● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact1 negative
Google Home Speakers Experiencing Background Data Download Issue, Fix Rolling Out
Key points
- Some Google Home Speakers are downloading hundreds of gigabytes of data.
- One speaker consumed 17 GB in 24 hours and 132 GB over 30 days.
- The issue may be caused by failed attempts to download firmware updates.
- Google has acknowledged the problem and is rolling out a fix.
- Reports are primarily tied to the new Google Home Speaker model.
Background Data Consumption Reported
Several Google Home Speaker owners have reported an issue where their devices are continuously downloading large amounts of data in the background. Some users observed data consumption reaching hundreds of gigabytes, with one instance noting 17 GB in 24 hours and 132 GB over a 30-day period for a speaker that was not actively used for voice commands or media streaming. Another user reported 25GB transferred in 24 hours by a new speaker.
Potential Cause and Impact
The excessive data usage is potentially linked to failed attempts by the speakers to download and install firmware updates. One user noted a download of 9.99 GB at 3 a.m. PT, suggesting a connection to firmware update processes. Such high data consumption could lead to users exceeding their internet data caps.
Google's Response
Google has acknowledged the issue. The company stated that a fix is currently being rolled out to address the problem for affected users. While most reports are associated with the new Google Home Speaker model, the full extent of the issue's widespread nature is not yet clear.
Checking Device Data Usage
Users can monitor their device's data usage through their router settings. For those using Nest Wifi, data consumption can be checked via the Google Home app by navigating to the Wifi tab, then Devices, and selecting the specific speaker.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Some Google Home Speaker owners are reporting a bug where devices continuously download hundreds of gigabytes of data, potentially due to failed firmware updates. Google has acknowledged the issue and is rolling out a fix, which is critical for users with limited data plans.
Some Google Home Speakers are downloading hundreds of gigabytes of data in the background, potentially exceeding data caps for users. Google has acknowledged the issue and is rolling out a fix.