Google Home device-controlled routines won't announce on Google speakers anymore

[Butterfly_net]

I have Smartthings and Google running in my house. I have two automations that are supposed to announce something based on a ST virtual switch that is synched with a presence sensor.  So, the door opens, and an announcement is supposed to be made.

These routines were working well for quite some time, and on Friday midday, they stopped working. I can see in the GH activity tab that they automation ran, but nothing is announced.

I've tried deleting the automation and re-adding, changing which speakers it announces on, disabling and re-enabling the automation, deleting and reinstalling the GH app.....nothing works. 

I have other automations that are started via GH voice command that announce a confirmation at the end of the automation and those are still working fine. The only ones that won't work are ones that are triggered by a device changing status.

I've seen advice to factory reset all of your speakers, but we have a dozen speakers through our house and that is going to be time-consuming and I can't see how that would fix the problem. I see a lot of "this isn't working anymore" posts in the last two days.....was there a GH software update that broke or removed some features?  This seems like a feature that many users would want, so I can't imagine it was removed?

[pereztzum]

Hi there!

I understand how frustrating it is when your Google Home routines stop working as expected. This is definitely something we're investigating.

While we look into the root cause, here are some additional steps you can try:

• Verify SmartThings integration: Double-check that your SmartThings and Google Home accounts are properly linked and the virtual switch is functioning correctly.
• Test different speakers: Try the routine on a different speaker to isolate if the issue is speaker-specific.
• Review routine details: Make sure the routine is triggered by the correct event and that the announcement action is configured correctly.
• Adjust volume: Ensure the volume is set high enough for the announcement to be audible.
• Unlink and re-link accounts: As a last resort, try unlinking and re-linking your Google and SmartThings accounts.

Important: While factory resetting all speakers is a drastic measure, it might be necessary if you've exhausted other options. However, given the number of speakers you have, it's understandable that you want to avoid this.

If these steps don't resolve the issue, please provide more details about your routine setup, including the specific triggers and actions involved.

Regards,

Brandon.

[Butterfly_net]

This automation was working well and has stopped, so I don't think it is an error within the routine.  I actually have two routines that trigger from a door sensor and make an announcement and they both stopped working at the same time.

I know it isn't the ST integration, because when I toggle the virtual switch within the GH app, I can see in the activity section of GH that the routine has run.....it just doesn't announce anything.  The speaker volumes are at 100% and they used to play the announcement but now nothing happens.

Here is the automation (it is a Household routine):

Starters: When Back Door Sensor Trigger - Turns on from 8am to 7pm Everyday

Actions: Announce to household "The back door has opened"

Configuration:  Play on All speakers

We are in the Public Preview, so I wondered whether something is in testing that isn't working right.  That could explain why more people aren't having this same problem.  Is it possible to review the features that are being previewed to see if anything could have impacted this?

[luciaaa]

Hi, @Butterfly_net,

Thank you for replying and your patience. We continue to troubleshoot the announcement issue. I understand this is frustrating, and I apologize for the ongoing inconvenience.

To expedite a resolution, please fill out this form with the requested details. Once you’ve completed the form, let me know, and a member of our team will contact you promptly to provide further assistance.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you again for your understanding.

Best regards, 

Ana

[Butterfly_net]

I submitted the form.

[mejiacruz]

Hey @Butterfly_net!

Thanks for filling out our form, I just confirm that we received your information and one of our specialists will be contacting you via email as soon as possible. If you haven’t receive any email from our specialists in the next 48 business hours please let us know so we can proceed with the follow up.

Regards,

Josh.