Did you recently get a Google Home? It’s time to set up your speaker or smart display: Here’s how in just a few simple steps, plus what to watch out for.
So you finally bought a new A.I. home assistant, but now that you’ve opened your Google Home or Nest device, you have no idea where to start. Good instincts not rushing into anything, because it’s essential to set up the system correctly and not just improvise. In this article, we explain how to set up a Google Home device, how to connect and sync your Google accounts, and how to customize your preferences. To get started, first plug your Google Home device into the wall. There is no power button on the Google Home, so as long as it’s plugged into an outlet, it’s automatically on. Wait a few minutes for it to light up, and it will then begin looking for your phone to set up a connection. Keep your phone on hand, so you’ll know when the two are ready to be synced. Whether you use an iPhone or Android, you can find the Google Home app in the App Store or on Google Play. When prompted, agree to turn on location permissions, as this makes it easier for the device to report accurate local weather, let you know the nearest Walgreens, etc. Be sure your smartphone is connected to your home Wi-Fi, as this is how the Google Home will be able to access your network information. To use a Google Home device, you’ll need a Google account. If you already have a Gmail address, that’s perfect — go ahead and enter that. If you don’t already have one, head over to gmail.com on your laptop or smartphone to create a new account. When you are logged in, open up your Google Home app and give it a moment to get its bearings. Usually, at this point, the Google Home app will say something like, “New device detected” or “Set up device.” Select this notification to begin. If you do not see the notification, select the plus sign on the Home screen and choose Set up device to give the app a kick-start. A series of numbers will show up on the screen of both your Hub and on your phone, and these numbers should match. Select Yes to verify that these numbers match and that you’re connecting the right device. Choose which room the device will be in, and you are ready to connect. If necessary, you may also be asked to input your physical address for the device if you have not already done so. Be sure to set the location of your Google Home device, as you’ll need this for things like local weather reports, traffic conditions, and commute times. Google Home will now ask you about several different connections you can make on your devices to ensure it works with your current services. Here’s what you will need to make decisions about: Voice Match: Voice match can recognize your voice and distinguish it from several other voices. This is a great feature if multiple people in the home will be using the Google device and have their own Google accounts.
