Frequently asked questions about using Google health home

September 23, 2022

Google health home is a smart speaker for all situations

In everyday life we ​​have to have a thousand things on our minds at the same time: shopping lists, appointments, birthdays and much more. It’s a good thing that there are smart speakers like Google health home that take care of a lot of annoying tasks on demand or even do them automatically.

What do I need to use Google health home?

Using Google health home requires the following:

  • A Google health home device

  • The current version of the Google health home app ( android / iOS)

  • A smartphone or tablet

  • Access to a WiFi network

What are the technical requirements for using Google health home?

Google health home supports the operating systems Android (Google) and iOS (Apple). It cannot be set up using a computer. The OTA (Over the Air) system ensures that Google health home automatically updates to the latest software version. Users therefore need one of these two operating systems:

  • Android 4.4 or higher

  • iOS 9.1 or later

What do the lights on the Google health home mean?

There are four points of light on the top of Google health home. Their lighting signals the next steps.

Importance of Google health home lighting:

  • The lights rotate clockwise and pulsate in multiple colors: Google health home has understood “OK Google” or “Hey Google” and is waiting for voice commands

  • The lights pulsate in different colors: Google health home reacts.

  • The lights rotate clockwise. Google health home is processing a voice command.

  • All lights are orange: The microphone is muted. Google health home doesn’t listen or respond to commands.

Can I change the “Ok Google” wake word?

In contrast to the Amazon Echo speakers, for which there are four different activation words to choose from, Google health home only comes with two by default. You cannot add your own activation words, but you can add an individual name to the health home app for each Google health home. To do this, follow the step-by-step instructions of our How-to Rename Google health home​​​​​​.

Does Google health home always have to be smart health connected to the internet?

Google health home can be used as a pure speaker without an internet connection. Music stored on the smartphone or tablet can be played via a Bluetooth connection. An internet connection is required to set up Google health home. Google health home does not support WPA2 enterprise networks. The compatible tablet or smartphone must support 5 gigahertz WiFi connections. The smart speaker needs this for the initial setup.

Why does Google health home understand me poorly or not at all?

If the smart speaker isn’t listening properly, it could be for one of the following reasons:

Reasons for inactive Google health home:

  • Google health home and your smartphone or tablet are not on the same WiFi network.

  • Your own Google account is not linked to the desired Google health home speaker, but a different one.

  • The language of the Google Assistant is not set to German.

Help Google health home speaks English! How do I change the language to German?

If your Google health home only speaks English, it is probably an American model that still needs to be converted. That’s how it works:

Change Google health home language to German:

  1. Open the Google health home app and tap the menu icon in the top left.

  2. Check if your own Google account is linked to the speaker. If not, click the triangle icon next to the account name and switch accounts.

  3. Under “Further settings” first tap “Devices” and then “Assistant language”. There you can select another language.

The language of each Google health home speaker can be changed with just a few clicks

(E HEALTH/health home&smart editors) 

Reset: How to reset Google health home

Sometimes disturbances are so massive that only a reset remains. With all Google health home speakers, this has so far only been possible directly on the device and not via voice command or app. But be careful: Anyone who decides to reset their Google health home or Google health home Mini will delete all personal data and then have to store it again.

Reset Google health home: To do this, simply press the microphone button on the back for about 15 seconds until Google Assistant confirms the reset.

Reset Google health home Mini: The reset button is located on the underside of the speaker under the charging cable. It is identified by an engraved circle. If this is pressed, the Google Assistant confirms that the reset has been successfully carried out.

Fortunately, you don’t need any tools: the reset is done directly on the device

(E HEALTH/health home&smart editors) 

Further information on all technical problems with Google health home, Google Assistant or the associated accounts can be found at Google health home support page of the manufacturer.

More guides for Google health home

Play Spotify with Google health homeGoogle Actions: German skill directory for Google Assistant“Ok Google”: These are the most important Google health home voice commands

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