Google now limits speakers to one speaker group only?!

[Biggsyboi]

When did THIS happen?!

I don't even get the error message. The group either just drops the speakers, or the group disappears entirely.

 

[DanCoco]

Did Sonos get upset that Google came for their idea without an offer to buy them out? 

Sonos wins a lawsuit causing Google to need to remove another feature from a product you may have purchased because of said feature. If you have speakers in multiple groups, don't remove them from your account unless you really need to. 

CHROME UNBOXED - Say goodbye to whole home audio: Nest devices can now only be in one speaker group ... 

[Bnsherer]

Google lost the lawsuit to Sonos and refuses to pay the licensing fee and as a result we cannot control group volume with a single button.  Pay sonos! 

[Iceman808]

As I see it, the main issue is we are all now sitting ducks, waiting for the next change to our already heavily handicapped system. God knows what they will do next?

Have you noticed how quiet they have kept this change? there would be 10's of thousands google nest owners who wold only just be finding out why there system is not working as it should and wasting time trying to fix it when if they had posted some so of announcement it would have saved hours  of our time for nothing.

It is staggering in this day and age companies like Google can get away with this type of behaviour and not be held accountable for it. Surely there has to be a major backlash against this product now and all associated products that rely on groups.

In the time I have owned my nest mini's they have crackled and popped on occasion, dropped out, needed rebooting many times, stopped communicating with each other just name a few of their many flaws. I invested over $1200 plus in the product and on top of my subscription to spotify and youtube it's a lot of money that just got made a lot less use friendly....

As to google help.....what help? Have you ever tored to contact them even just to have a rant? you can contact Amazon in less tan 3 minutes, good luck with google.........they don't want to hear from you as they really and truly don't give a S**T.... 

[tezzman]

I'm just gobsmacked how this unfolds without any major news site reporting on this. Also the app just doesn't let you know this is happening, clearly on purpose to keep majority of users confused.

I've spent several hours before finding out that my change of WiFi access points had nothing to do with the problems I was experiencing re-configuring my 10+ Google devices and their group configuration.

I'm now explaining my kids why it's wise to choose Apple over Google. They use the multi room functionality the most.

If this doesn't get turned around, I'll be abandoning all smart home Google products.

Google will give zero f's, I know 🤷🏻‍

[CockeyedObserve]

The google home eco system degrades by the day. The latest issue I face is that my speaker groups have disappeared. Every now and then a couple pop up but mostly they are gone! Functionality that has been working perfectly for years.

Previously there were several issues with the Tuya integration with multi-switches suddenly becoming a single switch. Whilst mine have re-appeared, it is clearly still an issue for others.

Several years back, I bet on Google being the best platform for my primary hub and invested in many speakers and even WiFi (which I've moved away from due to capacity issues). Now it appears that I made a mistake. 

Waiting for China to offer a holistic platform - at least then, there will be some certainty in service levels.

[Princesss]

Hi CockeyedObserve,

Thanks for reaching out. 

We're sorry to hear that you're experiencing issues with your Google Nest speakers. To further help you with this, let's sort these one by one.

• How many speakers are included in your speaker group?
• How far are your speakers from each other and from the router?
• Have you made any changes on your network before you noticed these changes?

Also, with regards to your Tuya devices' connection, have you already reached out to Tuya support?

We'd love to know more of it so we can start some steps in resolving this. Keep us posted!

Best, 

Princess

[CockeyedObserve]

The answers to your questions

1. I have several groups and the number of speakers varies from 2-4. I should emphasise that these groups have been working perfectly for at least 3 years until around 3-4 weeks back.

2. The speakers range from 2-20 meters from the router but are connected to access points that are around 2-10m from the device. Once again they have been working for quite some time and when used individually, the speakers work fine.

3. No changes - they were working perfectly one day and not the next. There may have been an IP addess change as I'm not on a fixed IP address.

I should mention that I re-installed the home app on android device the speaker group appears for a few minutes and then disappeared. Now the only speaker groups that sometimes appear are for google displays. Groups with google audio cast devices don't appear.

In the Home app, the speaker groups used to be listed at the end. They have disappeared from there. They also are not listed under the settings "Devices, groups and rooms".

I created a new group that lasted a few seconds before it disappeared.

I should mention that there are many complaints about this issue on the internet.

In relation to the Tuya device issue, the details are in this thread - Re: Google Home not recognising multi-way switches... - Page 5 - Google Nest Community

As stated before, mine are working ok for the time being.

Many thanks for your assistance.

[Princesss]

Hey there,

I appreciate all the details you've shared.

Certain devices are limited to a single group at a time. For impacted devices, you’ll need to move them to your preferred speaker group in the Google Home app or dynamically add them to a group during media playback. 

The following devices can only belong to one speaker group in the Google Home app at a time. If you try to add one of these devices to a second speaker group in the app, you’ll get an error message. 
 

• Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
• Google Nest Audio
• Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
• Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
• Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
• Google Nest Hub Max
• Google Nest Wifi point
• Pixel Tablet (Hub Mode)

To know more about it, you can check this link. 

Let us know if you have additional questions and we'd be happy to help.

Best,

Princess

[CockeyedObserve]

All my groups were back yesterday (with some duplications) and then they are gone today!!!

This is what I mean by unreliable. It appears that  your technicians are mucking around with the platform.

Thanks for your assistance.

[CockeyedObserve]

My speaker groups are back at this moment - Hey, incompetent Google technicians, keep your grubbing hands off!!

[Sth2]

Yes - Emphasis on “ working perfectly for at least 3 years until around 3-4 weeks back”

My experience almost identical to above.  

Seems like Google couldn’t figure out how to comply with the lawsuit without breaking the entire system.  This “ grandfathering”  of existing devices seems like it would be particularly difficult to implement. 

[Sth2]

I call it the Google speaker group lottery!  On any given day different groups work , don’t work, appear in the group menu, disappear from the group menu.   Complete S…tshow!  

I used to rave about the Google home ecosystem to my family , friends and neighbors.

Now I am equally passionate about telling them to RUN , don’t walk , away from any so called “ smart” Google products.

What a complete and utter joke! 

Shame on you Google!

[LZLP]

adding my rage comment here too, im not even on the usa so i don't know if this lawsuit should affect worldwide clients... here these devices are not cheap, and after filling my home with many google nest and chromecast devices to have few speaker groups with repeated speakers depending the use everything went away when i tried to add a new one. Google should not excuse about this, pay the license as we all paid for this uncomplete product. anyone know of a workaround for this?

[Zappos]

My work around is I've just spent £800 on Alexa devices and will be putting the Google stuff on eBay.

[CockeyedObserve]

Well, if Amazon can get around the speaker sharing issue then so can Google. But they have chosen to come up with some lame excuses.

Google clearly has incompetent technicians - the profit taking obsession has taken over (symptoms of a dying brand). Unfortunately I have a dozen speakers and half a dozen displays - so, a significant investment. It lasted well for close to 3 years.

They should outsource to China and this will be resolved in seconds not minutes or decades as it is taking Google!

[Zappos]

Yeah, I feel your pain. I too have 15 odd devices of various sorts from gen one minis, door bells to the latest Nest Max. All garbage now. I've just started playing with the Alexa stuff. It has come along leaps and bounds since I first played with it years ago. Routines are as good if not better (other that the script editor Google is working on - although that's not really ready yet), device integration is waaaay ahead of Google. I prefer Google Home layout but I could get used to the Alexa one. The Alexa hub could be a game changer though. 

In short, I may be turning to the dark side!

[CockeyedObserve]

Do you know if the Amazon echo system integrates well with Home Assistant? I suspect it does.

[Zappos]

I think so but I haven't got that far in my testing yet.

[Fmoon]

I've been dealing with this issue for the past month of when I go and play music on both of my devices (living room and bedroom) it only ever plays on one or the other, even when I tell it to play on my home group. I've even tried factory resetting my devices but that only resolves the issue for a few days then it's back to not working once again and telling me "can't connect to speaker, tap to try again". I've become so frustrated with this issue that I'm seriously considering leaving the Google home ecosystem, but I feel like it would be such a waste of time and money to do so

[AWF]

The waste of money has already occurred.  Google is clearly abandoning the smart speaker market

[Fmoon]

I don't know why my post was merged into this I only have one speaker group!

[Sth2]

Consider yourself lucky.  I’m surprised that Google can even manage and has not completely messed up even the most basic, single speaker group .

[Zappos]

I found that if you say like "play {source} on {group}" the restricted devices that are in the group, don't play. If you then say "Play this on {group}", (the same group) it then works...... terrible engineering and someone needs to sack their testing department.

[tezzman]

Done with this stuff. Donating some ribs, moving to Sonos.

Devices getting thrown out of the home account. Groups disappearing. Speaker Pairs disappearing, reappearing as single devices. And taking into account the whole assistant degradation. How can Google management accept this? They must have give up. Better discontinue the whole line, it's taking the brand down.

[kelanfromgoogle · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone, 

Please see our recent blog for an update about the change to speaker groups for Nest speakers, displays, and Chromecast devices.

TL;DR: Devices will be able to belong to multiple speaker groups and you will no longer run into an error when trying to add a device to additional groups. We’re beginning to roll out this update immediately and expect it to go live across our devices and the Home App on Android in the next 48 hours. The change will also be coming soon to the Home App on iOS. 

Thanks,
Kelan

[Biggsyboi]

This is good news. It was frustrating however, as it doesn't seem like Google communicated the restriction at all and we had to find out why it was happening via other channels. For me, the error message didn't even work, so I hope the Google support team can see why that's unacceptable. For me, the speakers just disappeared from the groups after a few seconds, with no explanation.

I think I read that Sonos will be appealing, so I'm still worried that these features will get taken away again

[CockeyedObserve]

That is great news for your customers. I was critical when the functionality stopped working and will be positive when Google takes the right measures to meet their customers needs.

[Sth2]

Great news - hopefully the functionality can be restored and the court ruling sticks.  I am concerned in particular with third party products - I have a Sony receiver with built in chromecast that would no longer work with any group after around Sept 12 - hopefully the group functionality will be restored for it as well.

[Zappos]

Yes, I have a non-Google speaker which still doesn't work properly.

[Sth2]

I tried some of my broken groups yesterday and was excited to see that they were restored!

But unfortunately the excitement was premature as today they no longer work☹️

What is most frustrating is that I know this is not user error and the problems are all on the google side.  Guess there is no choice but to wait it out as they release  system changes associated with the positive lawsuit outcome - but now quite worried that they don’t have the core capability to restore this…

[Zappos]

Well, I've been with Google since the days of Lycos! But I've generally got increasingly frustrated with the product reliability and functionality. I know they're probably focusing now on AI supported products but their lack of customer focus is extremely dissapointing.

During the Prime sale I confess to buying several Echo products. They just work. No fuss. Multiroom audio, central volume control, routines are as good (better in some ways), way better product compatibility. I'm sorry to say, but I think I'm converted 😞 At the end of the day, I just want stuff that works.

[Sth2]

Good to know - I think it may be time to go Amazon.  My Sony chromecast receiver will no longer work in any group and it is the core of the set up.  It worked briefly right after the announcement that multiple speaker groups were coming back - but no longer.  Very frustrating.

[Zappos]

Come to the dark side! You won't regret it. I'm converted. Even my Nest doorbell plays nicely with Alexa. Get yourself a couple to play with. I got a cheapo Pop and a Echo show 5 to test. I've now got loads 🤦‍♂️ from the auto rotating echo 10, the Studio (which is awesome) and a load of dots and pops. Just works. Already sold the Google stuff other than my Nest Max.

Addendum: not idea where that female symbol came from and I can't delete it! 

[Sth2]

Good feedback knowing your superior experience with Alexa/Echo. The only reason I have not switched already  is i have a Sony “ chromecast “ receiver ( the hub of my surround sound platform) that sounds great,  intermittently works and will be a pain and expense to swap out .

Just yesterday It  finally worked again in all groups ( as it had flawlessly before the google system broke in early September ) and I thought for a ( fleeting) moment/night  that all would be OK.  But ,alas, down again today.   Ugh.  

I guess there are some very nice Alexa compatible surround sound receivers on the market ( any  suggestions for a decent 7.2 channel  one?), and the echo studios look like a very nice upgrade from my nest audios . Think it is time to bite the bullet and get something that “just works” as you say - which is the whole point of whole home audio.  

[Zappos]

By the way, the 10 and the Studio have Matter and ZigBee built in! I've now also got rid of my old Sonoff hubs too 😁

[ired]

Hi there, 

My nest hub2 doesn't play in group speakers. 

I thought that was the problem because of the Sonos lawsuit. 

But I think that my problem is a little different. 

The restriction was that the same device cannot be part of more than one speaker group. And that it gave you an error. 

Well I never get an error just didn't play in group speakers. 

Also I have set the nest hub to only one group speaker but The problem remains. 

Also I read that the Google won and the functionality has been restored. 

But the problem remains. 

I have tried all the things restarting resetting the device the modem etc. 

So I wonder can this be another issue not related with the Sonos problem? 

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Princesss]

Hi ired,

Thanks for posting in the Community.

I'm sorry to hear that you're running into issues with your speaker group settings. Can you please tell me a little more about what's going on-- are you getting any error message from the home app or its responses every time you try to play music using speaker group? Also, how many Google Nest speakers are involved in this?  Lastly, could you please file in-app or on device feedback so that our team can take a deeper look?

Looking forward to your response.

Best,

Princess

[ired]

Hi there,

I dont get an error message.

I have only one speaker group (called living room speakes) that contains my Home Max and my Nest Hub 2nd gen.

Both speakers has as a default music speaker the "living room speakers" group.

I used to say "Hey google, music" and the music starts playing in the group speakers.

Now it starts playing only in Home Μαχ and not in Nest hub although the respond is "ok playing music on living room speakers"

[ired]

Also I found out that if I restart Nest hub or delete the speaker group and re create them it is playing just fine...

But only for the first time, if I stop the music the next time I try to play music it will play only in Home max... 

[ed007]

Hey,

So my current speaker set-up, which worked and then didn't is the following :

Home Hub max, Panasonic SCGA 10k, (2) Polk Assist, Nest mini, and home mini. All speakers are connected to my google nest wifi pro 6e

Here is the issue :

If I stream to all speakers without having the home hub max in the only speaker group I have, all speakers in the group play. If I add the home hub max to the group, the two polk audio speakers don't play.

Looking at the home hub max list of speakers, it doesn't see the two polk audio speakers. All of the speakers are on the same network, although I have noticed the home hub max is on the 5ghz band.

My workaround is to stream to my group, then manually on the home hub max select it also to play the music...then they all play, no problem.

I have tried deleting home data. Uninstalling and reinstalling home. Deleting all speaker groups and a speaker at a time.  This seemed to get broken a few weeks ago, possibly during the Oct 7th update that the home app was updated.

Thanks for any suggestions. I really love the sound of the Polk speakers, but I may have to make the move to nest audio (worried they won't sound as good)...hoping google can fix this though.

Regards