Google Home app can’t find device? Here’s how to fix it

In recent years, Google made the integration of a new smart device to Google Home much easier. Instead of many associated applications we used to need in order to configure the device, you need just a Google Home these days and that’s it. Of course, when it works it is a seamless procedure and done in a matter of minutes. But, when it doesn’t, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly is causing the problem. Today, we decided to offer some solutions for exactly that — troubleshooting when the Google Home app can’t find a device. Learn about possible solutions below.

Table of contents:

1. Restart the device and Google Nest/Home
2. Make sure Bluetooth and Location are enabled on your phone
3. Check the Network connection
4. Reset Google Nest/Home

How do I find my smart devices on Google Home?

If the Google Home app can’t find a device, you can usually fix the problem with these steps:

• Make sure that the device is set up in the companion app. Many devices don’t require companion apps these days, but we still suggest using them. Once you add the device to your Home, you can uninstall the app. The devices that come to mind first are smart bulbs that use Tuya/Smart Home apps.
• Restart the device and try again.
• Enable Bluetooth and Location.
• Check the network. Make sure that your phone and the device you want to add to Google Home are both connected to one SSID. Stick to 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz.
• Reset the Google Home speaker/display to factory settings.

1. Restart the device and Google Nest/Home

Let’s start with a simple restart. You should unplug Google Home/Nest and restart the device you want to connect, too. Check if there are any related apps that accompany the device. You can also add the device manually from the Google Home app.

Open the Google Home app and just tap on the plus icon in the top left corner. From there, tap “Set up device” and tap “Works with Google”. Locate the manufacturer, select it, and sign in with your credentials if asked. Once you add the device, it should appear on the Home Screen of Google Home.

Also, you can try Bluetooth pairing to see if the said device is visible at all. Make sure to enable Bluetooth pairing in Home settings and try pairing your Home/Nest with the device over Bluetooth.

2. Make sure Bluetooth and Location are enabled on your phone

If you are using Google Home on an iPhone, you’ll need to grant it Bluetooth and Location access. On the other hand, on Android, Google Home requests only Location access in order to add devices. With that in mind, make sure that the app (whatever platform you use) has all permissions granted.

For Android, navigate to Settings > Apps > All apps > Google Home > Permissions and grant every permission to ensure that Google Home can work without hindrance.

For iOS, navigate to Settings > Google Home. You can find all permissions there.

3. Check the Network connection

In order for Google Home to connect, group, and utilize smart devices, your household requires a stable network connection. This is usually the main problem for many users who have a lot of devices connected at the same time. We suggest adding a mesh router to help overcome connection issues.

In addition, you can try turning off or temporarily disabling other devices until you connect the one that bothers you. After that, things should go easier.

4. Reset Google Nest/Home

If nothing helps, consider resetting Google Nest/Home to its factory values. Sadly, although quite good in many regards, Google Home has a lot of things to improve on. And OEMs that make smart devices, too. So, to eliminate the possibility that this is a temporary halt, a minor bug that prevents connection, make sure to reset your Google Home to factory settings.

You can do so by pressing the button on the bottom and holding it until you hear the signal. On some smart displays, like Google Nest Hub, holding both volume buttons for 10 seconds brings the same result. After the factory reset, configure your Home again in the Google Home app and try connecting to the problematic device once more.

Also, make sure to report the problem in Google Home > Account > Feedback to report the problem. Or, navigate to the official Google Support page.

That should do it. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions with us. The comments section is just below and we look forward to hearing from you.

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in July 2021. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.