Google Home speakers ‘bricked’ following firmware update

A string of Google Home and Google Home Mini owners are reporting issues with their smart speakers, following a recent firmware update.

Threads on Reddit and Google’s official support channel detail unresponsive, ‘bricked’ devices; stuck with all four LED lights lit on the top of the speaker and an inability to be reset.

While the thread on Google’s support channel originally dates back several months, it has seen a spate of complaints added in recent days.

This seems to have compelled a Google spokesperson to chip in with a statement, saying today that the company is aware of the issue and is “working on a fix”:

“It has been very difficult for our team to diagnose this issue and we understand why many of you have been frustrated with this ongoing process,” writes Google’s Rachel Chambers.

“Our support team will be reaching out to customers on this thread via private messaging to further address this issue and come to a resolution.”

Expert Reviews has reached out to Google for clarity on the cause behind the issue, and whether the company will replace any affected devices that are out of warranty.

Frustrated owners have commented in the threads that the issues began after an over-the-air update to their device’s firmware. Several people have noted that Google has agreed to send them a replacement speaker, but only if they are covered by the company’s two-year guarantee.

The slow build of reports about ‘bricked’ devices could be explained by the staggered nature of firmware updates, which are rarely rolled out simultaneously across the globe.

We’ll update this page if we hear more information from Google. If you are affected, your best bet for now is to contact the company’s Help Centre.