Although Google Home is very popular nowadays, a lot of people still have no idea about it.  Google Home is a smart device that uses artificial intelligence to obey certain commands and answer questions.  It’s a small speaker with a compact design that can fit into any space in your home or office.  In the market, there are 4 popular smart speakers that we can find; aside from Google Home, there are Amazon Echo, Apple Home, and Sonos.

Google Home is installed with a virtual smart assistant called Google Assistant that uses artificial intelligence to search the internet, set events and reminders, play music and videos, check traffic, make phone calls, and so much more.  And because Google Home is continually updated, this means your smart assistant only gets smarter as time goes by.  

It is widely used as an entertainment platform, as it can support a wide range of services, like Spotify, Google Play Music, YouTube, Netflix and more.  If you have an account with those services, you can link it to your Google Home.  Once linked, you can ask your Google Assistant to play your favourite music or movies without even having to lift a finger.  All you need to do is give the command!

With Google Home, it’s like having a super intelligent, tech-savvy and very obedient personal assistant in your home or office.  It can even help you with your schedules so you never miss or be late to an important meeting or event.  Just like Ironman, it’s like having your very own Jarvis, but its performance is mainly dependent on one thing: the Wi-Fi.  

Google Home is very dependent on Wi-Fi to be able to perform smart tasks, like connecting to other devices and searching the internet to be able to follow your commands or answer your questions.  Otherwise, it is no less than a simple Bluetooth speaker.

So, in order to maximise your Google Home, you must connect it to your Wi-Fi.  Here are the steps to connect successfully:

CONNECTING FOR THE FIRST TIME

Step 1:  Download the Google Home app.  Once downloaded, open the app then enter the Google account that you wish to connect to your Google Home device.

Step 2:  Enable Bluetooth on iOS or Android device, if prompted.

Step 3:  Once the app discovers the Google Home device, tap Next.  The speaker should make a sound.  When you hear this sound, click Yes.

Step 4:  Select the location of your device on the Where is this device screen, then enter a unique name for the Google speaker.

Step 5:  Choose the network you want to connect your Google Home device from the list of Wi-Fi networks.  Then tap Next.

Step 6:  Enter the Wi-Fi password then tap Connect.  A successful connection message should appear after a brief moment.

What if you change your Wi-Fi password?  Or you changed the location of your Google Home device?  Then let’s connect your Google Home to a new Wi-Fi network in its new location.

CONNECTING TO A NEW WI-FI NETWORK

Step 1:   Open the Google Home app.  At the upper-right corner of the screen, you will see the Device button.  Tap it.

Step 2:   A list of your Google Home devices will appear, with a user-specified name and images.  Click on the device you wish to connect to the Wi-Fi and tap its Menu button.  The Menu button is the three horizontal lines located in the upper-right corner of the speaker card.

Step 3:   A pop-up menu appears, choose Settings.   Then scroll down to the Device settings section and tap on Wi-Fi.

Step 4:   Now you will see the Google Home device’s Wi-Fi settings.  If it is currently connected to a network, choose Forget This Network.  Then click Forget Wi-Fi Network to confirm.

Step 5:  On the home screen, tap the device button again then select Add New Device.  You will be prompted to go to the iOS or Android device’s Wi-Fi settings and connect to the customised Google Home hotspot in the list of networks.  Do take note that this hotspot is represented by a name followed by four digits, or the unique name you gave to your Google Home device during your first set-up.

Step 6:   Now return to the Google Home app.  The speaker should make a sound.  Once you hear this, select Yes.

Step 7:  Select the location of your device in the Where is this device screen.  Then enter a unique name for the Google Home speaker.

Step 8:   A list of available Wi-Fi networks will be given, then choose the network where you wish to connect your Google Home.  Then tap Next.

Step 9:   Key-in the Wi-Fi password, then tap Connect.  A successful connection message will appear after a brief moment.

Google Home is indeed a very helpful smart device that can make your life easier.  Just make sure that it is connected to the strongest Wi-Fi connection so you can maximise its potential and enjoy all the benefits Google Home has to offer.