Learn about the lights on your speaker
You can tell what your speaker is doing or its status by its lights.
Gemini for Home voice assistant began rolling out in early access on Google speakers and displays on October 28, 2025, with a broader release to follow. Learn more about Gemini for Home voice assistant.
The behavior of the LED lights on your speaker depends on whether you have Google Assistant or Gemini for Home voice assistant.
Choose your device
The colors of the lights and how they move depend on the device. To learn what the lights on your device means, choose your device below.
Google Nest AudioGemini for Home voice assistant
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
Rainbow gradient |
Gemini for Home voice assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
|
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Gemini for Home voice assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
|
4 white lights pulse quickly white horizontal flashing led |
Gemini for Home voice assistant is listening. |
|
Purple lights continuously run left to right |
Gemini for Home voice assistant is thinking. |
|
Purple lights continuously pulse |
Gemini for Home voice assistant is responding. |
|
4 purple lights flash twice and then fade |
Gemini for Home voice assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
|
4 solid orange lights Mic off |
The microphone is off. Gemini for Home voice assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google smart home devices.
Google Assistant
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 white lights Listening |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
|
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
|
4 white lights pulse quickly white horizontal flashing led |
Google Assistant is listening. |
|
White lights continuously run left to right Thinking |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
|
White lights continuously pulse Responding |
Google Assistant is responding. |
|
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
|
4 solid orange lights Mic off |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google smart devices.
Setup
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
White lights slowly pulse Ready to set up |
Your speaker is ready to set up. |
|
4 solid blue lights Verify device |
Your speaker needs to be verified by you. |
|
White lights run back and forth Wi-Fi |
Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
|
White lights light up from left to right moving white led |
Your speaker is downloading or installing an update. |
System
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
Rainbow gradient lights light up from left to right |
Your speaker is booting up. |
|
White lights slowly pulse Alarm ringing |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
|
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes Reminder |
Your speaker is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." |
Volume
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture Volume mute |
The volume is muted. |
|
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture Volume change |
The volume level is 1 to 20. |
Error
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
2 solid red lights Long update |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Gemini for Home voice assistant
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
Rainbow gradient |
Gemini for Home voice assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
|
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Gemini for Home voice assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
|
4 white lights pulse quickly white horizontal flashing led |
Gemini for Home voice assistant is listening. |
|
White lights continuously run left to right Thinking |
Gemini for Home voice assistant is thinking. |
|
White lights continuously pulse Responding |
Gemini for Home voice assistant is responding. |
|
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Gemini for Home voice assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
|
4 solid orange lights Mic off |
The microphone is off. Gemini for Home voice assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google smart home devices.
Google Assistant
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 white lights Listening |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
|
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
|
White lights continuously run left to right Thinking |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
|
White lights continuously pulse Responding |
Google Assistant is responding. |
|
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
|
4 solid orange lights Mic off |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, next to the power cord, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google Nest and Home devices.
Setup
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
White lights slowly pulse Ready to set up |
Your speaker is ready to set up. |
|
4 solid blue lights Verify device |
Your speaker needs to be verified by you. |
|
White lights run back and forth Wi-Fi |
Your speaker is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
|
White lights light up from left to right moving white led |
Your speaker is downloading or installing an update. |
System
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
Google Nest Mini: Depending on your device color, multi-colored or white lights light up from left to right Google Home Mini: Multi-colored lights light up from left to right Bootup |
Your speaker is booting up. |
|
Google Home Mini only: Orange lights countdown orange led light |
Your speaker is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. |
|
White lights slowly pulse Alarm ringing |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
|
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes Reminder |
Your speaker is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." |
Volume
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture Volume mute |
The volume is muted. |
|
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture Volume change |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |
|
Google Nest Mini only: Lights up as your hand gets close to the device when music is playing hand detection led light |
Nest Mini detected a hand. |
Error
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
2 solid red lights Long update |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Google Assistant or Gemini for Home voice assistant
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 white lights Listening |
Your voice assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
|
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Your voice assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
|
White lights continuously run left to right Thinking |
Your voice assistant is thinking. |
|
White lights continuously pulse Responding |
Your voice assistant is responding. |
|
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Your voice assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
|
4 solid orange lights Mic off |
The microphone is off. Your assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, on the back of Google Home Max, slide the mic switch. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google Nest and Home devices.
Setup
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
White lights slowly pulse Ready to set up |
Google Home Max is ready to set up. |
|
4 solid blue lights Verify device |
Google Home Max needs to be verified by you. |
|
White lights run back and forth Wi-Fi |
Google Home Max is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
|
White lights light up from left to right moving white led |
Google Home Max is downloading or installing an update. |
System
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
Multi-colored lights light up from left to right Bootup |
Google Home Max is booting up. |
|
Orange lights countdown orange led light |
Google Home Max is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. |
|
White lights slowly pulse Alarm ringing |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
|
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes Reminder |
Google Home Max is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." |
|
White lights quickly pulse Volume mute |
Google Home Max is skipping a track. |
|
White lights slowly pulse Alarm ringing |
Google Home Max is pairing with another speaker for stereo sound. |
Volume
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture Volume mute |
The volume is muted. |
|
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture Volume change |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |
Error
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
2 solid red lights Long update |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Google Assistant or Gemini for Home voice assistant
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
Multi-colored lights spin clockwise and pulse Listening |
Voice assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
|
Multi-colored lights continuously spin clockwise Thinking |
Voice assistant is thinking. |
|
Multi-colored lights continuously pulse Responding |
Voice assistant is responding. |
|
4 solid orange lights Mic muted |
The microphone is off. Voice assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. To turn the mic on or off, on the back of Google Home, press the microphone mute button. |
Learn more on Data security and privacy on Google Nest and Home devices.
Setup
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 white lights slowly pulse Ready to set up |
Google Home is ready to set up. |
|
4 blue lights slowly pulse Verify device |
Google Home needs to be verified by you. |
|
4 white lights spin clockwise Connecting Wi-Fi |
Google Home is connecting to Wi-Fi. |
|
White lights light up from top to bottom arched white led |
Google Home is downloading an update. |
|
6 white lights spin clockwise white led lights |
Google Home is installing an update. |
System
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
White and multi-colored lights spin and blink google home spinning lights |
Google Home is booting up. |
|
Orange lights countdown orange semi circle led |
Google Home is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. |
|
White lights slowly pulse Alarm ringing |
An alarm is ringing. |
|
White lights spin Timer ringing |
A timer is ringing. |
|
One solid white light shows for about 10 minutes Reminder / volume mute |
Google Home is reminding you that a notification is available. To get the notification, say "Hey Google, what's up?." |
Volume
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
One centered white light appears when you make a volume control gesture Reminder / volume mute |
The volume is muted. |
|
1 to 10 white lights appear when you make a volume control gesture volume level |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |
Error
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
6 solid orange lights red led lights |
An update is taking longer than expected. |
Google Assistant
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 white lights Listening |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" and is waiting for your question or command. |
|
4 white lights flash and then fade |
Google Assistant detected "Hey Google" but didn't recognize a question or command. If you meant to make a request, try again. |
|
White lights continuously run left to right Thinking |
Google Assistant is thinking. |
|
White lights continuously pulse Responding |
Google Assistant is responding. |
|
4 white lights flash twice and then fade |
Google Assistant understands your request but didn't respond verbally. For example, after you say "Next" while a song is playing. |
|
4 solid orange lights Mic off |
The microphone is off. Google Assistant can't detect "Hey Google" or respond. |
System
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
White lights slowly pulse Ready to set up |
Your speaker is ready to set up. |
|
Orange lights countdown orange led light |
Your speaker is confirming that you want to perform a factory reset. A reset is confirmed when there are 4 orange lights. For more info on how to factory reset your speaker, reach out to the device manufacturer. |
|
White lights slowly pulse Alarm ringing |
An alarm or a timer is ringing. Learn how to: |
Volume
| Description of lights | What this means |
|---|---|
|
4 dim white lights flash when you make a volume control gesture Volume mute |
The volume is muted. |
|
1 to 4 white lights show when you make a volume control gesture Volume change |
The volume level is 1 to 10. |