All streaming apps won’t automatically play when using voice commands

[Snowman4]

I recently got the Chromecast with google tv when my old one kept glitching. I used to be able to use voice commands to just play videos on any streaming service (besides prime video) and it would just resume without issue. With the new Chromecast I have to get the remote and select who is watching and press play. I liked the hands off, no remote, system I had before so I could play things for my kids without having to go to my tv when I was in the middle of something. Is there a way to fix this so it will just play without having to select who is watching? (I use mostly Disney plus, Netflix and Hulu) 

[JenniferV]

Hi Snowman4,

Thanks for reaching out. Let's sort this out. 

What voice command are you using to open or play videos from these apps? Could you please try to command your Google Assistant device and say "Hey Google, play [specific video] from [service provider]? You can also try to reboot your Chromecast with Google TV (4K).

Thanks,

Jennifer

[Snowman4]

I had the previous version of chromecast and those were the same voice commands that I used. This new one with google tv just really only wants me to use the remote or cast from my phone instead of just playing via voice commands. When I use a voice command (like you stated above) it makes me choose which person account to play the video from (even though there is a main account) and the press play on the remote. No matter what I try I can’t use voice commands anymore, which is super disappointing because I liked being hands off and not having to use a remote to play shows. It does this for Hulu, Netflix, and Disney plus. 

[JenniferV]

Hello Snowman4,

Thanks for getting back to us. Could you please try to reinstall the affected apps and reboot your Chromecast with Google TV (4K)? Resetting your device might also help.

Thanks,

Jennifer

[Snowman4]

So I did a reset on the chromecast, installed and logged into all the apps and then asked google (via my nest) to play (show) on (streaming service) on my tv. From that point, google tv will open the app for that service and the show I requested but it won’t click the play episode button. I have to use the remote in order to get the show to play. For example, I say “hey google, play bluey on Disney plus on my tv.” This is true for Disney plus and Hulu. Because of how Netflix works, it automatically plays after a few seconds.

[JenniferV]

Hi there Snowman4,

I'm sorry for the late response as I was out of the office for a few days. Could you try to unlink your Disney+ account in the Google Home app, then re-link selecting the same profile as on the Chromecast with Google TV (4K)? Once done, try to check if the same issue will persist.

Thanks,

Jennifer

[JenniferV]

Hello Snowman4,

It's me again. How's it going? How did the steps go?

Regards,

Jennifer

[Snowman4]

Sorry I didn’t see your message. I just tried it and it’s still pops up (when using voice command via the google nest) with the “who’s watching” screen. I then have to select who is watching and press play. No matter what I try I have to be by the remote to press play when using voice commands on any app. Hulu, Amazon prime video, and Disney+.

[Snowman4]

I only have one profile on Hulu and it still does it. I have tried looking at the app settings to see if there is a setting I can turn on that defaults to a specific profile and I can’t find anything. I have also looked at the google tv and google home app settings and I can’t find anything that would change this. I feel like it just might because of the new hardware and software involved with google tv being added that there isn’t compatibility with voice commands anymore.

[JenniferV]

Hey Snowman4,

Oh no! We want to dig deeper into this. Could you fill out this form and let me know once you're done?

Thanks,

Jennifer

[Snowman4]

I filled out the form. Thanks for your ideas and tips. I never thought about unlinking. Too bad it didn’t work.

[Jeran]

Hey there Snowman4,

Thank you for filling out that form! You should have someone from Chromecast Support reach out to you via e-mail, so feel free to continue the conversation over there. Unless you had any more questions for us here on the forum, I'll go ahead and lock the thread in 24 hours.

Best regards,

Jeran

[G0ogleHomie]

Hi Jeran, I never received any response to this so I figured I'd reply directly. Do you have any insight on this? When I ask my google nest hub display to do this, it has no issues going directly to the video I requested as it should. Not so much on my chromecast. Thanks.

[Jeran]

Hiya G0ogleHomie,

No problem at all! I was able to look at Snowman4's case, and it looks like it was an issue that was escalated to a higher tier of support and the engineering team to look into. If you don't mind, would you be able to re-create the problem, then submit feedback via Google TV? That way, the engineering team has more cases of this occurring, and the more feedback that Google receives regarding an issue, the more likely they are to prioritize it.

I look forward to your response, and if you have any questions, please let me know.

Best regards,

Jeran

[G0ogleHomie]

Hi Jeran - thanks for the response. I sure can, is there anything on your end to re-escalate or to discuss with development/engineering? Is there a way to downgrade chromecast software? 

[Jeran]

Hello G0ogleHomie,

Thank you for doing that! Yes, if you'd like, we can have Chromecast Support reach out to you via email. You'll just need to fill out this form, and they'll contact you in a few days. Just let me know when you fill out that form.

Best regards,
Jeran

[Jeran]

Hey G0ogleHomie,

Were you able to fill out that form I provided?

Thank you,
Jeran

[Jeran]

Hello G0ogleHomie,

Do you have any more questions? If not, I'll go ahead and lock up this thread in 24 hours.

Just checking up,
Jeran

[G0ogleHomie]

Hello, I am having the same issue, I noticed this is a recent thread and I was curious if there was any solution reached. I can request to watch whatever I'd like; but still have to go use the remote to select the streaming account I want to watch from and then hit play on the tv show I requested via voice command. I purchased a chromecast to achieve controlling my TV via voice and I am disappointed it doesn't. I am more disappointed to hear via this thread that it once did and the function was removed. Thank you for your time Jennifer and Jaren.