Play audio on Google Cast-enabled speakers and TVs

Initiate and control audio to any speaker or TV with Chromecast or Chromecast Audio plugged in, or Google Cast using only your voice.

Note: If Digital Wellbeing is enabled, this feature may be restricted or blocked by Downtime, Filters or Do Not Disturb.

Learn more about Digital Wellbeing

Step 1. Link speakers and TVs using the Google Home app

Link TVs to your Google Nest or Home speaker or display

Link a device

 

Note: The following steps are optional if you only want to control your TV with your mobile device or tablet. However, if you want to use voice commands through your speaker or display to control your TV, follow the steps below.

 

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Make sure that your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your Google device. 
  3. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your Google device.
    1. At the top right, tap your account.
    2. To switch accounts,  tap the down arrow   next to the Google Account, then tap another account or Add another account .
  4. Tap Favorites or Devices .
  5. Tap and hold your device's tile  tap Settings , or More More menu  tap Settings .
  6.  At the top right, tap Settings  and then Recognition and sharing.
  7. Look for a banner at the top of the page entitled 'Enable voice control and more'.
    • If the banner appears, tap it and follow the steps to link your TV.
    • If the banner doesn't appear but your email address appears under 'Linked account(s)', your TV is already linked.

Note: If you get an 'Error when linking device' message, factory reset your Chromecast device.

Unlink a device

  1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices or Pixel Tablet.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap Favorites or Devices
  4. Tap and hold your device's tile.
  5. Tap Settings  and then Remove device.
Voice-supported speaker and TVs

The following devices can play audio from your speaker or display:

  • Chromecast
  • Chromecast Audio
  • Chromecast with Google TV
  • Google TV Streamer (4K)
  • TVs and speakers that work with Google Cast
    • Note: TVs and speakers that work with Google Cast and Android TVs must be using Cast version 1.22 or later. This functionality will be rolling out to most devices in the next few months. Learn how to check which firmware version you're using.
  • Android TV devices
    1. Note: Currently, you can't cast Spotify to Android TV devices.

Important: Some Smart TVs and speakers may appear to support Cast technology because the functionality is similar to casting. Here are the Smart TVs that support Cast technology and speakers that support Cast technology.

Step 2. Control audio to speakers or TVs with voice commands

Here are some ways to talk to your Google Assistant on your Google Nest or Home device to play content on your speakers or TV:

To do this: Say 'Hey Google', then:

Play music on a specific device by name.

To start, stop and control music on a remote device, add 'on [device name]' to any of the basic voice commands.

Note: News and podcasts aren't supported.

'Play [artist] using [music service] on [device name]'
'Pause on [device name]'
'Play [music genre] on [device name]'
'Stop [device name]'

If you only have one linked video device, you don't have to say its name in your command. Instead, you can say 'Hey Google, …<on TV>' or 'Hey Google, …<on Chromecast>'.

Other ways to control audio to speakers and TVs 

From the Google Home app 
  1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices or Pixel Tablet.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap Media  and swipe to find your devices that are currently playing media.

On the Media Player, you will get the following information for the current music session:

  • Content provider 
  • Title (song name, show episode name or radio station programme)
  • Artist (if available)
  • Collection (playlist, album, show series or radio station, if available)

You can also pause or resume, stop and control the remote device from the device card. 

Fix problems

Need help? Try these troubleshooting steps
  1. Make sure that you've correctly linked your devices, including:
    1. Make sure that the cast device is voice-supported and running Cast version 1.32 or later.
    2. Make sure that you've linked the devices via the Google Home app:
      1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
      2. At the top right, tap your account.
      3.  Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your Google device. If correct, tap to close the account window. To switch accounts, tap the dropdown icon , then tap another account or Add another account.

      4. Tap Assistant settings and then Home control. It should show a list of all your linked devices.
    3. Make sure that you've named the devices something that is clear and easy to pronounce and not similar to the name that you gave your speaker or display.
  2. Name your speaker or display and Chromecast or Chromecast Built-In devices.

    To ensure proper playback on your TV, follow these tips when naming your devices:

    1. Give your speaker or display, Chromecast or devices that work with Cast different names, and avoid using the same words in the names. This helps your speaker or display to understand your command correctly and play content on the right device.
      1. ​Good:
        • Name your speaker or display 'Living room'
        • Name your Chromecast 'Family TV'
      2. OK:
        • Name your speaker or display 'Living room home'
        • Name your Chromecast 'Living room TV'
    2. Make sure that the name is easily pronounceable.
    3. Avoid using emoji or special characters.
    4. To change the name of your Chromecast or speaker and display:
      1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
      2. Tap Favorites or Devices
      3. Touch and hold your device's tile and then at the top-right corner, tap Settings  and then Device information and then Device name
      4. Delete the current name and type in a new name. Tap Save.
  3. If your remote devices do not seem to respond to voice commands or you get a response that says 'Nothing is playing', be more specific with your request by adding '…on <device name>' to your request. This will re-initiate media focus and allow you to better control the device.
  4. If you don't get the music that you expect, be more specific with your request.
  5. If you get an error message like 'I can only play audio on devices using Chromecast or on Cast-enabled TVs', try to rename your devices.

Related articles

Play video on TVs from your Google Nest or Home device
Control restricted content
Listen to radio
Listen to podcasts
Control the volume of your Google Nest or home device

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