Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

[SimonDune]

It doesn't matter which app, Spotify, Bandcamp, CBC LIsten, etc, they all act the same: if I choose a speaker group to cast to, only one speaker works - even though either can work on its own. A clue is the one that works when I choose a group is the last one that played alone. Another odd thing is it works as it should if I stream form Chrome on my laptop. It's worked great for years now it's broken.

I tried restarting my router, and rebooting all the Chromecast Audios and reconnecting them in Home, No luck.

Any ideas?

Thanks for reading!

[MplsCustomer]

@SimonDune 

We don't have speaker groups, but perhaps this posting by Google Nest in this forum addresses your situation:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Upcoming-Speaker-Group-changes/ba-p/77811

[SimonDune]

Thanks!

That seems related to my issue, except that is about volume changes in speaker groups being affected, but for me it's that only one speaker in a group at a time can play at all. 

But that thread might lead me to some answers.

[Jeran]

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran
 

[SimonDune]

Yes, the problem went away but is back. Seems to come and go but most times only one speaker in a group will work. I've rebooted and reconnected everything several times and no luck. Any ideas?

[Jeran]

Hey there SimonDune,

I'd be happy to look into this issue to see where the problem lies, since I know speaker groups have been acting differently since the recent changes. I'll just need to ask you questions about your set-up:

• What devices do you have in your speaker groups?
• Are you able to check the cast firmware version of your speakers?
• Is your Google Home app up-to-date?

Speaker groups containing non-Google speakers or Cast-based devices may not work properly in speaker groups if they don’t receive a software update. Customers may notice that those devices don’t play audio in a speaker group. Third-party Cast devices like soundbars with Chromecast built-in will need to be updated to Cast firmware 1.52.272222 and above.

Note: Not all device models will receive software updates. As a result, they may no longer work in speaker groups and will need the Device Utility app to complete each setup.

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

Best regards,

Jeran

[SimonDune]

Hi Jeran,

-What devices do you have in your speaker groups? Two Chromecast Audios, firmware up to date - streaming from a Pixel 3 or Chrome on a Macbook Pro - everything up to date.
-Are you able to check the cast firmware version of your speakers? Both Chromecast Audios are up to date in terms of firmware
-Is your Google Home app up-to-date? I do believe so, as I went to the Play Store and there is no newer version. If you tell me how to check, I can.

Are Chromecast Audios still supported? Is that the issue?

[SimonDune]

You wrote you look forward to my response but then you disappeared. If you don't know how to help me, at least saying that would've been cool. Oh well. I guess some corporations get too big for their lowly customers. Won't be buying anymore Google devices.

[Jeran]

Hey there SimonDune,

I'm sorry about the delayed response, there is a mighty backlog of threads that I need to get through. When it comes to the Chromecast Audio, they are still supported. Google Nest speaker, display, and Chromecast devices should receive an over-the-air update to allow those devices to continue to function in speaker groups. 

Refer to the Cast firmware versions below for the minimum versions:

• Nest Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Wifi Point > 1.56x
• Chromecast Audio, Chromecast (2018), Chromecast Ultra, Nest Hub (1st gen), Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max > 1.54x

Are you able to give me the firmware number of your Chromecast Audio? Also, are you able to confirm that the speakers still function properly outside the speaker group?

Thank you for your patience.

Best regards,

Jeran

[SimonDune]

The firmware on my Chromecast Audios is 1.56.281627.

And yes they work individually, but if I select a speaker group, only one will play at a time, usually the one that was last used individually.

If no solution is found in a timely manner, is compensation being discussed? How long are we expected to continue to be patient?

[Jeran]

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran
 

[SimonDune]

Please see my reply to your previous reply above.

[elfstones65]

Hi @SimonDune so glad someone else is having this issue. The symptom is the same, casting from either my iphone (spotify) or my android phone (Apple Music or spotify) in all cases only 1 device plays in the group.

Apple music even does a drop down presumably so you can control the speaker volumes and it only shows one speaker and at least gives me the 'hint' of which device it is playing on. I took a screen shot but says I don't have permision to upload.

Ps I made my own post about his too

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Speaker-groups-only-play-to-one-random-...

@Jeran 

The house has 5 Chromecast audios, all with versions 1.56.281627.

I've done the below steps multiple times.

Deleted and recreated groups.

Restarted all the chromecast devices

deleted the chromecasts and re-adding them (including factory resets)

rebooted the wifi obviously

I even tried adding them at one point to the 2.4ghz wifi.

[elfstones65]

@SimonDunesorry you're experiencing the same problem but I'm glad someone else is and I'm not crazy.

I have the exact same issue., Using both ios spotify/mac (spotify connect)/ android (spotify and apple music) in all cases when casting the speaker group only plays on one 'random' device.

Apple music even dispays like this drop down which I assume is meant to show all the speakers individual volumes but it only shows one. I have a screen shot but seems I don't have permission to upload photos?

@Jeranmy setup is 5 chromecast audios all using 1.56.281627. cast firmware.

Stuff I've done to attempt to resolve include mutlipe attempts of:

• restarting the wifi
• deleting and creating the speaker groups
• removing the chormecasts from my account and setting them back up
• factory reset on all devices and setup again
• tried adding them to the 2.4 ghz wifi network

[SimonDune]

Yeah, we're not crazy but it seems Google wants us to think we are.

Anyway I'm being patient and have decided to believe Community Specialist Jeran when they said "Chromecast devices should receive an over-the-air update to allow those devices to continue to function in speaker groups."

We'll see. 

[elfstones65]

@SimonDune  @Jeran hopefully we don't have to wait too long.. I just bought a belkin soundform connnect (**bleep** expensive though) does the same as the chromecast audios but provides airplay 2 to test it. Same price as a homepod mini but will see. Also started me thinking on selling my 1 year old Audio Pro c10 and getting the Mk2 version of it, which upgrades airplay 1 to airplay 2 and adds chromecast too.. . Multiroom when it works is beautifal thing 🙂

[elfstones65]

@Jeranany idea of when the firmware update will drop or the version number to monitor for?

[elfstones65]

@Jeran @SimonDune  I have no idea why but my speaker group just magically started to work again today.

No google home app updates or chrome cast audio firmware updates... not sure if something server side. I added another speaker to the group a day ago and retested but it was still broken...

Would love to know how its working suddenly

[elfstones65]

@Jeran @SimonDune and sorry to say two days later not working again 😞

[Jeran]

Hey there,

Just wanted to give an update since I have been in contact with a higher tier of support about this issue. Here are some steps they recommended trying for now:

• Go ahead and factory reset the affected Chromecast Audio devices.
• Check for any updated firmware.
• Submit Feedback via the Google Home app with Logs Enabled, for the description, go ahead and put "CCT3 Chromecast Audio Speaker Group".

This looks like an issue that our engineering team is aware of. To be transparent, they have not given me a time-frame for a fix, but it is something they are actively working on. 

Best regards,

Jeran

[SimonDune]

Thanks for getting back to us, Jeran.

How do I "Check for any updated firmware." I did a reset with the Chromecast's hardware button but the firmware version remained the same. Is there another step?

[elfstones65]

Thanks @Jeran much appreciated. Will attempt All the suggested steps.

Regards

Jason

[elfstones65]

@Jeran@SimonDune  Don't think there is a way to force check for firmware update, think it just does it.

Saying that the factory resets did the same as @SimonDune said, they stayed on the same firmware version and the problem persists, I guess we''ll need to wait for the firmware update to come out.

Thanks
Jason

[SimonDune]

Yeah, I tried the factory reset via the Home app and with the hardware buttons but still the same firmware in the my Chromecast Audios and still the same issue.

[elfstones65]

ps @Jeran I think the chromecast version page is woefully out of date when it comes to the chromecast audio firmware listed.Chromecast firmware 

It lists the audio as having where we're on 1.56.281627.

Chromecast Audio — Firmware version 1.42.172094

Chromecast firmware versions & release notes

Last updated December 21st, 2021

[Jordan11]

I'm having a similar issue with my two Google Max speakers. If I factory reset both speakers and create a new group both spealers will play. But after a couple hours it reverts back to just one speaker. I  my google home app I ca  see both speakers but when I go to "Create Speaker Group" only one speaker shows up. Very frustrating!

[bjhellstrom]

This  (one speaker cast) has been driving me crazy for months.  Spotify works fine.  VLC, running on Windows, also works fine.  Emby and Plex only cast to one speaker in any group.