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Installing Google Home: with this step-by-step plan it always works

Written by:

Wesley Akkerman

All content is written by smart home experts, not AI and robots.

Installing the Google Home is done in no time. You can use the smart speaker from the American search engine giant in just a few steps. Even if you're looking for a how-to for the free Google Home app, you've come to the right place.

If you have even the slightest interest in digital voice assistant, you will soon end up with Google's smart speaker range. We're talking about the Google Home, but also about the Google Nest Mini, Google Nest Audio and of course the Google Nest Hub.

For all Google Home devices it applies that you connect and install them in the same way. But that doesn't mean you can just go to work like a headless chicken. That is why we present a step-by-step plan below, so that installing the Google Home is a piece of cake for everyone.

Google Home in Chromecast
Image: Google (press image)

Install Google Home

The first step is the easiest step. Plug the device into a wall socket and plug the other end into the speaker or smart display. The Google Home speakers have no on and off button and turn on automatically when you do this.

In preparation you can already download the app for Android of iOS, but of course we also discuss this in the step-by-step plan.

Install Google Home
With the step-by-step plan below you can easily install Google Home. Whether it's the Google Nest Home Hub or a Nest Mini.
Go to the Play Store/App Store and download the Google Home app
Download the Google Home app for Android of iOS.
Sign in with your Google account
To use a Google Home or Nest, you need a Google account. If you don't have one yet, you can create one. Then follow the steps on the screen
Check if Google Home has already found devices, if not add them manually
If no devices are found, press the plus icon in the top left of the app and press the option to install a new device.
Follow the steps and enter the information
Think about your address, for example. The search engine giant needs this for the correct display of certain search results. For example, when you ask if there is a supermarket nearby that is still open.
Complete the wizard
Complete the full Google Home wizard and voila: the app is fully installed!

Set up Google Home

Once Google Home installation is complete, you can give the system your personal preferences. This way you can easily set up Voice Match. With Voice Match, the Google Assistant on the Google Home speaker recognizes your voice. Only then will you have access to personal information from your mail and calendar.

In addition, you can log in to all kinds of services, for music, films and series. For example, log in with Spotify, Netflix and Disney+, so you can command your Assistant to select content on specific services to play. This only works with valid subscriptions and accounts.

The above options can be found under Settings and then under the heading Functions. When you tap on your photo at the top right and tap Settings for the Assistant, you will arrive at the other settings. Here you can, for example, set the (or an extra) language of the personal assistant.

Also read: Installing Google Home on Windows is how you do it

Be sure to check it out anyway, as you can also set things up here regarding personal search results, routines, and reminders. The routines in particular can be quite a challenge at first. With this option you bundle several commands under one voice command.

The further you scroll, the more options you will find. A nice option is the Nickname function. With that functionality you change the way the Google Assistant speaks to you. For example, shorten your name or give yourself a funny nickname; be creative!

Install Google Home
Image: Wesley Akkerman

Install Google Home app

Installing a Google Home is therefore done in no time, but only if you have the Google Home app. As mentioned, the app is in the Google Play Store and the App Store, where you can download it for free. Your device must meet certain requirements.

For example, Android users need at least Android 6.0 or higher. The app also needs access to pretty much every part of your phone. So that is definitely something to keep in mind. If you don't like that, you may have to forget about the Google Home completely.

Of course, the same applies to iOS users. Google collects a lot of data, under the guise of improving the user experience. As an iOS user, you need at least iOS 13.0 or higher. Do you have an iPad? Then you must have at least iPadOS 13.0 or higher on the device.

When you open the app for the first time, you must therefore log in with a Google account. You will then receive a message that you must create a house to which you can add future devices. Simply follow the steps on the screen and before you know it you'll be done installing the Google Home.

And now…?

After you have installed the app, you can of course continue installing and adding all the Google Home devices you already own. You do this by pressing the '+' icon and following the steps.

Of course you should check in advance whether your products actually support Google Home

If you are looking for a way to reset everything to factory settings, you can use our Google Home reset guide check for that!

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Writing about technology since 2006. Whether it's the Chromecast, Chromebook or Google Home, he doesn't turn his hand around for it.

2 thoughts on “Installing Google Home: with this step-by-step plan it always works”

  1. Hello, I have placed several Harman Kardon speakers in a "house" via Google Home. Works completely fine.
    Now have a HK1100 soundbar. It is not possible to add the HK13 via the Google Home app on my Android phone, version 1100. I do get the HK1100 added to my WiFi network via an Apple iPad. However, Google Assistant for voice control does not work and I cannot get the HK1100 connected in a "house" together with the other HK speakers.
    Suggestions?

    To answer

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