Google’s newly launched Home Speaker has run into fresh trouble, as several new owners report that the initial setup process fails before it can finish.
That setback arrives just weeks after Google introduced the device as its first standalone smart speaker in nearly six years, a gap that had left the company’s home audio lineup noticeably thin.
Even before the setup failures emerged, the Home Speaker had already drawn complaints about slow and unresponsive performance in certain everyday scenarios during its first few weeks of general availability.
That pattern has continued into the current setup issue, with user reports on Reddit describing a process that stalls partway through and leaves the device unresponsive. Owners facing the failure have resorted to a factory reset, though that action has so far failed to resolve the fault for most.
Google has since confirmed that a forthcoming software update resolves the setup failure, and affected owners can retrieve the fix immediately by unplugging the speaker and powering it back on.
Owners who prefer not to power cycle the speaker can instead wait for the update to arrive automatically, with Google indicating that the rollout should reach every unit within 24 hours.
The recurring hiccups also echo a broader pattern across Google’s recent smart home hardware, where several new devices have repeatedly required early patches before settling into stable everyday performance.
The setup troubles add to a rockier debut than many expected, with some buyers choosing to stick with the six-year-old Nest Audio rather than deal with early-reported software issues.
Others have gravitated toward devices with built-in screens, such as the Pixel Tablet used in speaker mode, because the added visual feedback better suits daily interactions than a screen-free device.
Regardless of these alternatives, the Google Home Speaker remains on sale now across retailers today, setting you back £99/$99.
Google has not given a fixed rollout date beyond its 24-hour window, though the confirmed software fix suggests affected device owners should regain normal setup functionality within that short timeframe.
