How to delete Google Home and Nest voice recordings
Where your activity is kept depends on the assistant. Speakers updated to Gemini for Home save it to Home History, kept for 18 months by default; speakers still on Google Assistant use Assistant activity.1, 2
Checked 4 November 2026 against the sources.
Turn it off
Google says Gemini for Home is rolling out gradually, and your Gemini for Home activity only appears once your speaker has been updated.1
Speakers with Gemini for Home
myactivity.google.com/product/homeHome History
Checked against Google Home and Nest Help.1
- Go to myactivity.google.com/product/home.In the Google Home app: your profile picture, then Home settings, then Privacy, then Home History.1
- Select Turn off, then choose Turn off and delete activity, and pick what to delete.1
- If you keep Home History on, click Delete above your activity and choose All time, or a shorter range.1
- To keep less, click Choose an auto-delete option and pick 3 months.The default is 18 months; the other choice is 36 months, or no auto-delete.1
Google says that while Home History is on, it uses your activity to improve its services, including training generative AI models. Using your voice and audio recordings for that is a separate setting, off by default.1
Speakers still on Google Assistant
Google Home app or myactivity.google.comAssistant Activity
Checked against Google Home and Nest Help.2
- Open your Assistant Activity from the Google Home app, or go to myactivity.google.com.2
- Delete what you want to remove, or set up automatic deletion.2You can also say "Hey Google, delete what I said this week."2
- To stop saving it, turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account.Google says this limits personalized results in the Assistant and other Google services.2
Google says it doesn't keep your Assistant audio recordings on its servers by default, unless you choose to save audio in your Google Account.2
- Slide the mic switch until it shows orange.On Nest Mini and Nest Audio it's next to the power cord; on Google Home Max, on the back; on the newer Google Home Speaker, at the bottom.3
- The lights show orange: the speaker can't hear "Hey Google" or respond.3
Google says the mic can only be muted with the physical switch. On the original Google Home it's a mute button on the back.3
Is a Google speaker always listening?
It listens for the wake word on the device. Google describes what's sent and when.
In standby
Google says the speaker processes a few seconds of audio at a time to detect "Hey Google". If it doesn't hear an activation, those snippets aren't sent or saved.2
The lights show when it's activated.2
By mistake
Google says a noise that sounds like "Hey Google" can wake the speaker. With Web & App Activity on, say "Hey Google, that wasn't for you" and it deletes what you said.2
Or check your activity and delete it there.
Questions people ask
Can guests use my speaker without it saving to my account?
Yes. Say "Hey Google, turn on Guest Mode." Google says it then deletes audio recordings and voice assistant activity from the owner's account while Guest Mode is on.4
Does Google share my recordings with smart home brands?
For Google Assistant, Google says it sends partners a text transcript of what you said, not the audio.2
Does uninstalling the Google Home app delete my data?
No. Google says uninstalling the app doesn't delete your account or home information. Delete the home in the app, or delete your Google Account.2
Other speaker guides
Sources 4
- Manage & delete your Gemini for Home activity, Google Home and Nest Help, Google, undated. Read 4 November 2026.
- Data security and privacy on devices that work with Assistant, Google Home and Nest Help, Google, undated. Read 4 November 2026.
- Learn about the lights on your speaker, Google Assistant Help, Google, undated. Read 4 November 2026.
- Guests and your Google connected home devices, Google Home and Nest Help, Google, undated. Read 4 November 2026.
Every step comes from Google's own help pages. How we check