Google Nest and Home speakers not responding to basic commands, some users say

Google Nest and Home speakers are leaving many users frustrated. Over the past few days, reports have surfaced about smart devices refusing to answer basic questions like “What’s the weather?” or “What time is it?” Instead of providing a response, the devices spin their lights or show a loading animation indefinitely.

The issue has been widely reported on Google’s support forums and was first spotted by Android Authority. Users have noted that while some functions, like controlling smart home devices or playing music, still work, basic informational queries are causing the devices to freeze.

According to Android Authority’s Rita El Khoury, the problem affects various models, including the Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, Nest Audio, and even older devices like the Google Home Mini. El Khoury tested multiple troubleshooting steps — like rebooting devices, resetting them, and even adjusting settings — but nothing resolved the issue.

Interestingly, the glitch doesn’t appear to affect all users. Some have reported no issues, while others say it’s impacting multiple devices in their homes. The problem also seems to be global, with reports coming in from different regions.

Speculation about the cause ranges from server-side problems to software bugs. The issue might likely be related to Google Assistant’s cloud-based systems, which could be struggling to process certain types of requests.

As of now, Google has not commented on the issue. For users experiencing the problem, there’s little they can do but wait for a fix. If you’re among the affected, you might want to keep a backup option, like your smartphone, handy for basic queries.