Google Home Not Finding Device: How To Fix [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated August 15, 2023

Up until recently, everything was going smoothly with the Google Home app. But when I tried to pair up my new Google Nest Hub, the app straight-up failed to detect the device.

Google pretty much makes some of the best smart home gadgets on the planet. And their nifty little Home app eases up the integration part quite nicely.

Albeit, occasionally, the Google Home app does flaunt some issues.

If your Google Home cannot find devices, check if both devices are connected to the same network and ready to pair. Turn on Bluetooth on iOS devices and enable location on Android devices. If the problem persists, update the Google Home app and refresh the device. If none of these work, uninstall and reinstall the Google Home app.

Here are the many troubleshooting steps that will help you fix the Google Home not finding device issue.

Run Through the Preliminary Checks

While the setup process is, by all means, straightforward, there are some prerequisites that must be satisfied to enable the connection between the Home app and the Google/Nest gadget.

If you miss them or outright ignore them, the app will fail to recognize the device.

Most of them are pretty simple and rudimentary.

Connect Both Devices to the Same Network

Perhaps the most vital prerequisite of them all, both devices - the host device and the Google/Nest gadget - must be connected to the same network.

Even if most Google/Nest devices can connect to your host device remotely via the internet, the same doesn't apply to the initial setup procedure.

For this very purpose (setup), you will require both devices to be connected to the same network.

If you have a multiband router that hosts the network in your household/premise, make sure to distinguish the SSIDs of the two bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) to avoid any mixup.

Here's a video walkthrough from us that'll help you connect your google home app with your devices,

Troubleshooting google home not finding device

Check if the Device is Ready to be Paired

Apart from checking and ensuring the optimal setting for the app, you might want to take a look at the Google device itself.

And one such prelim is to check whether the device is ready to be configured.

One great way to ensure the same is to check the LEDs of the device.

But first, connect all the required cables and turn ON the device.

Once the device is ready to be paired, the LEDs will blink white.

If it's flashing a different color, your device is likely indicating an issue.

Always use the supplied power cable and adapter to power your device.

Using third-party components can lead to issues with the device. It may even cause the LEDs on Google devices to blink RED, indicating possible hardware issues with the device.

Turn ON Bluetooth on Apple iOS Devices

If you're hosting the Google Home app on an iOS device, you will have to enable Bluetooth services on your device.

Failing to do so will render your detection void.

To enable Bluetooth on your iOS device, open the Control Center and tap on the Bluetooth icon within the menu. The icon will turn BLUE once Bluetooth is enabled.

You could also configure Bluetooth on your iOS device through the settings menu. Follow these steps to do so:

Open the Setting menu by clicking on the Setting icon from the home screen.
Scroll and open the Bluetooth option.
Toggle ON the switch to enable the service.

Once you have enabled Bluetooth, hop back into the Home app and check the issue.

Enable Location Services on Android Devices

You probably might have come across this request while opening the app for the first time. If you failed to grant access to it then, better do it now.

Like most apps making use of connectivity services, the Google Home app does require access to location services to work.

Without access to this service, the app fails to recognize devices in its proximity.

Follow these steps to enable location services on your Android device.

Open the Settings tray and search for the Security and Location tab.
Tap on the Location option within this tab.
Toggle the Use Location/Access Location option to enable the service.

Return to the app and scan for your device once again.

You could also enable Location Services on Android devices by following these steps:

Open the Settings menu and tap on the Apps and Notification option.
Tap on the Google Home app.
Go to Permissions and enable Location Services.

Update the Google Home App

Now that you've taken care of the prereqs, let's start the troubleshooting procedure.

And what better way to kick off the process than by updating the Home app

There are a lot of advantages to updating, and one such advantage is the immunity against the many bugs, errors, and stale files waiting to permeate the app defenses.

And such may be the problem with the Home app not detecting devices anymore - bugs!

As a rule of thumb, maintain a regular check for updates and keep all your apps updated to avoid any such inconsistencies with them.

To update the Home app on your device, follow these steps:

On Android:

Open the Play Store app on your Android device.
Tap on the Search bar and enter Google Home.
Open the Google Home app tile.
Click on Update to update the app. If there is no such option within the app tab, your Google Home app is up to date.

On iOS devices:

Open the App Store on your iOS device.
Click on the Account icon towards the top right half.
Scroll and check if the Google Home app is available under the Available Updates tab.
Click on Update to execute the update.

You could also enable automatic updates to make all your apps update automatically when an update is made available to them.

Refresh the Google/Nest Device

Remember the LED status (white) that indicates the device is ready to be paired? Well, what if the LEDs fail to blink white?

While there are quite a few fixes to this issue, refreshing the system will do for now.

Whether from system inconsistencies (like bugs and errors) or an improper power supply, the device may put out different LED statuses - like the Google device blinking orange.

Nonetheless, a system refresh can get rid of any such temporal issues.

A power cycle test will suffice for the time being.

With a power cycle test, you not only get the system refreshed but also deplete any static charges that may have piled up over time on your device.

Start by unplugging your Google/Nest device from the power supply.

Leave it idle for a few seconds.

Then, press and hold the various buttons on your device for a couple of seconds. Repeat this step a couple of times. It helps bleed the static charges.

Plug back in the power supply and check for the issue.

In a similar manner, try to refresh the Google Home app too.

Go to the Settings tab and select the Apps tab. Search and open the Google Home app and select Force Stop.

Open the app after a few seconds and check the issue.

Switch to a New Home

Sometimes, the issue may subside with a simple change of Home environment, a.k.a creating a new Home.

Improper Home settings can, at times, interfere with the pairing process and lead to issues with device detection.

And so, it's best to create a new Home and try to access the device via the new Home.

To create a new Home environment on the Google Home app, follow these steps:

On the home screen, tap on the "+" icon towards the top left.
Select the Create New Home option.
Name your new Home and follow the onscreen prompts.

Once you complete setting up the new Home, try searching for the devices now.

To add a new device to your Home, follow these steps:

Open your preferred Home environment and click on the "+" icon.
Tap on the Set up Device option.
Select Works with Google.
Tap on your device from the list on the next screen.

Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Google Home App

Finally, to get rid of all the inconsistencies troubling the Google Home app, uninstall it!

Uninstalling will get rid of all the associated files, including the malicious ones that tend to remain after a general refresh like a cache reset.

Once you uninstall the app, you can always reinstall it from the respective app stores.

Not to mention, uninstalling the app will wipe out all your personal preferences, logins, and devices thence set up.

To uninstall the Google Home app from your device, follow these steps:

On Android:

Open the Settings menu and locate the Apps tab.
Search and open the Google Home app tab.
Click on Uninstall to initiate the removal process.

On iOS:

Navigate to the Google Home app. Then, press and hold the app icon to open the popup menu.
Select the Remove app option.
Confirm the selection by tapping on the Delete App option.

Once you remove the app from your device, give your host device a refresh and proceed to reinstall the app. You can reinstall the app from the app store.

Final Thoughts

Apart from the tips mentioned above, you should also consider relocating the Google/Nest device to a more convenient location to avoid proximity-based errors.

Interference from other wireless devices can also hinder the detection process. Hence, best if you veer away from other Smart Home gadgets.

Do ensure to maintain adequate proximity between the devices, though. A distance of 3-5 feet falls under the acceptable range.

If you are still facing the issue even after going through all the tips mentioned here, better contact the customer services of Google for further assistance.

Hardware issues on the Google/Nest gadgets could also hinder detection. Better keep an eye out for them too.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is Google Home not finding my TV?

If your TV supports Chromecast, ensure that you've set it up and turned it ON. Power your TV using the supplied power solutions to avoid issues with power while setting up. If you're using a Chromecast-capable device with your TV, make sure your TV's HDMI port supports CEC.

How can I see what devices are using Google Home?

To view the devices connected to your Google Home app, open your preferred Home tray on the app to view them. You could also check the devices connected to the same network by going to WiFi> Devices (at the top).

How many generations of Google Home are there?

Currently, there exist three variants of Google Home devices - Google Home, Home Mini, and Home Max. The second generation of Google smart devices came with the Nest moniker - Nest Hub, Nest Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Hub Max, and the newer Nest Hub (2^nd Gen).

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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