How to update the Google Nest Audio and Nest Mini smart speakers
Keeping your smart devices up to date can be really easy. But on devices like the best smart speakers, it’s not immediately obvious what to do either. That goes for the Google Nest Audio and Nest Mini, two of the best Google Assistant speakers you can buy. It’s easy on your phone, it has one screen and menu, and there’s always a manual way to check for new software updates.
That’s not the case with the Google Nest speakers. Neither have built-in displays nor much hardware control. So how do you ensure these are updated? The good news is that you don’t really have to.
Google Nest speakers should update automatically
Smart speakers like these are designed to be as easy to use as possible. Therefore, after the initial setup process, the settings really just get out of the way. And the same goes for updates. Google’s speakers, including the older Google Home and Google Home Mini, should update automatically when a new version becomes available. Although it should be said that similar to Android update rollouts on Google’s Pixel phones, it will always take some time before each device is updated.
The downside is that there is no update button and no way to manually force it. You can check the current software version in the Google Home app on your phone or tablet at device settings. However, you’ll need to visit Google’s support pages for cross references whether you’re up to date or not. It’s a little chunky, but for almost anyone with one of these speakers, this isn’t anything to worry about.
If your speaker is in the process of being updated, the lights on the top/front of the speaker will flash. If you see this, leave it alone until it’s done.
A way to force an update on your smart speaker
While you don’t have to worry about manually updating your Google Nest speaker, there is a way you can try to force it if you really want to. This includes doing a factory reset first and then setting up the speaker again.
During the setup process, the speaker should Check for new updates and install them. As above, when it is in the process of being updated, the LEDs on the device will flash. So leave it alone until it completes.
Upgrading smart speakers like these isn’t as important as it is with a phone or tablet, so resetting them is a pretty drastic measure. Still, it should work and is also an option if you’re having trouble with your hardware.