Google Home is becoming a house of glitches, users say (Updated: Google heard you!)

Google Home is becoming a house of glitches, users say (Updated: Google heard you!)

TL;DR

  • Google Home and Nest users are reporting a vital decline in reliability, with units often misunderstanding instructions or failing to reply in any respect.
  • Core options like controlling lights, routines, and speaker teams appear to be breaking down.
  • Whereas the precise trigger of the downgraded expertise is unclear, users suspect upcoming Gemini updates are responsible.

Replace: July 23, 2025 (9:58 PM ET): The Chief Product Officer for Google Home and Nest, Anish Kattukaran, has acknowledged the problems users have been dealing with on Google Home. In a post on X, the chief apologized for the continued issues and stated that the staff is engaged on a long-term resolution.

“I wish to acknowledge the latest suggestions about Google Assistant reliability on our dwelling units. I sincerely apologize for what you’re experiencing and feeling,” stated Kattukaran.

“We hear you loud and clear and are dedicated to getting this proper and ensuring now we have a long-term resolution that gives higher reliability and functionality. Now we have been actively engaged on main enhancements for a while and could have extra to share within the fall,” he added.


Authentic article: July 22, 2025 (2:04 AM ET): Google’s sensible audio system and hubs seem like steadily declining in efficiency. A latest Reddit thread has highlighted simply how these units, particularly older Nest hubs and audio system, have change into extra unreliable through the years, and it’s not the primary time users have voiced these considerations.

“Now, I can barely get it to know any command, or do something that I may earlier than. Nothing works, and all I get is – Sorry, one thing went unsuitable, strive once more later,” wrote a annoyed consumer.

Users are reporting issues starting from misheard instructions and delayed responses to units performing the unsuitable actions or totally ignoring directions. On a regular basis duties like turning lights on or off, taking part in music in particular rooms, or working morning routines merely don’t work like they used to.

Are your Google Home or Nest audio system and hubs nonetheless working as anticipated?

9281 votes

What’s regarding is that these aren’t simply a few remoted complaints. It appears to be a sample affecting users who’ve invested closely in Google’s sensible dwelling {hardware}. Options that when labored with out a hitch, like controlling audio system in a number of rooms or triggering routines primarily based on voice recognition, have change into erratic or utterly non-functional for a lot of.

One consumer described how they’ll now not play white noise of their youngster’s room. As an alternative, the sound performs in no matter room they occur to be standing in. One other consumer shared a unusual situation the place asking for the climate provides totally different outcomes relying on who is talking of their dwelling.

“I ask for the climate, and it responds appropriately each time. My spouse asks for the climate, and it actually picks wherever it desires. Yesterday it was Eddyville, Kentucky. At present it picked Shawnee, Oklahoma. We don’t even stay in that state,” reported one other consumer.

Some users have additionally reported weird malfunctions. One particular person stated that every time they ask their Google gadget to show off a fan, it turns off all of the lights as an alternative. One other consumer described how a easy request to show off bed room lights results in shutting off each mild in and round their dwelling.

Whereas the precise trigger of these points is unclear, the widespread theme is that Google’s sensible dwelling units, particularly older fashions, appear to be getting worse over time. Some users suspect that updates associated to Google’s upcoming Gemini integration are responsible. Others suppose it might be a deliberate transfer to part out older {hardware} in favor of new units.

Regardless of the cause, one factor is clear. Many Google Home users are now not getting the sensible expertise they signed up for, and they aren’t glad about it.

Acquired a tip? Speak to us! E mail our employees at [email protected]. You’ll be able to keep nameless or get credit score for the information, it is your alternative.