Firmware bug causes some Google Home speakers to download hundreds of gigabytes
Some Google Home speakers are downloading hundreds of gigabytes in the background; Google says a fix is rolling out.
The issue was reported by 9to5Google and several Reddit users. One Reddit user found that his device was consuming more than 200GB per day. The downloads may be tied to speakers repeatedly trying and failing to download and install a firmware update, according to 9to5Google. Most reports concern the new Google Home Speaker model, but how many devices are affected is not clear.
Google confirmed it was aware of the problem. In a statement to 9to5Google, the company said “a fix is already rolling out that should address this for users.” The Verge reported that it had contacted Google for more information about the cause and to confirm which devices are affected; Google’s statement did not specify those details.
The problem does not appear to affect every device. The Verge’s Tom Warren confirmed that his own speaker was unaffected. 9to5Google reported that another Home Speaker in a different household downloaded just 2GB in the past month, compared with 132GB used by an impacted device over the same period.
For owners with limited data plans, the bug could use up a monthly allowance quickly. The Verge reported that users might not know unless they regularly check how much data their devices are using.