October 25, 2026, 2:54 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
A smart speaker typically isn’t a major data consumer. However, some models of the new Google Home Speaker are currently different: Users are observing unusually large downloads. In some cases, more than 100 gigabytes accumulate within a few days. This is apparently due to an error in a software update.
How 132 Gigabytes Add Up
As reported by the online magazine “Google Watch Blog,” the Google Home Speaker automatically downloads firmware updates from the internet. This usually happens in the background and often at night, so users hardly notice it.
Normally, such downloads are relatively small. Currently, however, the process can get out of hand. Reports indicate that affected speakers download more than 15 gigabytes per day. One user even documented 132 gigabytes within a week. This is also noteworthy because the speaker’s internal storage is only four gigabytes.
Critical Error! Bootloop Risk for Google Pixel Smartphones
Problems With Apple Intelligence Frustrate Users
A Download Loop Is to Blame
The reason for the large download amounts: The downloading of a firmware update fails. Subsequently, the Google Home Speaker tries to download the update again. If this attempt also fails, the process starts over. This can lead to enormous data accumulation in a short time.
Also of interest: Google Replaces Search Button with AI Switch
If you have an internet flat rate, it’s “only” annoying. However, for connections with limited data volume, throttling or additional costs may occur. Another downside: The repeated downloads can affect the speed of your own network.
Google Is Working on a Solution
Other devices in the Google Nest family are reportedly not affected by the issue. Google has already confirmed the problem and is preparing an update to end the download loop.