Some Google Home Speakers are quietly burning through hundreds of gigabytes. Here's how to check yours (Oct. 21)
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Some owners of Google's new $99.99 Home Speaker say it has been downloading hundreds of gigabytes of data in the background, likely from a stuck firmware update.
Google told 9to5Google that a fix is already rolling out, but it has not said what caused the problem or how many speakers are affected.
Xfinity customers in Oregon who are still on older plans have a 1.2 TB monthly data limit, with overage charges of $10 per 50 GB, up to $100 a month.
You can check a speaker's data use in your router's app or, on Nest Wifi, in the Google Home app.
If your home internet felt sluggish this month, or a data warning email showed up out of nowhere, a smart speaker on the kitchen counter could be the culprit.
Owners of Google's new Home Speaker have been reporting over the past week that the device is pulling down huge amounts of data even when nobody is using it. Google has acknowledged the problem and says a fix is on the way. Here's what's going on and how to check your own setup in a few minutes.
What's happening
9to5Google reporter Abner Li found that one of his Home Speakers, which had not been used for music or voice commands in a day, used 17 GB of data in 24 hours, including 9.99 GB in a single burst at 3 a.m. Pacific time. The same speaker downloaded 41 GB on Oct. 13 and 132 GB over 30 days. Another lightly used Home Speaker in a different household used just 2 GB in a month.
Reddit users have posted bigger numbers. One said his speaker was using more than 200 GB a day, according to The Verge. Others reported 300 GB in 30 days, and one owner saw 294 GB downloaded and 544 GB uploaded, Cybernews reported.
The timing and the traffic pattern suggest the speaker may be stuck trying to download a firmware update that never installs. Google has not confirmed the cause. In a statement to 9to5Google, the company said "a fix is already rolling out that should address this for users."
The reports center on the Home Speaker, the Gemini-powered model Google started shipping in June. Older Nest Hubs, Nest Minis and Nest Audio speakers do not appear to be affected, MakeUseOf reported.
Why it matters here
For many homes on unlimited plans, the bug is mostly a waste of bandwidth that can slow down other devices. For homes with a data limit, it can cost money.
Xfinity, which sells home internet in Salem, says its newer plans include unlimited data. But customers on older, legacy plans have a 1.2 TB monthly limit, and Oregon is not on the list of states where that limit is waived, according to Xfinity's data plan FAQ.
Xfinity gives one courtesy month per 12 months with no overage charge.
After that, it charges $10 for each 50 GB over the limit, up to $100 a month.
Legacy customers get an email at 75% of the limit and email and text alerts at 90% and 100%.
Xfinity says its average customer uses about 498 GB a month.
At the 200 GB a day one owner reported, a speaker alone could use up a 1.2 TB allowance in about six days. Many mobile hotspot plans, which some rural Valley homes rely on, have much smaller monthly allowances, so a stuck download could burn through them even faster.
How to check your speaker
Open your router's app or settings page. Most routers show how much data each device has used.
On Google Nest Wifi, open the Google Home app, tap the Wifi tab, then Devices, pick the speaker and choose Device usage graphs. You can switch between 1, 7 and 30-day views.
Xfinity customers can see their monthly usage meter in the Xfinity app or on xfinity.com. You need to sign in as the primary user or a manager.
What to do if yours is affected
Restarting the speaker may help for a while. Unplugging it, or waiting for Google's fix to reach your device, are the only sure ways to stop the downloads, according to MakeUseOf. If you unplug it, plug it back in now and then so it can pick up the update. Then check the usage graph again a day later.
If you're on a capped Xfinity plan and the bug pushed you over, Xfinity says switching to a current plan removes the limit. It's worth checking your bill either way.
Shopping for a smart speaker this season?
The smart home market is crowded heading into the holidays. Google's Home Speaker sells for $99.99. Apple's new HomeView, a $299 smart display with a 7-inch screen that works with Matter smart home accessories, is up for preorder now and goes on sale Nov. 13, Apple said. You can preorder Apple HomeView on Amazon.
Whatever you buy, it pays to set up a router that shows per-device data use. It's the quickest way to catch a gadget that's misbehaving.
Gear that helps
Google Nest Wifi Pro 2-pack: the mesh system behind the Google Home app's per-device usage graphs mentioned above.
Kasa Smart Plug Mini 2-pack: lets you cut power to a misbehaving gadget from your phone, or on a schedule, without crawling behind the counter. It supports Apple Home.
Apple HomeView: Apple's new smart display, available for preorder ahead of its Nov. 13 release.
Sources: 9to5Google, The Verge, Cybernews, MakeUseOf, Xfinity and Apple Newsroom.
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