Google Nest Home Crackling or Popping Sound- Solved [2023]

Google products have always made me gawk in wonder at the level of perfection and the attention to detail they have adopted for their consumer products.

The Google Nest series of devices is no exception to such rigorous standards, and they have always exceeded my expectations. But I may be lying if I say that it has been one happy fairy tale with these devices.

Recently I have been noticing crackling and popping sounds on my Google Nest speaker. I ignored it at first, but it started to pop up frequently.

Determined to fix the issue, I went online and did my fair share of research. As a result, I made this troubleshooting guide to fix this issue.

If your Google Nest Home is crackling or popping, first, reboot the device. Then, check for network issues and update the Nest device. If the issue still persists, disable the Ultrasound detection feature. If none of the above works, factory reset the Nest device.

I’ve explained in detail each of these solutions in this article.

Reboot the Google Nest Home Speaker

One of the most simple and effective ways to clear off any nascent bugs and temporal errors on your device is to reboot the speaker itself.

A system reboot may also increase the heat dissipation efficiency, invariantly leading to better performance.

A power cycle test is the best way to reboot your device. There is no need to get intimidated by the naming convention since the process is quite simple.

Also, Google recommends this step as one of their general troubleshooting steps.

All you have to do is to unplug the speaker from the power supply and leave it static for a few seconds, preferably a few minutes.

Plug back in the power cable and check for the issue now.

You could also restart your Nest device through the Google Home app on your smart device. Only make sure to connect both your devices to the same Wi-Fi network.

Follow these steps to do so.

1. First, open the Home app and click on your Nest device.

2. Then click on the Setting icon in the top right corner of the app.

3. Tap on the *three vertical dots* Menu icon. Then select the Reboot option.

Wait for the process to complete, then check if the issue gets solved.

Here's a video walkthrough from us to help you troubleshoot your google nest home making popping sounds,

Check the Power Cable and the Connection

The next most concerning reason for the crackling sounds on Nest devices is the use of third-party peripherals.

If you are using generic cables and power adapters, expect much more concerning issues than a crackling of audio on your device.

Always make sure to use a Google-certified power cable and adapter for powering your Nest device.

If changing the cable or the adapter was to no avail, you might want to check the output power of the power outlet.

At times, the outlet itself may be at fault and cause such abrupt issues on the device.

Use a Multimeter, if you have one at hand, to check the output power of the outlet. You could also try and change the outlet and then check for the issue.

If you have powered the Nest through an extension cord or a distributor, try connecting the device directly to the power outlet and removing the middle device out of the way.

Check the Internet Connection

A straggling internet can cause issues like the crackling sounds on your Nest device. A check for speed and latency may benefit you in a better playback of media on your Nest device.

To check the speed and latency of your network, try testing them using speed testing software on your smart device.

If there is a discrepancy in the speed or the latency, try refreshing the connection.

The best way to accomplish this task is to perform the same old power cycle test on your router/modem.

Unplug the route and leave it idle for a few seconds.

Then, press and hold the power button or any other button for a few seconds and release it. Repeat this step couple of times. Doing so will remove any static charges that have accumulated in the router.

Plug back the system and then connect the Nest and check for issues.

If you are facing issues with latency and speed on the current network, try switching the network to a higher bandwidth connection.

Most current Nest devices have support for multi-band connections. To switch the network on a nest device, follow these steps on your Google Home app.

1. Open the Google Home app and then select the Nest device.

2. Click on the Setting icon to open up the Settings tab.

3. Select the "Device Information" option and then WiFi.

4. Tap on the Forget tile to disconnect the device from the current network.

After doing so, you will be taken back to the app home screen, from where you can set up your Nest to a higher bandwidth connection.

Restart the device after changing the network and then check for the issue.

Check for Updates

One of the most important things to look out for when you encounter a problem with your smart gadgets is their firmware version.

It is of utmost priority to always keep your gadgets up to date to stave off any inconstancies and errors on your device.

To the wonder, all Google Nest devices update themselves whenever an update is made available to it.

All you have to do is to ensure a proper internet connection and proper power solutions for the device to perform the update.

Even though there are no mandatory prompts to confirm the update, the device does provide some visual indication of the update status through the LEDs and its unresponsive nature while updating.

You can confirm whether the device is up to date by checking the version information from the Google Home app. Follow these steps to do so.

1. On the Google Home app, click and open the Nest device.

2. Tap on the Device settings option.

3. Scroll down to see the firmware version.

4. Search on the internet for the latest firmware version of the Google Nest device.

Now you can verify whether your device is up to date or not.

Disable the Ultrasound Sensing Feature

The Ultrasound sensing feature is one of the most advanced features available on the Nest lineup.

With this feature, the device will automatically sense an approaching person and turn on the Touch controls before the person even reaches for the device.

But this feature is known to cause crackling sounds while being active. Turning OFF the feature will result in an instant dissipation of the issue.

Try turning OFF the feature as a possible fix for the issue on your device. To do so, follow these steps on the Google Home app.

1. In the app, click and open the Nest Device.

2. Tap on the Settings icon and select the Recognition & Sharing/Personalisation option.

3. Click on the Ultrasound sensing option and make sure to disable the feature.

Restart the device and then check for further issues.

Factory Reset the Device

Finally, if all the other tips and fixes I have mentioned above were to no avail, try resetting the Nest device. A factory reset will wipe your device clean of all the bugs and errors.

It will also clear all your personal preferences and settings that you have altered, effectively reverting the system to its factory condition.

Now, you can reset your Nest device in a couple of ways, either by pressing the right buttons on the device or through the Google Home app.

To reset the device using the buttons on your Display-less Nest devices, press and hold the Center Button until the device turns OFF and back ON again.

To reset the device through the Google Home app, follow these steps.

1. In the Google Home app, click and open the Nest device tab.

2. Press the Settings icon and then click on the Menu icon on the top right corner of the app.

3. Tap on the Factory Reset option and then confirm your selection.

After the reset process is complete, reconfigure your device from scratch. Check for the issue now.

Final Thoughts

Although the reasons for such an issue may stem from the device itself, sometimes the app with which you are playing the media may take the blame.

If so, try logging out of the app or even uninstalling and reinstalling it as a troubleshooting step.

If none of these tips seems to alleviate the issue, the problem may be with the hardware.

Damaged internal audio cables are known to pop up on Nest devices, and these damages will affect the quality of the sound on the speaker.

You are better off contacting the customer services of Google if you have hardware problems.

Request a replacement if you are within the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Google Nest lagging?

You may experience lagging issues on your Google nest device because of a slow internet connection or because of heavy use. In any case, try restarting the device and the router to resolve the issue. If refreshing the network was to no avail, try switching to a higher bandwidth for better speeds and latency.

How do I clear cache on Google home?

To clear the cache of the Google Home app, follow these steps.

1. In the Settings tab of your smart device, click and open Apps.

2. Click and open the Google Home app tab. If you have trouble finding the app, click on See all apps and search within this tab.

3. Tap on the Clear Cache option to refresh the cache memory.

Does Google Nest have Bluetooth?

Yes, Google Nest devices do support Bluetooth connectivity. But first, you will have to enable the feature. Open the Google Home app, then go to Nest device > Settings > Audio > Paired Bluetooth Devices > Enable Pairing Mode. Now you can connect to the device through Bluetooth and stream media over it.

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