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GoogleNestTeam
Community Manager (Admin)
Community Manager (Admin)

Hey everyone, 

Due to a recent legal ruling we’re making some changes to how you set up your devices and the Speaker Group functionality will work moving forward. If you’re using the Speaker Group feature to control the volume in the Google Home app, by voice with the Google Assistant, or directly on your Nest Hub display, you’ll notice a few changes: 

  • To adjust volume on your speaker groups, you will need to adjust each speaker individually instead of using the group volume controller. You’ll also no longer be able to change your Speaker Group volume using your phone’s physical volume button. 
  • Most Speaker Groups should continue functioning as expected unless you have a speaker group containing other brands of Cast-based devices, like JBL or Lenovo, they need to be on 1.52.272222 or higher Cast firmware version. Check out this article on how to find your device’s firmware version or contact your device maker. 
  • A small set of users will need to use the ‘Device Utility app’ (DUA) to complete product installation and updates. You may receive a prompt to download and run DUA, and it will ensure that your device is connected to Wi-Fi and receives the most updated software version. 

We will continue to support our users and work to minimize any additional changes.

Thanks, 

Google Nest team

993 Comments
Komodo812
Community Member

Samenthing happened to me! It's infuriating. I think the update hasn't rolled out for others? I even left the "preview program" thinking that was it 🙄

SamInPgh
Community Member

Well well well... Even the Android Police have had enough of this bulls**t. They should have called Google out on this months ago but thanks anyway.

https://www.androidpolice.com/google-sonos-lawsuit-lost-features/

 

Gba
Community Member

This is ridiculous, indeed!! For me, makes the whole Google home ecosystem questionable.

I just recently bought into it with a  Nest Hub 2. Will probably sell it for something else more to my needs. 

Clive
Community Member

The way Google has treated its customers in both removing functionality and communicating with customers has given me a wake up call to the reliance we have on these types of companies. In short, I was looking to invest in a google nest system but now I am not. Instead I have started a journey implementing a home automation system using Homeassistant and disconnecting many of our existing IOT devices from the reliance on companies such as Google where it is possible to do so and will replace critical devices where I cannot. I know I will never get the full functionality of my Google speakers and audio Chromecasts back but I will look to replace when I can and at least I no longer have to put up with the flaky Google Home app.

I would like to thank Google for giving me the "push" to do this and giving me the opportunity to my increase my knowledge, security and resilience.

 

ired
Community Member

First of all I agree that this is ridiculous!

But I have notice that if music from Spotify is playing to a speaker group then by controlling the volume from your phones buttons the volume changes to all speakers in the speaker group...

This is the way that my phone works but I don't know if this is some kind of customization from xiaomi or is the default behavior in Android or iOS... 

Also I am going to test some routines as a work around... 

tommykat1
Community Member

My biggest issues are:

(1) When casting by "mirroring my device," my system often distorts routinely, or comes completely disconnected. I have to disconnect, then reconnect to my chosen speaker group haphazardly throughout the day.

(2) When I set my individual speaker volumes either from within the Home App or physically on each speaker, my chosen volumes turn back to some arbitrary setting I made months ago. Any new settings do not stay "locked." I presume there is some data stored in the cloud and it is not being updated; rather the old settings are being downloaded back to my Android Galaxy phone along with Google's latest tweaked app version.

monkey1aj
Community Member

Without a doubt, today’s decision is a material positive for Sonos in its fight with Google. While we don’t have any knowledge of the technical details of how Google’s products and systems work, it’s not immediately clear to us how Google could work around this claim without completely disabling the ability to have a single speaker in multiple groups in Chromecast/Google Cast or significantly rearchitecting the protocol. That seems like a more major feature than both individual and group volume control for a speaker in a group.

 

lol google takes yet another L which it will pass onto us consumers instead of just getting a license 

fpatou
Community Member

At the end, we bought a cheaper system than Sonos that works worse than sonos.
Even when everything was supposedly working well, let's be honest, it wasn't as reliable as sonos, but bearable for a price reason.
So, since these events, for once the price of a Google product is really not the best value for money ... and certainly no longer the right choice to make.

Mindgem
Community Member

So  no news on this?

Komodo812
Community Member

I was wondering the same thing! 😬

lhjgh
Community Member

Losing features sucks but lets face it, we all know that Google doesn't care about customer satisfaction.  As long as they can harvest your data and sell it for profit, they really could care less about your experience as an individual.  Their hardware serves one purpose, harvest your personal data. Does the group volume issue impair the devices ability to harvest your data? No it doesn't, thus they aren't going to put forth any effort to fix it. They have zero motivation to pay Sonos a royalty for your convenience. As it is they make zero profit on the sale of the hardware. Move on to another ecosystem where the companies profit model isn't just about exploiting your data. 

Dappem
Community Member

I agree this reduces the functionality of my product a lot. My child can't control this now. I wish i knew this was the case before buying a third speaker. 

ScottyV
Community Member

Totally and unequivocally unacceptable!! How is it that Google, a multi BILLION dollar company, feels that it is alright to have it's customers bear the brunt of losing functionality of products that Google has sold them, at a PREMIUM price I might add, simply to avoid paying licensing rights to a company it has lost in court to? 

You sold me a product with specific functions that I can no longer use. Instead I have to fudge and limp along using side doors and tricks. Again, for a product I paid a premium price for!! 

GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER Google and take care of the people that keep your lights on!! Rediculous!!!

Kannonball
Community Member

Really? How is changing the volume in a group a legal thing?  I am only using Google devices.  Having to change the individual volume is ridiculous.

Mostly_Lucid
Community Member

Just FYI, this was fixed.

mtrudel337
Community Member

Hi, what do you mean FIXED. What is fixed ?

Right now when I ask Hey Google, volume 5, only the closest Google device sets it volume to 5 not all in the group. I can validate that by opening the Google App and seeing the volume beeing set to only one speaker in the group. I see this ive as it happens.

So it is not fixed for me.

Komodo812
Community Member

Yeah, definitely not fixed for me either... 

Myster_Anderson
Community Member

Nope, not fixed 😐

PissedAtG00GLE
Community Member

What about the fact that speaker groups DONT EVEN WORK.

I could care less about volume when NOTHING PLAYS

Hundreds of us have complained, I've searched for months for a solution. None are out there

I've spent thousands of dollars on this company and if this doesn't get fixed I'm switching to Alexa within the month

PissedAtG00GLE
Community Member

I'm going to start speaking to a couple lawyers I know about if a class action lawsuit is viable here 

 

Google sold us devices with a specific functionality in mind

To avoid paying a fee, being as rich as Google is, passed the inconvenience down to us, the customers; removing functionality to not have to pay up 

Buyers remorse

I want a refund on every single Google product I have

Switching to Alexa

Komodo812
Community Member

I agree! 

ScottyV
Community Member

@ pissedatGOOGLE, I would LOVE to be a part of that class action as I have invested HEAVILY in Google and am absolutely having buyers remorse as functionality has disappeared from my purchased products time and again. Let me know where to sign up. I'm all in!! 

tommykat1
Community Member

I came across this article today. Google is striking back at Sonos, in case anyone cares anymore.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/8/23293927/google-sonos-lawsuit-smart-speaker-voice-control

Mindgem
Community Member

@tommykat1 only customers are bound to see the results of this. Limited functions we paid for.

Komodo812
Community Member

Thanks for the update! I wonder if we will ever get this feature back.... 😣

VTron21
Community Member

I'd like things that should not be patentable for 100 Pat.

Truls
Community Member

It is kind of unbelievable.  Google had a solution that actually worked for distributing music through my house.  Since the “fatal” upgrade due to…….  It is a completely mess. One thing is the volume problem, - a bigger problem is this; I can not start a cast to my groups by voice to units, “all”, “downstairs”, “upstairs”, etc.  It want happen.  The assistant says it is not possible. If I choose to start playing on only one unit, it works, I can then physically touch that unit, select to cast to a group,  But that is to many operations to get it working.  

Five steps backwards in time, Google. … 

Mindgem
Community Member

Anyone knows already if upcoming matter changes to google home will allow casting to multiple speakers using the home app will work again? 

Chachacha1234
Community Member

Really a lawsuit or just another excuse to have us buy yet another separate device to control the sound? TRULY UNACCEPTABLE!!!  Although that WAS what we did by getting speakers in the first place. Doesn’t make sense that such a dramatic litigation with such drastic consequences to your loyal customers base took place.  Here’s the thing ITS MY VIZIO/CHROMECAST TV that’s playing at 100% not the speaker. The TV sound is my problem. I’m very very disappointed ☹️. So basically I will be blowing out my speakers in my tv, since it resets daily. WTH just not OK. What’s the name of this lawsuit that made you change it?  Capitalism vs Expendable Customers …..seriously? 

 

CarbonPepper
Community Member

Been living with this lack of functionality now since Jun and it is hateful.  I have 8x devices with a mix of google speaker, chromecast & chromecast audio, all set up in what used to be an absolutely seamless whole house audio system.

Voice commands re volume or casting only respond on a single speaker, even if all 8 are already playing something.  Changing the volume of the whole speaker set is now slow and ugly. The volume keys on a phone change only one speaker.  The only way to turn down the volume of the whole house is to open the google home app and make 8 adjustments.  I'd rather play on one speaker than have to suffer that, which means the setup is now useless.  Google folding on this functionality has completely destroyed the experience.

 

I have a Sonos speaker too, anc considered them for a whole house system. But dismissed them for their overly proprietary business model, much like apple, and for obscuring lack of features with marketing BS.  E.g. a 5.1 audio system is not true 5.1.  They felt, well, evil.

It turns out they are just as evil as they seemed, willing to spite their customers.

 

 

ShaneAN
Community Member

What @CarbonPepper said

 

I have 14 nest/Chromecast devices in my home. Speakers, hubs, Chromecasts.  And am thoroughly disgusted with Google for having stripped away this as advertised functionality from users instead of paying the royalty to Sonos.  It's a shockingly terrible business decision to screw your customers like this. 

Add to it that the media controls and assistant experience has actually thoroughly devolved with time - including multiple speakers responding at the same time, stuttering music, media controls simply not working... I don't know how Google can overlook all this and how class action lawsuits haven't been filed. 

VTron21
Community Member

I have no problems using my speakers and displays.  Even when casting to a speaker group. I can turn the volume up or down on all of them without issues.  Must be something you guys are doing wrong.🤷‍

monkey1aj
Community Member

@VTron21 Comments like these are entirely unhelpful. Issues have been documented by both this community and Google, who admitted it was a direct result of their litigation with Sonos. Just because you don't need to utilize 100% of the functions / features YOU PAID FOR, that does not mean others do not have the right to voice their complaints. 

You're probably some Google schlep that imagines that you get imaginary points for being a fanboy. 

VTron21
Community Member

@monkey1ajwhatever dude.  I'm telling you they work for me. 

Here's what I paid for. Speakers to play music, they do that. To turn the volume up and down, they do that. To turn all the ones that are currently playing up or down, they do that. Now initially after the suit they could not, but now they do. But hey if "Google turn volume on group up" is too difficult for you that's not Google's fault.

ShaneAN
Community Member

@VTron21 

Lol. Saying that we must be doing something wrong when it's very well documented that after Google was sued by and lost a patent infringement lawsuit with Sonos that they stripped the functionality from their devices is Trollish idiocy. 

mtrudel337
Community Member

@VTron21 
HI

I dont know how you do it but it still does not work for me.
WHen I say "Hey Google, set volume to 5" only the closest speaker is set to 5 
I confirm this by watching in the Google Home app that only one speaker volume is set to 5.

If I say "Hey Google, set volume to 5 to group Kitchen" it respond "I cannot set volume for groups .. bla bla bla use the Gogole Home app to set volume of a group
I live in Canada

 

CarbonPepper
Community Member

@VTron21  No, you are not just telling us they work for you, you are judging the efforts of others. It's quite arrogant to say that we are doing it wrong.

Where are you? Not all geographical territories operate the same way, and if your local laws do not recognise the patents concerned you might have a different experience.

 

ShaneAN
Community Member

@CarbonPepper 

 

So despite his arrogance / calling out other community members for not knowing a work-around after Google stripped functionality -- there is a point here that actually asking assistant to change the volume of a speaker group actually can work as a work around.  I didn't know it myself.  But you may be able to say "change volume of [speaker group name] to XX percent" or "level XX' and it may work.  

Results are not consistent  -- because when are these devices EVER consistent now. But it may work.  Try it. 

mtrudel337
Community Member

I just restested 

 "change volume of [speaker group name] to XX percent"

And it specifically respond that it cannot do that and that each speaker volume must be se separatly.

There you are. That is the answer. NOPE cannot set volumne of a group

I do can say 

 "change volume of [speaker name 1] to XX percent"

and then

 "change volume of [speaker name 2] to XX percent"
It may be possible to create 10 Routines with each its 10% increase and see if I can simply ask to run a specific routine that wouls set both speaker one after the other

snapperheadjoe
Community Member

@mtrudel337 is correct I just tested using the phrasing above and it doesn't work.  The devices either respond "I don't know how to do that" (stupid response) or "I can't change the volume of groups of speakers". (We took your money and removed features you already paid for)

Routines definitely work, I've been using them for months to set the sound level on groups of speakers.  I have one the resets all Google home device volumes to certain levels at 2am, ready for the next day.  But my favorite one is used to set all of the house speakers and displays to certain sound levels for playing ambient music throughout the house.  I set the routine phrase to "set background sound level" then used the Add Action | Adjust Home Devices | Choose the device | Set volume to.  This allows you to set each device to a certain percentage level.  The best part is you can call the routines from any smart device.  Setting the speaker groups sound levels is doable again but it requires you to setup routines for each group and/or setup routines to set volume level at whatever % you want i.e 5%, 10%, 50%, 75% etc.

You used to be able to do this with voice by asking one device to set the volume level of another device (not a group) but I find that rarely works now.  I usually get some stupid response like "I don't know how to do that" even though it's not a group of speakers.

More nonsense from these multibillion dollar companies to screw with our lives.  Grant it these are 1st world problems.  We complain about losing the ability to set group volumes with voice while 75% of the world has to walk 5 miles to get some semi-clean water to drink.

Either way it is still annoying and the richest company in the world should be able to throw some bones at Sonos for patent infringement (stupid patent) so we don't lose these functions.

Mindgem
Community Member

Setting volume is one thing, casting music from my android device to a speaker group would be nice function to get back. As with Spotify I can cast music...

snapperheadjoe
Community Member

I don't use Spotify so I can't speak about that service or app but I do use Youtube Music, iBroadcast and Amazon Music and I can cast to any individual speaker or display or any speaker group natively from each app from my phone or tablet.  Did Spotify have that function before and then lost it?

mtrudel337
Community Member

Here too
On my IOS device, YouTube Music app, in the cast dropdown all individual speakers AND the groups show.
Same thing on my Windows PC in the Chrome browser and also in Edge

 

 

Mindgem
Community Member

The google home app did have a cast button beneath the adjust volume slider

fpatou
Community Member

We all must admit that google did this changes very fast, very impressive how a they can react (even impacting non nest speaker) when being under court decision.

I wish they can do the same when we are constantly giving feedback about what is not going right since many years on this home ecosystem.

timthuston
Community Member

@VTron21 

What you don't understand is we paid for functionality that they have removed.

For example, the speakers were sold to me as a whole home solution. If I have to go to each individual speaker it is no longer a whole home solution. It's an individual room solution.

 

The Google cameras and Google home app that lawsuit's awesome and I can't wait

RLeeuwen
Community Member

Looks like things only getting worse at the moment. Since yesterday casting to a group seems almost impossible. I have 4 speakers in a group, and one just doesn't play any sound. I see the speaker is receiving the stream however just no sound. When I stream direct to that speaker I have sound. Then when I try to add speakers (via the media option in Google home) it finally worked. Lots of errors in the google home app as well. I am so disappointed at this stage. I used to be one of the biggest Google fan out there but with this service level and the amount of stress involved I have to admit I won't be recommending Google devices at this point. No service and once you're a customer they simply don't care. FFS Google, get your act together!

viltroll
Community Member

I've had the same issues described here since a few months, and thought I happily found a workaround for the most painful issue that was plaguing me since that poopstorm has started : the inability to group speakers together when I started playing music on my main speaker, a Klipsch The Three w/google assistant. 

After trying everything, I figured out creating a group with that only speaker in would allow me to play on the other home's speakers (the rest of my setup includes one Google Home Mini & 2 Nest Mini). While it isn't as seamless as it used to be, this is still better than nothing. 

However, today I've realized while casting from the Youtube Music PWA with my premium subscription on and to the same Klipsch speaker that some ads started to be played between songs, recommending me to... Pay for a YTM premium account.
Funny enough, casting on the group containing that sole speaker instead fixed the issue. Does it mean the support for 3rd party speakers has been downgraded along with the grouping & volume switching to the point it's not even able to recognize I have a YTM premium subscription somehow? This is even better than I anticipated.

Oh, and it's now impossible to setup that same speaker while using a Google Pixel (either 5, 6 or 7 Pro), no matter which app I use (Device Utility or Google Home), to the point I have to use a bloody iPad to achieve it. 
As stated before, it may be time for you to get your stuff together.

WarpedTrekker
Community Member

I just purchased 4 Nest Audio speakers and a Nest Hub to go along with all my other nest devices. Now I find out that grouped and paired speakers have to be set individually for each speaker. There should be ONE VOLUME CONTROL for ALL SPEAKERS in the group. Is Google not going to pay Sonos to have this functionality back? This is ridiculous and like it I had purchased some studio monitor speakers that had individual volume knobs on them where I had to balance them out. 

 

Every time Google comes up with something then features get stripped. Who is pulling the strings and making decisions like this in Google? You get rid of Android apps that are useful too like the Google assistant driving mode. Without that people without android builtin to their cars have no navigation app with a menu to control music, etc. It's back to Waze for me or third party app. 

 

Google needs to get their act together. Universal volume control needs to be added back as soon as possible. 

WarpedTrekker
Community Member

@GoogleNestTeam can we get an update on this whole volume issue thing? Otherwise I got 4 speakers, two nest displays ready to return to the Google store. There should be one volume control to control all speakers once we balance them out with individual controls. Get your you know what in line and get this functionality added back. Pay Sonos if that's what it takes.