While only one person can own a Google Nest Mini or other Google Assistant speaker, it's a device that everyone in your home can interact with, so why not allow Google Assistant to be as personal for them as it is for you? Google Assistant speakers like the Google Nest line have allowed multiple users for a while now, but the methods for linking doing so doubled this fall, and here's how both of them work.
Products used in this guide
- Google Assistant in every room: ($49 at Best Buy)
Before we get started, you can link your account with a single Google Assistant speaker/display or become a home member and link your account to every Google Assistant device in the Home View setup.
- Open the on your phone.
- In the Home View tab (left-most bottom tab, with the house icon), tap the device you want to link your account to.
- Tap the settings gear.
Tap Link your account with Voice Match.
- Tap I agree to start the Voice Match process.
- Say "OK Google" and "Hey Google" as prompted on screen. If you already have Voice Match set up from other devices, Google will hold on a loading screen as the voice model is generated for this Google Home.
Tap I Agree to turn on personal results when speaking to Google Home. If you don't want personal results turned on, tap No Thanks instead.
- Google Assistant will ask you if you want to invite other people to set up Voice Match on the Google Home. Tap No Thanks.
- If this is your first Google Home device, you'll be asked if you want to add any media services. Tap the + next to a music service to link your subscription, or tap Next.
If this is your first Google Home device, you'll be asked if you want to add any video services. Tap the + next to a video service to link your subscription, or tap Next.
- If this is your first Google Home device, you'll be asked to opt-in to informational and promotional emails about Google Home, Chromecast, and other Google products. Tap Sign up to opt in or No thanks to opt out.
Tap Done to complete setup.
You should return to the Device settings for your newly-linked Google Assistant device. You should see your email listed first under Linked account(s) if the link was successfully set up.
How to add a new home member in the Google Home app
If you want to add someone to all Google Assistant devices in your home at once instead of going device-by-device, add them as a home member to your home setup.
How to send a home member invitation
- On your phone, open the Google Home app.
- In the Home View tab (left-most bottom tab, with the house icon), tap Settings next to the Add shortcut.
- Tap Home members.
Tap the + in the top right corner to add a new home member.
- Type the email account for the member you wish to add.
- Tap Save.
- An invite page will appear, telling you what home members can do and listing what devices they'll have access to. Tap More to scroll down.
Scroll down to the bottom and hit Send invite.
The invitation will be sent via email to your new home member, who needs to accept the invitation and set up their Voice Match profile with Google Assistant, as Voice Match is how your Google Home speaker or display will tell multiple users apart.
- Open the Google Home app on the invitee's phone.
- In the Home View tab (left-most bottom tab, with the house icon), tap 1 pending invitation. An invite page will appear, telling the invitee what they'll be able to do and listing what devices they'll have access to.
- Tap More to scroll down.
Scroll down to the bottom and hit Accept.
- Type a nickname for the home.
- Tap Next.
- Tap Next to set up Voice Match. Google will show you the various privacy and use policies involved with Google Assistant.
Tap a section to read more, and when you're satisfied, tap Next.
- Scroll down and tap Turn on to allow this information, or No Thanks. You can get more in-depth answers and interactions by allowing Google Assistant access to device information and audio activity.
- Tap I Agree.
Say "OK Google" and "Hey Google" as prompted on screen. If you already have Voice Match set up from other devices, Google will hold on a loading screen as the voice model is generated for this Google Home.
- Tap I Agree to turn on personal results when speaking to Google Home. If you don't want personal results turned on, tap No Thanks instead.
- Tap No Thanks when Google asks you if you want to invite other people to set up Voice Match on the Google Home.
- Tap the back button to go back to the Google Home setup.
If this is your first Google Home device, return to . Otherwise, you're done!
With setup complete, you should now see all of the devices currently connected to the home — from Google Assistant speakers and displays to smart lights, plugs, and thermostats — in the Home View tab.
You'll be able to turn the lights on and off, control media volume and playback, adjust the temperature, and more. On the note of smart lights, for systems like Philips Hue, home members will see Hue bulbs, but not Hue scenes.
How to remove a home member in Google Home
Homes in the Google Home app only allow 6 home members at a time (including the owner and primary member), so if you need to remove an old roommate or ex-boyfriend to make room for someone else, here's how to kick them to the digital curb.
- On your phone, open the Google Home app.
- In the Home View tab (left-most bottom tab, with the house icon), tap Settings next to the Add shortcut.
- Tap Home members.
Tap the three-dot menu button next to the member you wish to remove.
- Tap Remove.
Tap Remove to confirm the removal.
Google Assistant will remove the member from the Home setup and unlink their Voice Match profile from every Google Assistant speaker or display assigned to your home.
Get your Google Assistant on
The Google Assistant ecosystem has grown far beyond the original Google Home in the last few years. Today, we have dozens of smart speakers and smart displays powered by Google Assistant available from a variety of manufacturers, but Google-branded speakers are still a good place to start building your smart home setup.
Small size, super features
Google Nest Mini
Get the newest features and top-notch support.
Google's smallest speaker fits into any room, can pick up your voice even among a lively house party, and it gives you Google's premium Assistant experience in a more wallet-friendly size. This makes the Google Nest Mini an affordable entry into a Google-controlled smart home.
The Google Nest line -— formerly the Google Home line — gets new functions and features before third-party speakers, letting you try out the latest and greatest for years to come. Google Nest products also get help directly from Google Support via . For all other Google Assistant devices, Google refers you to the manufacturer, even though 93% of Google Assistant speakers/display performance is controlled by server-based protocols that are created, upgraded, and maintained by Google. If you tend to need help with your tech, stick with Google-branded devices.