. Any advice?
08-16-2022 12:50 PM
That's just how it is. Google doesn't care. They've known about this for a long time. It's not only in the community, but people have called and reported the issue to them. They won't do anything to fix it.
I've checked Alexa and they have some similar issues, unfortunately, but doesn't seem to be as bad. I recommend checking the Alexa community and deciding which problems you're willing to deal with.
08-19-2022 08:21 PM
Same issue here started in the last few days... WTF, Google?!?!
08-20-2022 08:23 AM
Possible future fun surprises to come:. Now my phone is often answering and my hub completely ignoring me. Fun times.
09-06-2022 07:52 AM
Since I have android 13 on my pixel 6, my nest hub max and my phone are responding together, creating duplicate timer.
Anyone else has this issue ?