No longer able to stream music directly to Chromecast Audio or use it as a Default music speaker

[RetiredBy55]

Hello Community,

Up until a few days ago, I've been able to stream Spotify to my Chromecast Audio. This device has been working flawlessly but now something has changed.

Here's my configuration: Google Nest Audio (obtained as a replacement when Google Home Audio devices were bricked), 4 Google Home Minis and 1 Google Chromecast Audio. All devices are on the same mesh WiFi network and are reporting as connected. They're all running the latest cast firmware. They all respond to verbal commands correctly (not the Chromecast as it has no input.) I can stream music to them directly via a linked premium Spotify account. While streaming, I am able to transfer the audio from once device to another via the UI in Spotify. 

The output Chromecast Audio, which is named "Stereo", is connected to my home stereo and has been set as the Default music speaker for the Google Nest Audio. Until a few days ago, I've been able to invoke the Nest as follows: "Hey Google, play (insert request here)" to which it responds "Alright. Playing (request) on stereo." The result is the music request plays on the stereo.

Now when I attempt the same request, I get the same response but nothing happens. No music and no indication of music playing when looking at either the Nest or the Chromecast via the Google Home app on my Android device. If I attempt to force music to the Chromecast with "Hey Google, play (request) on stereo", the response is "Alright. Playing (request) on stereo" but nothing plays.

I've rebooted all the Google devices, reset the Chromecast to factory, and reset the network. Still no music.

What have I missed? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any help you might offer.

[lerroybrown]

Think they are referring to the Google home app. You can't force Chromecast a update unfortunately.

I dont see an update on mine for app though. 

[Gavriil123]

Yes. I updated my Google home app. I live in the US. It may matter 

[Hshcast]

Thx Gavrii123. It wasn't in the automatic update list of my iPhone but going to the store there was an update available. After a day of trying I was finally able to reconfigure my factory defaulted CCA.  Afterwards including it in de speaker groups again 🙂 Hurray Google. This took some time but I'm back from the situation before the outage. 😄 😄 😄 

[Justmurdoch]

I performed the Google Home app update but the initial problem discussed in this thread has not been remedied on my end.

[Kubitscheck]

Fixed in Texas USA

[Justmurdoch]

What are you referring to exactly?

[AndrewLP]

Problem has still not been fixed. 

[MarcusP]

I found the following: when I say "OK Google, play Einaudi" the nest answers,  OK, I play Einaudi on Spotify, I will play it on <name of my WIIM>". But nothing happens. So,  last like the bug reported above. 

Now the funny thing: when I say "OK Google, Einaudi", it works like a charm. "OK Google, Beatles" also works. What does not work: "OK Google, Blackbird". Here I have the same problem. So,  it works for an artist/ composer,  but not for a song. I have to leave the word "play" out of my command. 

My setup is in Dutch, so exact language may differ a bit. 

[RetiredBy55]

No update, ETA nor fix.

[Catalinescu]

The initial issue before not working at all was with spotify who didn’t want to play to Cca as the default speaker for a google nest. My workaround that still works is to make a group (for example nest mini + cca) and set the group as default audio output for the mini. So the both will start playing. Hope this will be fixed also!

[RetiredBy55]

Building on what @Catalinescu did, I created a new speaker group with just the CCA. I set this group as the default music speaker on the Nest Audio. When I ask the Nest Audio to play music by an artist, it plays just on the CCA. 

The  setup seems a bit fragile. I tried many combinations of group names and devices in the group. It doesn't always work. One time all the Google Home devices disappeared from my network - that required a reboot of my Android smartphone. 

This is where I left it: Spotify premium is the default music service (no change here), the Nest is named Kitchen (no change here), the CCA is named CCA (it was originally Stereo), the group is named Stereo (originally there was no group), and the group Stereo is the default music speaker for the Nest Audio. It's been working for an hour or so. I can ask the Nest to play an artist on Kitchen and it plays just on the Nest. I can ask it to play an artist and it responds that it will play on Stereo and the output is just on the CCA. I can also ask it to play on another Google Home device and it does so.

Issue resolved? No, but at least (for now) I have my music playing where I want it.

[rsemedo]

Same problem.

[localhost]

Same issue: 

"Google - play music on <CCA>" - "Playing music from Spotify on <CCA>" - Nothing happens

However, starting the music from Spotify followed by "Google - pause music" and then a while later "Google - play <some other music>" results in "Do you still want to listen to music on <CCA>?" after which the correct music plays on the CCA. It's getting closer. 

The Speaker Group thing was the first thing that stopped working for me, maybe it's been fixed? 

[RetiredBy55]

More troubleshooting requests from Google as follows - made no difference.

• Uninstall and reinstall the Google Home app.
• Unlink and relink the Spotify app from the Google Home app.
• Restart the device
• Change the name of their device
• Go to the Google Home app > "Devices Tab"
• Click the Gear icon (Settings) > Device Information
• Click "Name" > Edit the name > click Save
• Try giving a command

Has anyone tried creating a speaker group with just the CCA in it and making the group the default music speaker?

[brsgraves]

I tried creating a group with just the CCA and set the group as the default audio device.  It didn't work. 

[RetiredBy55]

I continue to follow up with the case. I get apologies but nothing about a resolution.

[lerroybrown]

Well i thought my issues had all been resolved but after a few days with new home app things have gone back to the original issue.

When I ask google mini to play music to any CCA from spotify. just doesnt play

Casting from a device works to CCA

I have tried creating just a single group for CCA and make that the default and still no luck

Funny thing is I can ask google mini to play a saved playlist in Spotify and it works fine.

This has been months now and getting very frustrating having to explain to family still broken

[Bugrock]

I have the same problem casting a song from a nest device to my chromecast audio with spotify. Oddly the problem doesn't exist when I ask google to play a spotify  podcast or a spotify personal  playlist to the CC audio. The problem also doesn't exist when using other services such as YouTube. 

The fact that asking my nest devices to play a podcast or playlist from spotify to my chromecast audio works but doesn't work when asking my nest devices to play a song , rules out every bit troubleshooting advice offered so far.

[RetiredBy55]

@Bugrock ,

Is the CCA configured to be the default music speaker, or are you asking the Nest to play in on the CCA? Also, have you tried creating a speaker group with just the CCA in it and setting the Nest's default music speaker to the group? This didn't work for @lerroybrown but it continues to work for me - at least when requesting music by artist or album via my Spotify Premium account. I have not tried it with a playlist nor a podcast, nor any service other than Spotify.

[Christoforadams]

The only things that works for me is to have my google mini or nest hub play music (on any service) then 'move this to the CCA'. Default speaker, speaker groups, and 'hey google, play (service) on the CCA' continue to not work.

[lerroybrown]

Hi @RetiredBy55 ais yours working as intended pre the issues ?

i just tried this morning,

Hey google play Michael Jackson..ill play that on kitchen speaker (CCA) ....crickets, doesn't not play

Hey google play hottest songs playlist...ill play that on kitchen speaker...works

I have 4 google minis and 4 CCA's If i set the default audio to be the mini, plays perfectly. when i set to CCA as default or a speaker group with just the CCA it does not work.

I have spotify premium, seriously considering shifting to youtube music though just a pain and Im then just doing a band aid solution to someting that google has caused. 😞

[Bugrock]

The CC audio is the default speaker. I have also tried creating a speaker group with the CC audio in it and then set the group as the default speaker. This seemed to work intermittent ly last week or so but has since stopped working.

As for podcasts or play lists I'm referring to spotify podcasts and playlists one can make in spotify. Both of these work fine.

I have also found that the trick of playing music on the mini or hub and then asking to send it to the CC audio works but the volume controls don't.

[RetiredBy55]

Hi @lerroybrown, @Bugrock, @Christoforadams 

It is not working as it was prior to me initiating the thread.  

Just to clarify, here's my setup:

• Spotify Premium
• 1 Nest Audio
• 5 Home Minis
• 1 ChromeCast Audio (Gen 2 - USB Micro-B for charging, 3.5mm jack with analog and optical digital audio output). Looks like a record LP
• All devices, including my Chromebooks, PC and Smart Phones are members on my internal wireless mesh network.

Here's a summary of what works

• From the Spotify app or web interface, I can stream directly to any device and move the                     stream to other devices at will.
• If the Nest and the Minis are configured to be their own default speaker, I can ask Google to play something and it will play on the device.
• I can ask Google to move music playing on any device to any other device.
• I can ask Google to control volume or playback from the current device.
• I can stream music to groups of Nests / Minis.
• I can use Spotify to move music from once device to another.

Specifically with respect to the CCA.

• This doesn't work
  • Ask the Nest or a Mini to play something when that device has the CCA defined to be it's default music speaker. When I initiate this type of request, neither the Nest, the Mini nor the CCA show any music playing. It's as though I didn't make the request.  (This is what caused me to initiate the thread.)
  • Ask Google to play something directly on the CCA.
• This does work
  • Stream directly the CCA from Spotify
  • Define a speaker group with the CCA as the only speaker
  • Define the speak group as the default speaker for the Nest or any of the Minis
  • Ask the Nest or Mini that has the speaker group defined to play something. 
• This works intermittently
  • Play music on a Nest or Mini and then ask Google to move it to the CCA. 

Not certain why I can stream to the group and you can't. Google doesn't seem to know either.

If you feel it will help, you can provide some direct feedback via the case and give them feedback, emphasize issues or provide info that might not be discernable from the thread, I did ask them to read through this thread to ascertain what the issues are and what has been tested. That might be good (for detail) and bad (for volume.) Here are the instructions they gave when asking for additional feedback (with my comments in parentheses.)

 Open the Google Home app.

• Tap the account.
• Tap Feedback the type of device the customer would like to submit feedback for.
• To show available emails,tap the down arrow in the From field to select the email address.
• In the feedback summary, write a brief description of the issue "CCT3 38678 Chromecast Audio not playing music via command but plays when added to a speaker group" (This must be the issue I raised when I created the 1st ticket.)
• Check the boxes for Screenshot and System logs.
• Tap Send.

For your reference your case number is 4-5741000038678 (This is my case number.)If you need more help, you can contact us again and reference this case number or reply to this email to reopen your case. 

[lerroybrown]

I have submitted feedback my issues is exactly the same as yours 🙂 although I have always had speaker groups as default speaker for nest/mini and has never worked.

thanks for clarifying.

[RetiredBy55]

@lerroybrown I'm curious to know if you tried creating a new speaker group with just the CCA or you're using preexisting ones. I did not have any groups configured prior to the issue. 

It's exhausting trying so many combinations. 

[lerroybrown]

Tried both I had pre existing groups with just one CCA. I then deleted and recreated with new name with the same result unfortunately 

[Christoforadams]

Bump. still no solution?

[RetiredBy55]

No solution. I did receive a request for more information to which I replied that this thread contains everything necessary to understand the problem set and all the troubleshooting that we've collectively done.

[TomFletch]

I'm having the same issue. Used to work fine asking the Google Home to play music on Chromecast Audio, but now it responds saying "Playing musing on living room speakers" but nothing happens. Same with the WiiM Amp.

I've just found that the word "play" seems to make a difference for me. E.g.

"Hey Google, play <song> by <artist>" never works

"Hey Google, <song> by <artist>" usually works, even for the same song.

[RetiredBy55]

Still neither resolution nor ETA. I bumped the ticket and asked for it to be escalated.

[AndrewLP]

Google, come on, this is getting old. Pelase fix this.

[NurseDiesel]

I don't have high hopes for the Google Nest family and my suspicion is they are looking to phase it out as it is pretty much a glorified timer that they have not been able to improve upon from launch in my opinion. I had an issue with the old mini and support actually told me to buy a competitors phone as the Pixel could not setup old minis. I swear that's what they told me but luckily I found an old thread on a forum and found Device Utility. My mini now has this issue and I am done with them and moving over to the competitor and see how that works. They cant be any worse than Googles Support responses to its customers.

[Srparker81]

Adding my name to the list. I am able to ask for music to be played using voice but unable to cast from Android devices (I have tried 5) to either a single speaker or speaker group crashes the Spotify app, however my wife is able to cast perfectly normally from from her iPhone to all my Google/Nest devices (I have Gen 1 and Gen 2 mini, Google Homes, Chromecast and Chromecast audio) this is really annoying!!!

[smcrow55]

My issue in US is that TuneIn is what plays if I don't specify a music source. Pandora is what I have setup as default and have had that and only that linked for years. As of about 2 weeks ago now if I don't specify a music source in my voice command it uses TuneIn. Very irritating. 

[RetiredBy55]

Y'all aren't going to like this, but honestly this is what I expected. I pushed hard several times on the case I opened. Here is the latest, and what I suspect will be the final, response:

I hope this email finds you well. Despite my desire to assist you with this issue, the higher team's current advice is to wait for future software updates for the Chromecast Audio device, as all troubleshooting options have been exhausted.
For your reference your case number is 4-5741000038678. If you need more help, you can contact us again and reference this case number or reply to this email to reopen your case.

I don't know what to do next, or if any further actions will help. Maybe there's another avenue?

[domogeek]

Yes, the situation has lasted long enough. The problem has been there for weeks and there has been no response from Google and/or Spotify. All my multiroom audio is based on Google Mini > Chromecast Audio > ceiling speakers. I didn't pay hundreds of dollars for Google equipment for nothing. And the same goes for the monthly Spotify family subscription. My family is starting to get annoyed and frustrated with this situation. What if it were customers? This is unacceptable.

[AndrewLP]

Google, pelase review and fix this. Case # 4-5741000038678

[lerroybrown]

So I gave up..had enough, cant handle the constant is it fixed yet questions from family.

Just moved to youtube music family plan, works perfectly with google home minis. 

lots of other issues though, app isnt as good as spotify, playlists not shared across family members, pain to use in home assistant, google family link members cant cast :(...but here we are...

frustrated that I had to swap from spotify to google the one that caused the issue in the first place.

[NurseDiesel]

There support on the phone told me the following and I am not exaggerating! They directed me while on the phone to a 3rd parties software distribution site crawling with adds and fake download clickbait buttons, I kid you not! Their own documentation links you to Google Store, their distribution site. Then to Device Utility, their software which is out of date and has been for ages. To then be told that it wont work on my Pixel, their own phones and to use a competitor or outdated old Android phone (Unbelievable). This may be the worst support I have ever gotten on a company's product in my life or close to it and I am pushing 60! This is one of the top companies in the world and to receive this level of support is a slap in the face to their own customers!  It shows what a company will do when they know their customers cant do anything about it. They should all be ashamed!

[jondargage]

Google has this very unfortunate habit of developing very useful and well designed things...and then abandoning them as they move on to shinier things.