Unusual data use reported by Google Home Speaker

The Google Home Speaker, designed to work with Google's Gemini assistant, has been found to use an unusual amount of data, even when not in active use. Over the past week, reports indicate that the device continuously downloads data from Google's servers, raising concerns about its behavior.

High data consumption observed

According to 9to5Google, the device consumed 17 GB of data in 24 hours, with a peak of 9.99 GB at 3 am Pacific time. On another day, the same speaker used 41 GB in a single day, and over 30 days, the total reached 132 GB. Some users on Reddit reported even higher data usage, with one user claiming three speakers used 6 TB in a month.

Possible cause of the issue

While Google has not officially confirmed the cause, some speculate that the speaker may be repeatedly trying to download a firmware update, failing, and then restarting the process. This hypothesis is not yet confirmed by the company. Google had previously released an update in July aimed at improving network traffic, but the issue persists.

Not all devices are affected

Not every Google Home Speaker is experiencing the same issue. A second speaker at 9to5Google's location only used 2 GB of data in a month, and other devices like the Google Home, Nest Mini, and Nest Audio do not show the same behavior. This means the problem is not universal across all models.

Impact on users

For households with multiple speakers and limited internet plans, the excessive data use could lead to higher costs or exceeding data limits. In France, where most fixed internet plans are unlimited, users with 4G or 5G boxes are advised to monitor their consumption closely.

Google responds and offers updates

Google has acknowledged the issue and is deploying a patch to address it. The update is being installed automatically, and users are advised to monitor their data usage. Some users in Google's Preview program have already seen a reduction in data use after receiving an update, but no manual installation method has been provided.