Basic Setup for Your Google Home

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction: Google Home: Basic Setup

Google's intelligent personal assistant is simply called Google Assistant. It is a voice service that can help you with tasks, entertainment, general information, and more. It is found most commonly on the smart speakers part of the Google Home lineup, but also across a range of different devices, like smartphones, laptops, wearables, and TVs.

This guide will walk you through first time setup for your Google Home device. We'll need to install the app, if this hasn't already been done.

For the next steps, ensure that your Google Home device is plugged in and within range of your wireless router.

2. Google Home: Basic Setup

To setup your Google Home speaker:

  1. Plug the power adapter cord into the base of the Google Home and the power adapter into a power outlet.
  2. Allow it to boot up. You will know it's booted up once it starts talking to you and welcomes you to Google Home.
  3. Open the Google Home app on your mobile device
Mobile app icon
  1. .
  2. The Google Home app will automatically detect the new device. Tap on Set Up.
New Device found pop-up in mobile app


  1. If it doesn't detect it, then tap on the Devices icon on the top right corner of the screen.
Devices icon pointed out in mobile app


  1. On the Devices screen tap on Set Up on the Google Home device card.
Devices screen in mobile app


  1. The app will let you know the Google Home was found. Tap on Continue.
Device setup start screen in mobile app


  1. It will disconnect your mobile device from the Wi-Fi network it is connected to and connect it temporarily to the Google Home Wi-Fi hotspot.
Notification screen about switching Wi-Fi connection


  1. It will need to play a test sound to make sure you connected to the right device. Tap on Play Test Sound.
Sound testing screen


  1. If you heard the sound confirm it by tapping on I Heard It to continue, otherwise tap on Try Again.
Sound functionality query screen


  1. Next, you'll have to select the room you want to place the Google Home device in. Check or uncheck the box for sending device usage data to Google and tap on Continue.
Device location selection screen


  1. Then you'll have to select the Wi-Fi network you want it connected to. Should be the same with the Wi-Fi network your mobile device is connected to as well.
Wi-Fi network selection screen


  1. The app can retrieve the Wi-Fi password that is saved in your mobile device so you don't have to type it in again. Tap on OK to do that then on Continue.
Wi-Fi password retrieval query screen


  1. Once you're connected to the Wi-Fi tap on Continue.
Wi-Fi connection confirmation screen


  1. Next, you'll have to setup the Google Assistant. Go ahead and Sign In with your Google account.
Assistant setup start screen


  1. Set the location where Google Home is installed to get localized information then tap on Set Location.
Device location entry screen


  1. Choose whether you want to get notifications about updates on Google Home and tap on Continue.
E-mail notification toggle screen


  1. Link the music services that you want Google Home to play songs from and select your preferred one to be the default then tap on Continue.
Music service selection screen


  1. Once the setup is completed you can also take the tutorial to learn how to use your Google Home. Tap on Continue to do so or Skip Tutorial if you're already familiar with how to use it.
Setup completion screen


  1. Start the tutorial by tapping on Continue. Follow the instructions to learn the basics on using Google Home.
Tutorial initialization screen


  1. Once done with the tutorial just tap on Finish Tutorial. At this point you can enjoy your Google Home.
Tutorial completion screen

3. Introduction: Google Home App

Google Home featuring mobile app choices

To be able to manage your Google Home or Chromecast devices you have to install the Google Home App onto your mobile device.

4. Google Home: Install Android App

  1. Open Play Store.
Play Store icon


  1. Type "Google Home" in the search bar and select Google Home.
Search bar with Google Home highlighted


  1. Tap Install to start downloading the app.
Google Home app page with Install highlighted


  1. Once installed, tap Open to proceed to the setup.
Google Home app page with Open highlighted

5. Google Home: Setup Android App

  1. Open the Google Home app.
Google Home app icon


  1. Tap on Get Started.
Introduction page with Get Started highlighted


  1. Confirm which Google Account to use and tap OK.
Choose Account page with OK highlighted


  1. Tap Next and then tap Allow for permissions that are requested.
Location Access page with Next highlighted


  1. Google Home will search for Google devices. Pick your device from the list and then click Next.
Found page with Next highlighted


  1. Tap Yes to confirm you heard noise from the Google Home device you're setting up.
Did you hear the sound? page with yes highlighted


  1. If prompted, tap the region list and then select your region and then Continue.
  2. Choose a language and tap Next.
  3. Choose the room where your device is located and tap Next.
Where is the device? page with Next highlighted


  1. Choose the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to and tap Next.
 Connect to Wi-Fi page with Next highlighted


  1. Type you Network Security Key (Wi-Fi Password) and tap Connect.
Enter Wi-Fi Password page with Next highlighted


  1. Tap Next to setup your Google Assistant.
Set up your Google Assistant page with Next highlighted


  1. Get personal results with Voice Match by tapping Continue.
Get personal results with Voice Match page with Continue highlighted


  1. Speak the phrases on the screen and tap Continue when finished.
Voice Match Complete page with Continue highlighted


  1. Tap Allow if you wish to allow the use of personal results.
Allow personal results page with Allow highlighted


  1. Enter your address and tap Next.
  2. A summary will appear with options to link media services and payment methods to link to your Google Home. Select which you would like to use and tap Next.
  3. Tap Continue to proceed to the next page.
Family speaker is ready page with Continue highlighted


  1. Tap Finish Setup to complete setup.
"Just

6. Google Home: Install iOS App

  1. Open the App Store.
App Store icon
  1.  
  2. Type in "Google Home" in the search bar.
  3. Find Google Home in the search results and tap on GET.
App Store search with Get highlighted next to Google Home app
  1.  
  2. Tap on Install to start download.
Install button

7. Google Home: Setup iOS App

  1. Open the Google Home app.
Google Home app icon
  1.  
  2. Tap on Get Started.
Welcome Home page with Get started highlighted
  1.  
  2. Confirm which Google Account to use and tap OK.
Choose Account page with OK highlighted
  1.  
  2. If Bluetooth is disabled you'll be asked to turn it on. Swipe Up from the bottom of your screen and tap the Bluetooth Icon and Swipe Down to continue.
Control center with Bluetooth icon highlighted
  1.  
  2. Google Home will search for Google devices. Pick your device from the list and then click Next.
Google Home Found page with Next highlighted
  1.  
  2. Tap Yes to confirm you heard noise from the Google Home device you're setting up.
Did you hear the sound? page with yes highlighted
  1.  
  2. Tap the region list and then select your region and then Continue.

  3. Choose a language and tap Next.
  4. Choose the room where your device is located and tap Next.
Where is the device with a list of rooms and Next highlighted
  1.  
  2. Choose the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to and tap Next.
Choose your Wi-Fi Network page with a list of available networks and the next button which is highlighted
  1.  
  2. Type you Network Security Key (Wi-Fi Password) and tap Connect.
Enter Wi-Fi password page with spot to type password and connect button is highlighted
  1.  
  2. Tap Next to setup your Google Assistant
Set up your google assistant page with next highlighted
  1.  
  2. Get personal results with Voice Match by tapping continue.
Get personal results with voice match page with continue highlighted
  1.  
  2. Speak the phrases on the screen and tap Complete when done.
Voice match complete page with continue highlighted
  1.  
  2. Enter your address and tap Next.
  3. A summary will appear with options to link media services and payment methods to link to your Google Home. Select which you would like to use and tap Next.
  4. Tap Next to proceed to the next page
Google home is ready page with continue highlighted
  1.  
  2. Tap Finish Setup.
Control your chromecast page with Finish Setup highlighted