Smart speakers: voice recordings and microphones

Last checked: 19 Oct 2026

Smart speakers listen on the device for their wake word, then send what you say to be processed. What happens to those recordings, and how you switch the microphone off, depends on the maker. Amazon Echo is covered on Echo Show and Alexa.

Google Nest and Google Home speakers

Google speakers now run either Google Assistant or the newer Gemini for Home, and the settings differ. The Google Home app shows which under Home settings. Google says a home that switches to Gemini for Home can't switch back.

If your home uses Google Assistant

Voice recordings

Google says recordings aren't saved to your account unless this is ticked, and that it's off unless you turn it on. Unticking it doesn't delete recordings already saved.

Source ↗

Delete what you've asked

Delete single requests or all of them. Or say "Hey Google, delete my last conversation" or "Hey Google, delete this week's activity".

Source ↗

If your home uses Gemini for Home

Home history

Google's record of what you've asked. Google says it's on by default and kept for 18 months, and that while it's on Google uses it to improve its services, including training AI. You can turn it off, or set it to delete after 3 or 36 months.

Google says requests are kept for up to 24 hours even with Home history off. Recordings are only used to improve Google's services if you tick a separate box, which is off by default.

Source ↗

Delete what you've asked

Delete by time range, by day or item by item. Google says deletion starts immediately.

Source ↗

Either way

Microphone switch

Every Google speaker and display has one: on the back of the Nest Audio and displays, on the side of the Nest Mini, on the bottom of the Google Home Speaker (2026). The light shows orange when the microphone is off.

On the Nest Hub Max, the switch turns off the camera and the microphones together.

Source ↗

"Hey Google" sensitivity

Make it less sensitive if it wakes up when nobody said "Hey Google". It applies to anyone using that device.

Source ↗

Guest Mode

Google says it then deletes recordings and requests from the owner's account automatically, and stops personal results.

Source ↗

Face Match (Nest Hub Max)

Untick a device, or remove Face Match from the home. Google says removing it deletes your face model but not the photos used to set it up; delete those at g.co/assistant/match.

Google says camera sensing on the Hub Max analyses images on the device without sending them to Google.

Source ↗

On ads, Google says it keeps Assistant recordings separate from advertising but may use the text of voice requests to inform your ad interests, and that Gemini for Home requests aren't used to show you ads. The ad setting itself is in Google's ad settings.

Apple HomePod and HomePod mini

Improve Siri & Dictation

Apple says your audio isn't stored unless this is on. When it's on, Apple stores and reviews samples, including audio.

HomePod copies this setting from the iPhone or iPad you used to set it up. Only the home's organiser can change it.

Source ↗

Delete Siri history

Deletes the Siri requests linked to that HomePod.

Source ↗

Stop Siri listening

Stops "Siri" and "Hey Siri" waking the HomePod. You can also say "Hey Siri, stop listening". Turn off Touch and Hold for Siri on the same screen to stop the top of the speaker starting Siri.

Apple doesn't document a microphone switch on HomePod, so this is the way to stop Siri being started.

Source ↗

Apple says Siri requests are linked to a random identifier rather than your Apple Account, may be kept for up to two years, and aren't used to build a marketing profile.

Sonos

Choose or remove a voice assistant

Sonos says its own Sonos Voice Control works on the speaker and doesn't save or send audio. Its newer Sonos 27voice (US, rolling out), Alexa and Google Assistant send your requests after the wake word.

Sonos says Sonos Voice Control is available in US English and French. To remove an assistant completely, remove it from each speaker.

Source ↗

Microphone off

Era 100, Era 300, Move 2 and Arc Ultra have a microphone switch on the back; the top button only turns voice services on or off. On One, Beam, Ray and Arc, tap the microphone icon until its light is off.

Sonos says on the second group, pressing and holding the microphone button still sends a voice command.

Source ↗

Additional Usage Data

Turn off the extra usage data Sonos collects, for the whole system or one speaker, unless you use features that need it such as Sonos Radio or voice control.

Path from Sonos's privacy statement; the app's menus may label it differently.

Source ↗

To delete your Sonos account and its data: Sonos app → Account → Account Details → Delete Account (Sonos). UK customers can also email [email protected] to use their data rights.

Sources

This page describes your options and how organisations say they handle requests. It isn't legal advice. See About & sourcing to report a correction.