Troubleshoot sound detection for speakers and displays

Your speaker or display needs a power source to operate and a working Wi-Fi to send notifications about detected sounds.

• Ensure that the power is turned on in your home and that your speaker or display is plugged into a wall outlet. If there are power issues in your home or with your outlet, contact your energy service provider for assistance.
• Make sure your speaker or display is connected to your Wi-Fi network. If your device is turned on but still says it’s disconnected, troubleshoot Wi-Fi connection issues.

You need physical access to your speaker or display to turn the microphone on or off. You can’t use the Google Home app to change the microphone setting. Your device tells you when you successfully turn your microphone on or off.

Your speaker or display can't use sound detection if its Cast firmware version is older than:

• 1.44.199633 for Nest Hub Max
• 1.44.191160 for all other speakers and displays
• 1.46.209330 for Google Nest Wifi point

Your speaker or display should update automatically as the new firmware becomes available.

To learn how to check your speaker or display’s firmware version, visit our Google speaker and display firmware versions and release notes.

Your speaker or display may not detect sounds as easily if the area around it is cluttered. Make sure your device is placed on a clear surface. Don't cover or enclose your speaker or display.

Your speaker or display should be placed in the same room as your smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, or glass window. If they’re in different rooms, your speaker or display may not detect sounds from the alarm or glass breaking.

False alerts can happen when your device detects sounds that are similar to window breakage or alarms.

• If you drop a plate or drinking glass in your home, your speaker or display might detect the sound it makes as a glass breaking.
• Devices that play loud, high-pitched sound such as alarm clock or timer) in your home may be detected as a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm.
• Loud outdoor noises like security alarms on cars or back-up beepers on trucks may be detected as smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.

To fix the issue:

• Move your speaker or display away from the source of the false alert.
• If the sound comes from outside, try to close your windows in the room your device is in.

If moving your speaker or display doesn’t help, you can turn off sound detection in the Home app.

Turn off sound detection in the Home app

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial Settings Subscriptions Google Home Premium.
3. Tap Google Home Premium.

• To turn off sound detection for your home: Turn off Sound detection.
• To turn off sound detection for a specific device: Go to “Devices,” then turn off Sound detection next to the device name.