I can control someone else's device from my phone when we're on the same wifi network

[avocado]

It took some digging to figure this out, but occasionally when I'm in my office an unknown device shows up on my phone. I thought it may be connected to my phone via bluetooth, but no, it's displaying through my Google Home app.

I cannot find any way for me to remove this device, or stop seeing it, while it's in use. I can control the volume, stop the music playing through their speaker. I can choose "stop casting" but because it's not mine, the owner can of course start casting again. 

WHY?! WHY CAN I SEE AND CONTROL SOMEONE ELSE'S DEVICE WHEN WE'RE ON THE SAME WIFI NETWORK?!?!?!? I DON'T WANT IT.

I work for an organization with 2000+ people. There are at least a few hundred people at my worksite on any given day. I have no idea whose speaker this is, and I don't have a way to find out, that I'm aware of. 

WTF mate?

[yuI]

You can turn off "control other devices" in the settings page of Google Home but that's all I can say.

I don't know much else.

[Kimy]

Hi folks,

Appreciate your help here, @yuI.

@avocado, thanks for posting here in the Google Nest Community. You probably have Google Nest devices at home, which is why you have the Google Home App on your phone. These devices (Chromecast, speakers, and displays) are intended to be used at home so family members (all connected to the same Wi-Fi) can use them. Since this device is connected to your office, other users connected like you may have access to it, unless a restriction on the network prevents that device from communicating with local devices, which would also prevent the owner himself/herself.

It’s normal for you to see it in the Google Home App under local devices. It’s up to you if you want to control it or not. It’s the risk that the owner took when he/she set it up. And when you’re not connected to that network anymore, you won’t see that device in your Google Home App.

I hope this clarifies the confusion. Let us know if you still have questions.

Thanks,

Kimy

[JennMarie]

That's what it states, but I have tried to turn off the control of other devices, it does not work. There is no option for it in the settings on the Google home app. I have been struggling with the same issue for three days now. Settings is absolutely no help at all. 

[Juni]

Hi JennMarie,

Thanks for reaching out. At the moment, there is no option to disable this. We're always looking for ways to improve. I'd suggest you submit feedback about it. See the article below on how to do it.

Share feedback about Google Nest

Cheers,

Juni