Even several years after its announcement, using a Google Home speaker, or any other device with Assistant, feels a little like participating in a special beta test. Things seem really simple, until they're not. Delve a little beneath the surface and there's a smorgasbord of nuances and quirks, like native smart home integrations versus Actions on Google, or voice-dependent actions versus ones available for all guests, that aren't easy to wrap your head around unless you're as involved with the ecosystem as possible.

But one misstep leaves many of us puzzled. Once a Google Home, Assistant speaker, Nest Hub, or other Smart Display is linked to your Google account, you may not be able to remove it unless you're on the same Wi-Fi network.