Google Home Buffering Music-How To Fix [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated February 25, 2023

One issue that has plagued Google Home devices is with music playback, with some users having noticed frequent buffering of audio, both via WiFi and Bluetooth.

This is especially evident while playing music from streaming services like Spotify.

This troubleshooting guide will help you solve all buffering-related issues with all Google Home-associated speakers.

To fix the Google Home music buffering issues, unlink and relink the music streaming services from Google Home and switch to 2.4GHz WiFi. Check the hardware and internet connectivity. Reboot the Google Home device and update it to the latest firmware. If all else fails, reset to factory settings.

Check The Device Hardware

Faults in device hardware can, in some cases, cause signal relaying issues which might lead to broken streams.

Insufficient power transfer due to a worn-out power cable can also be a cause for irregular stream buffering as not enough power is transmitted to the Google Home device.

Check for wear and tear in the power cable. If any damage is noticed, change the cable. If it is not removable, visit the Google store and get the unit replaced.

Also, check the Google Home device for any visible dents. External damage can cause tiny punctures on the body, which can lead to dust settling inside the body over time.

Physical dents on the touch panel can also cause touch issues, leading to misinterpreted touch inputs and overall ghost touch issues, which can also cut streams.

If the device was pre-owned, contact the previous owner and check whether it has been repaired before.

If it has been repaired from an unauthorized service center, there are chances of low-quality or third-party spare parts used that can cause harm to the device.

If such is the case, then go to the official Google Store or an authorized service center and get the unit repaired properly with genuine spare parts.

Check Your Internet Connectivity

When streaming via WiFi, the allocated internet bandwidth is the most important factor to consider, especially while streaming high-bit-rate audio files.

If the Google Home device is connected via WiFI, make sure the device is placed near the WiFi router.

The shorter the distance between the router and the Google Home device, the greater will be the link speed and therefore better performance and bandwidth allocation.

If the WiFi range is insufficient, a mesh routers solution like the Google Nest WiFi and Google Nest WiFi points can replace your router to provide a huge signal range.

Check with other WiFi-connected devices whether there are any bandwidth-related issues with the connectivity. If so, contact your ISP to counter this issue.

Also, check whether the internet reaches the router by plugging in an ethernet cable to check the connection.

If the internet connection is normal via ethernet but is troubled when connected to WiFi, it is safe to assume that the router needs to be replaced.

Reboot The Google Home Device

A reboot can solve most temporary issues that the Google Home device must have faced. It clears all temporary cache and refreshes the device.

A traditional reboot usually involves restarting just the software side of things, but it is also possible to restart the hardware, by performing a power cycle.

A power cycle is done to reboot the internal electronic components of the Google Home device, resetting its charge so that it can perform to its best capacity.

To reboot the Google Home Device from the software side of things, simply follow the following steps:

Make sure the Google Home device is linked to the Google account and everything is set up on the master device, which can be a phone or tablet.
Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
Tap on the Your Device option.
Select the Settings tab.
Tap on the More button on the top right corner menu.
Select Reboot.

This begins the reboot process of the Google Home device.

An abrupt unplugging of the Google Home device, especially while it's performing a task can cause unnecessary corruption of cache or system files.

To reboot the Google Home Device from the hardware side of things aka a power cycle, simply follow the following steps:

After making sure the Google Home device is idle and not performing any core tasks, unplug the device from the power socket and wait for a full minute.
If the device has any buttons, long press the button for about 10 seconds during the one-minute wait.
Plug it back into the power socket and let it sit idle for another minute.

This resets the charge in the internal components of the Google Home device.

Update To The Latest Firmware

Over The Air (OTA) updates are one of the only methods by which Google can solve issues for their products on a massive scale post-launch.

This is a key aspect of any smart device especially, as the complex design of smart integrations often leads to a lot of bugs and issues.

Firmware updates are the best way Google can respond positively to user feedback. So it is important to always be on the latest and greatest firmware update.

Since a firmware update is a universal solution to a large number of users, sometimes an update can lead to sluggish software and ironically an increase in bugs too.

It is best to wait a few weeks and check user reviews of that particular firmware update for any issues noticed and then make a decision for upgrading.

Just like on the Google Home device, it is equally important to keep the Google Home app updated as well, as non-device-related bugs are easily fixed with app updates.

To update the Google Home app on your phone or tablet, simply follow the following steps:

Depending on the operating system of your master device, navigate to the Apple Appstore if iOS or Google Play Store, if Android.
Search for Google Home from the search bar on the top.
Select the top result for the Google Home app, which links you to the Google Home store page.
If you see an update button, tap on it to begin the app update process.
If there is no update button, then your Google Home app is probably in the latest updated version.

To update the Google Home device, simply follow the following steps:

Make sure the Google Home device is linked to the Google account and everything is set up on the master device, which can be a phone or tablet.
Open the Google Home app.
Select the Google Home device and tap on Device Settings.
Select Current System Firmware at the bottom of the screen.

Alternatively, you can compare whether your Google Home device is on the latest available version from Google's website.

Submit A Feedback/Bug Report To Google

Sending bug reports to Google can help the company to further delve deep into the issue and compile user data with which they can push out bug fix patches.

With enough bug reports, the chances for Google patching the specific bug with the next firmware update are very high.

This step is based purely on luck though, and Google has the freedom to be silent about it and move on to its next-gen device lineup.

To send feedback or bug reports to Google, simply follow the following steps:

Make sure the Google Home device is linked to the Google account and everything is set up on the master device, which can be a phone or tablet.
Give Google the following command via the registered voice: "Hey Google, send feedback".
A 30-40 second window will be provided where one can voice their opinion and feedback.

Google will also collect device logs automatically, which can also contain user and diagnostic data. If you are privacy-conscious it is best to read their terms and conditions.

Google Home has a lot of easter eggs and hacks, and a fun way to trigger Google feedback is to simply curse at Google by using the following command: "F**k you, Google".

Unlink and Relink Login Accounts On Spotify

Some users on Reddit and Spotify forums, after countless troubleshooting, have come to a fix by simply unlinking and relinking their Spotify accounts from Google Home.

This is a weird fix, but this is a fix that worked for select users. In fact, it is the most popular solution for the problem in the Spotify forums.

To unlink the Spotify account from Google, simply follow the following steps:

Make sure the Google Home device is linked to the Google account and everything is set up on the master device, which can be a phone or tablet.
Open the Google Home app.
Select the Google Home device and tap on Music.
Click on Unlink in the Spotify tab.

To link the Spotify account back to Google, simply follow the following steps:

Make sure the Google Home device is linked to the Google account and everything is set up on the master device, which can be a phone or tablet.
Open the Google Home app.
Select the Google Home device and tap on Music.
Click on the Link to Spotify option and enter the required credentials to log in.

Unlinking and relinking are associated with Spotify for most cases, but judging from the underlying issue it is possible this step works for other music streaming services also.

Switch To 2.4GHz WiFi Band

For many users, the switch to the traditional 2.4GHz WiFi band from the faster 5GHz WiFi band made all the difference while streaming music via WiFi.

The cause of the issue is unknown, but judging from reported issues of Google Home devices in general they seem to have a tough time with 5GHz WiFi bands.

With most users switching to 5GHz WiFi by default for faster speeds, it can be the reason why many face buffering issues while streaming music.

For most WiFi routers that support dual-band WiFi including Google Nest WiFI, it is possible to have separate SSIDs for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi bands.

In order to set up multiple SSIDs for your WiFi router, simply follow the following steps:

Connect to the WiFi signal with a phone, laptop, or tablet. Alternatively, you can use an ethernet cable to plug in too.
Go to your router gateway by entering and searching the following on the address bar of the browser: 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1.
Log in with the router credentials.

Router credentials are not the same as the WiFi password. They are preset credentials implemented by the router company.

The router credentials are usually found on the body of the router, but you can also find them here provided you know the router brand and model number.

Look for WiFi or WLAN settings from the resultant page and select the SSID option.
From the resultant settings, enable SSID for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz and set the appropriate passwords for login.

This sets up two separate WiFi signals from the same router, one 5GHz and the other 2.4GHz which you can use with Google Home devices for uninterrupted music streaming.

Some WiFi routers are smart enough to hot-swap between 2.4GHz and 5GHz according to the needs, but they are counterintuitive for this use case.

It is best to refer to the user manual or contact your ISP/router provider for instructions to lock specific bands according to the device in hand.

Reset To Factory Settings

This is the final straw to pull for solving all related problems with Google Home devices.

Resetting the device to factory settings will wipe out all data and will restore the Google Home device just like it was out of the box.

Doing this will unlink the device from the Google account and will erase all saved settings during the process too.

Along with the data, all software-related bugs would be wiped out too, thus resulting in a fresh start with the Google Home device.

To reset the Google Home Mini 1st Gen to its factory settings, simply follow the following steps:

Make sure the Google Home device is linked to the Google account and everything is set up on the master device, which can be a phone or tablet.
Open the Google Home app and select the Google Home device to be reset.
Click on Settings and navigate toward the Menu button in the top right corner.
Select Factory Reset.

This resets the selected Google Home device.

You can also factory reset without the Google Home app, but different Google Home devices use different methods for doing a factory reset.

Final Thoughts

Google has always been a software company. Their sub-par hardware is always the main culprit that pulls their near-perfect software down.

Google Home devices do have an issue with quality control, especially amongst their budget lineup of Home devices.

But what Google did with its software to counter its drawbacks is incredible and commendable, to say the least.

Smart homes are a relatively fresh technology, considering the commercial market share it is holding and it will only grow from this point forward.

In such a landscape, such minor annoyances are expected. The fact that we can tackle the situation from our end easily just shows how much the tech and Google have advanced.

I hope my troubleshooting guide on solving the music buffer issues while streaming has been a helpful read and aided you in solving your issues with your Google Home devices.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are Google Home devices always listening?

Like every smart speaker, Google Home devices have their microphones enabled at all times, but none of the input is recorded unless the hot word "Ok/Hey Google" is mentioned.

Can Google Home devices be used unplugged?

Google Home devices are not meant to be moved around and hence need to stay always connected to an external power socket.

Can Google Home devices be used as Bluetooth speakers without WiFi?

All Google Home devices have Bluetooth v5 and hence can be used as a Bluetooth device, provided the device has been paired initially via Google Home using WiFi.

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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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