Facing trouble keeping a steady Wi-Fi connection for gadgets connected to Google Home? Dive into this handy guide full of tips and tricks that uncover potential hitches and how they can be sorted out when Google Home acts up with its Wi-Fi link.
Troubleshooting Steps to Reconnect Google Home to Wi-Fi
Step 1. Check Wi-Fi Settings
When experiencing Wi-Fi connection issues with your Google Home system, don’t rush to the devices just yet. The first thing you want to troubleshoot is the Wi-Fi settings. Several activities (sometimes unknown or forgotten) can affect your Google Home connection.
If you change the password, connection name, or SSID key without doing the same for your Google Home device(s), you will most definitely experience connection issues. Updating firewall settings can also lock your Google Home devices out. Your Google Home system can also be set to forget the Wi-Fi network, failing to connect to it the next time you try to pair the two.
One can even manually set this up. To do so, visit your Google Home smartphone app, select the device and click on Settings. Next, tap on the Forget option, click on Forget Network and you should be done. You can also reconnect a network you removed from Google Home.
To do so, on your Google Home app, click on Set Up New Devices, choose Location, and Next. You will be presented with the terms you should agree with and show a network list. Click on the one you want and press Next to connect.
Step 2. Reboot Router and Device
If you troubleshoot Wi-Fi settings without discovering any issues, the problem may be with the router. In this case, you will want to reboot the router and the device. Rebooting or restarting the two devices will help clear the cache and memory built upon the two devices.
This, in turn, clears any bugs and bad code in the system that cause firmware and disrupts the Wi-Fi connectivity. Restarting is quite straightforward. Simply turn off the device, pull out its cord from the power outlet, and wait for at least 3 to 5 minutes before restarting the device.
If you want to reboot them, on the Google Home app, select the device, tap on Settings and click on the three horizontal dots which will bring out the menu. Select Reboot to begin the rebooting process. For your router, follow the manufacturer’s rebooting instructions.
Step 3. Change Google Home or Router’s Location
If rebooting or restarting doesn’t work, try changing the locations of the router and Google Home device. The location between your Google Home and router plays a significant role in the connectivity. Therefore, placement is crucial.
The easiest way to solve a location problem is to simply move the router near your Google Home and check to see if the connection is established or improved. If you notice an improvement in the connection, you have to investigate what caused the location problem in the first place to prevent future incidents.
The problem is always most likely interference between the two devices. However, what exactly is the interference? The most common issues associated with the interference include the router or Google Home being placed between walls or within the proximity of other devices that depend on electromagnetic waves, like TVs.
Sometimes, the issue may be the router itself. If you’ve tried moving it and restarting/rebooting several times, the router may be faulty. So, if it's past the warranty, you may simply want to replace it. First, check the design and reach out to customer support – adding a simple router antenna may be all you need instead of investing in a new router.
Step 4. Check Your Router Bands
Sometimes, the connectivity issue may be associated with a problem as simple as connecting to the wrong Wi-Fi band. Modern Wi-Fi routers typically feature a dual-band design, offering a connection via 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz. In this case, you want to confirm which frequency your Google Home is connected to. The frequency bands for each device have to match.
For instance, if you connect to your Google Home using the 2.4 GHz network, the router has to be set on the 2.4 GHz frequency. However, some Google Home devices may not support the newer 5 GHz. Therefore, you definitely have to set them to the 2.4 GHz band.
Step 5. Reduce Number of Devices in the Network
A congested router can also present connectivity issues. Connecting several devices into a single Wi-Fi network can quickly eat into the bandwidth, slowing and limiting the Wi-Fi connecting in the process. If you've ever connected a large number of devices on a single Wi-Fi network, you’ve probably noticed problems like buffering, songs pausing, and prolonged sessions with loss of internet connection.
So, when using Google Home, if you notice similar problems, including your Google Home not connecting to the Wi-Fi network, this may be the problem too. This problem is fairly easy to troubleshoot. Simply check the number of devices connected to your network. If you notice more than two devices, try to disconnect them all and check if your Google Home connects.
Nonetheless, sometimes, the quantity may not be the issue but rather the activity. After removing devices on your network, if Google home won't connect to the Wi-Fi network, it may be the activity. For instance, if you have a computer streaming a movie and someone playing video games connected to the same network, the amount of bandwidth used in the small window can affect connectivity too.
There are two solutions to the problem, you have to compound or reduce these activities. Alternatively, upgrade your Wi-Fi service to a larger bandwidth.
Step 6. Reset the Router & Google Home
Lastly, if all fails, your last resort should include resetting the router and Google Home. Keep in mind that resetting vastly differs from a simple restart or reboot. Resetting simply means permanently deleting any saved memory.
Resetting helps to get rid of any malicious or distractive bugs that may have been affecting the performance of either device. If you worry about your data, you can start by resetting one device – Google Home or your router – and checking if the issue is resolved.
To reset your router, follow its manufacturer’s instructions. Different Google Home devices come with slightly varying resetting instructions. However, a standard Google Home simply requires pressing and holding the Mute button for about 15 seconds. The Google Home Hub follows the same process but involves pressing both Volume buttons. The Google Home Mini and Google Home Max require you to press the FDR button.
The Verdict
We hope these step by step instructions help you to get your Google Home device connected to Wi-Fi again. If you have any other tips or tricks for resolving the problem, drop a comment below.