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Having trouble with Speaker groups? Read this first

kelanfromgoogle
Community Manager (Admin)
Community Manager (Admin)

Hi everyone, 

 

Thank you for continuing to notify us of the reliability issues you’re facing with your Speaker groups. I escalated these issues internally and the team is actively investigating a resolution. If you’re able, all feedback is appreciated! Please keep it coming by saying “OK Google, Send Feedback." Providing details, such as mentioning that the issue is with the "speaker group," is especially helpful.  As always, we appreciate your feedback and are working hard to alleviate the issues. 

 

Thank you for the patience,
Kelan

2 Recommended AnswerS

kelanfromgoogle
Community Manager (Admin)
Community Manager (Admin)

Hey folks,


Thank you for your continued patience while our team has been working to address the issues with Speaker group functionality. I want to give you all an update and confirm that a fix was identified which will address a specific problem where some devices, when acting as the group leader, cause an issue with audio not playing on other speakers that are part of the same group. However, you may experience that the main (or leader) device will still play the media as expected.

 

The following devices will cause this behavior when used as the group leader:

- Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
- Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
- Google Home (Fixed as part of firmware update 3.73)
- Google Home/Nest Hub (first-generation)
- Google Home/Nest Mini (first-generation) (Fixed as part of firmware update 3.73)
- Nest Audio (Fixed as part of firmware update 3.73)
- Nest Hub (second-generation)
- Nest Hub Max
- Nest Mini (second-generation) (Fixed as part of firmware update 3.73)
- Nest Wifi Point
- Pixel Tablet
- A small percentage of third-party speakers were also affected


Note: the issue must be fixed on the device that is the leader of the group in order for the other devices in the group to start playing consistently


The fixes are specific to each device type, and are dependent on upcoming scheduled update rollouts. We will update this post as the fixes begin rolling out for each device so you can test your own speaker groups.


There may be some devices that take longer to receive the update so if you’re still encountering issues, you can try these temporary workarounds:

Cast directly: if you’re trying to play audio in multiple rooms, cast the audio directly to the individual speakers.

Restart your devices: If you’re having trouble with your speaker group and are unsure which device is the group leader, try restarting all devices that are part of the speaker group. This can often resolve the issues.

 

As always, we deeply appreciate the feedback and your patience. If you are still running into issues with Speaker groups, please leave a comment below with clear descriptions of the behavior you're encountering. This feedback will help the team further investigate and mitigate anything else that might be causing this feature to not work as intended.


Thanks again, we're working diligently to get everything back to how it should be.

Kelan

View Recommended Answer in original post

kelanfromgoogle
Community Manager (Admin)
Community Manager (Admin)

Hi everyone,

The 3.73 firmware update contained fixes for some of the issues impacting Speaker groups functionality. 

 

These fixes are specific to the following device types:

  • Nest Audio
  • Nest Mini
  • Google Home Mini
  • Google Home

 

Speaker groups consisting of these devices should not experience disrupted playback. If you were experiencing issues with your Speaker groups, remove any devices from the group that do not appear in the above list and test them again. If after testing you still experience problems, please respond below with as much detail about your setup.

 

We appreciate your patience while the team works hard to investigate and identify fixes for the rest of impacted device types.


Thank you.

View Recommended Answer in original post

562 REPLIES 562

Uncle-Googs
Community Member

Swapped out my Google Wifi mesh for a Decco mesh.  I am noticing some improvements.  1.  My speakers are picking a close wifi node vs picking a node for no reason on the other side of the house.  2. speakers seems to show up faster on my cast list and not coming and going like a game of wack a mole.

 

Groups still busted - but they do show up consistently.

 

I have been able to start music on on stereo pair in YouTube music... Then go to the home app and add more speakers.  This seems consistent.

 

Still a mess.  Granted - its only been about 4 days since the switch.

I also switched over to Deco mesh last spring. In the Deco app under clients I was able to determine the "Group Leader" as the leader Uploads to the other speakers.

Uncle-Googs
Community Member

Anyone have issues with groups playing.  Are you using YouTube music?  Try a competitor product like iHeart.  Groups that wont play on YouTube music work with iHeart for me.

 

So far --- moving from Google/Nest wifi made my environment more stable... but Groups wont work.  Then switching form YouTube to iHeart - now groups work.  See the pattern here?  Just need to purge the Google eco system.

Gazer2740
Community Member

Hi there, I have read the speaker group threads (all older now) and am curious if there is any update on resolution?  Or am I just to give up and say this simple feature just doesn't work?

Specifics:  I have two nest audio speakers connected in a stereo pair and I have one nest mini generation 2.  Both work fine individually (I can cast audio from YouTube music directly to the nest speaker stereo pair or directly to the mini.)

However, when I tried to cast to my home group which comprises all three speakers (one speaker group and one mini) YouTube music will not play. I also cannot use voice commands to play music to the home group. 

Of course I have rebooted the speakers, of course I have removed and reset up the home group.

 

Are there any next steps? I actually ditched Sonos for this setup instead due to their disaster with their application. I was hoping Google stuff would work better. 

 

Help?

Ashepherdson
Platinum Product Expert
Platinum Product Expert

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7174267?hl=en-CA

 

Speaker groups work with select devices (list in linked URL above) , just have to set them up and you should be good to go.  I use them for YouTube music and TuneIn radio , works well 

Yep, my devices are on that list. And yep, I've set it up and re set it up and factory reset and set it up again, but it doesn't work.  It seema easy... there must be some sort of bug because it hasn't worked since I purchased it.  

II guess I really can't think of anything I could possibly be doing wrong here. Setup is straight forward. Any suggestions? 

And for what it's worth, it seems like I've read through tons of other posts that are having similar problems. There's something more here than "just set it up" 

I hate to tell you, but I actually switched to Sonos Era 100’s and 300’s.

Sonos has recently fixed their application, and everything seems to be working well. Google, on the other hand, has been disappointing. Their Home app has been broken since summer 2022.

I’ve sold all my Google devices, even though I took a loss. But now, I’m happy with my expensive Sonos system throughout my home. The sound quality is fantastic, especially when paired with speaker groups and Tidal.

Try iHeart radio (free) and see if your group works.  I had the same problem using youtube music... just curious if iHeart works for you.

 

I have since cancelled YouTube music.

Try iHeart.  See of group works then.

Sorry, but you made a mistake switching from Sonos. Google speaker groups have, apparently, unfixable issues and Google DOES NOT CARE. 

Crazy that there is no actual fix...and that YouTube music doesn't work.   

I am only slightly regretting my sonos change out. That company really pissed me off and I have no intention of working with them again. They're hardware was awesome but their software was always awful and their decision in May to make that change was just the worst.

JohnLand
Community Member

Posted yesterday about the forced update to 3.74.437716, don't know where that disappeared too? Spent couple hours doing our usual bag of tricks. This morning I went to adjust the volume on a speaker in the group Home/Favorites/Active Group and as of yesterday you could adjust individual speaker volume. Not anymore overnight it was removed.

I have come up with a plan to replace speakers first, then all nest cameras. I will never put my trust and thousands of dollars into one "NEST" ever again! 

Good plan.

 

Nest Wifi gutted last week... Canceled YouTube music... speakers are next... But I must say the above 2 things have really helped my situation...

Little over a month ago I signed up for Spotify and actually been able to play music for the entire day. Signed up for YTmusic back when it was google play music, 15 years! I like the no commercials on YT but then again waste a lot of time watching stupid junk. So I think this will be my last month with them.  

So like every place I've worked at the day shift fixes what the night shift screwed up. The individual volume control has reappeared.

And if your listening google, the 3.74 has the same problem that 3.73 had on the initial release. 3.74 will not play with older devices in the group. Kelan responded to my post about it last update.

They have a new Preview firmware version out 3.74.444789! Not sure but given the track record. Out the door to everyone Friday so we can be proudly show family and friends how we waste or time and money!

So they have shoved 3.74.444798 out! Should of realized it when I heard speakers rebooting on their own, then found a few speakers stammering/stuttering. But the dead give away was the spinning wheels on the nest cameras! What is wrong them?

FrustratedAust
Community Member

I have a variety of google home devices and for the last couple of months, none of them (Mini 1st gen, mini 2nd gen, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, Nest Audio) will process verbal volume commands.

Note, all are current firmware versions. 

 

It responds to Volume Up/Down - "Sorry something went wrong...when you are ready give it another try"

I have tried submitting feedback, and being infinitely patient but I am getting tired of all the issues.

 

Other issues include:

Not being able to play to a speaker group, despite this previously working. It tells me the speaker group is not found, while it appears to be valid in the speaker group list in the app.

It refuses to play "ABC radio National" - and instead plays an American station called the one. Despite previously not having any issues with this, and ABC being the Australian national broadcaster and one of the most popular stations in the country.

When I ask my Nest Hub Max to add an item for a shopping list, I often get told I don't have permission to add items, as I haven't setup personal results in the app....but I have for every single device!

When I ask what temperature is or ask for the weather forecast, it gives me the state capital city (Melbourne) rather than my home location (150kms away). When previously it would give me local results.

 

Perhaps I am naive thinking that the eco-system would get better over time, but instead it just seems like google doesn't care anymore about things working as promised.

I am also annoyed that Australians can't get access to alternative voices like the U.S.A does...why? We pay a huge premium for these devices yet, we are treated badly. 

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance you may be able to offer.

All the best

 

 

 

 

Except a case number from Google in a few moments.  This community is not gonna stand for this,.

 

I have most of the same problems.

 

Recent things that have helped me.

 

1.  Switch from Google/Nest WiFi to Deco.  Brought stability to devices showing up on my cast list.

 

2.  Stop using YouTube Music.  Magically iHeart radio plays fine for my groups.

 

3.  Gave up on voice commands... Just turns any moment I have to relax to music into a rage/screaming session.

 

Sorry... That first part - the support for.these devices seems to be dead.  Google has moved on.  No ticket, no support... This pinned thread is silent from Google.  They basically dont care.  Good luck.  Tell everyone you know that this ecosystem is trash .  About all we can do at this point .

The "NEST" has been abandoned, all that's left is bunch of Rotting Stinking products up a Tree!

Uncle-Googs
Community Member

Hey all.  Its been 2 weeks since dropping YouTube music for iHeart and gutting my Google Nest/Wifi for TP Link Deco Mesh. 

 

Things have been stable!

 

Thanks Google!

 

Google... You can close my support ticket.  Ha.  Haha.  Ha... right.  The mic is off...

hielevation
Community Member

Putting this out there for the team at Google on the slim chance that someone is still paying attention to this thread. Since these issues popped up and continue to be unresolved after months and months, I've decided to move away from all Google products from here on out. You won't catch me giving you another cent for hardware.

I have been a Pixel user since Pixel 3, but I moved to an iPhone last month.  I'm replacing my 4 Google Home / Nest Minis, 2 Chromecast Audio devices, and Google TV with products from companies that actually care about supporting their products and making them work. 

For nearly a decade, I was happy to hand over thousands of dollars for your products because they improved my life.

I'm done.

I hear you... Think of all the Google products we have sold for Google.  Showed to friends  and family - recommended to friends and family and neighbors.  No more.

 

Google you have lost your core community and sales force.  No more.

 

I highly recommend anyone using google/nest wifi - to move to Deco or Eero as a first step.  This move fixed 95% of my problems.  Will keep using my current gen speakers - but will be phasing to a different platform vs giving google more money.  Complete joke.  Maybe it was my legacy google/nest wifi all along since things work now??!?  Doesn't matter... I am moving on.

Tijhuisje
Community Member

I've also kicked every piece of **bleep**ty google hardware out of my house. Rip more than thousand dollars. Never buying hardware again from you guys. 

 

You guys make great software, but the combo of hardware and software just sucks. Your whole hardware sucks.

Mrjones
Community Member

why do my groups and speakers keep disappearing ?  YES. I have factory reset them and rebooted the router, they come and go and my groups are very inconsistent.  ideas ?

You using Google/Nest Wifi?  I had the same problem - until I moved to a different mesh system - Deco.

i have spectrum wifi and use the Google Home app. I have a Hub MAX, and then 4 Google Nest Audio speakers.  It used to work like a charm but then we moved and have new wifi and it does not work. I want to be ablke to say "hey google play downstairs" hey google play downstairs and back deck" etc. based ont he groups I set up.  what is a different Mesh system ?

JohnLand
Community Member

You say you moved, so I am assuming you are using a different router as in Spectrum's supplied router? I would contact them first and see if they can do something on their end. If one of your devices has poor signal it can cause headaches in speaker groups. A mesh system is used to add coverage where signals are weak. 

Gawd this forum format is trash.  Typed a long reply and its gone.

 

I have spectrum.  No wifi from them. Modem only with a wire coming out to plug one device to the Internet (lan).  From there I had my google wifi/nest mesh system.  That is what I removed.  I now use a Deco mesh system (XE70).  Since switching - everything has been working for over a month.  Note - all I do is cast from my phone - minimal voice.  This was completely rubbish prior to the switch to Deco.  Now -all my pairs and groups show up quickly.  Play consistently.  Everything is fine.  I also stopped using YouTube music - which may be a factor also.  Now I use iHeart and Spotify (free + not paid).  Prior to the switch to Deco In had tried iHeart and Spotify and had issues.  For me - I am pretty sure my issue was something with my wifi system..

Verizon Fios 1 Gigabit connection running directly into 3 node Deco BE63 as of May 2024. I live in a small ranch 1,000 square feet and all devices show strong strong signal in the Deco app. Granted I have 14 in a speaker group and they are a mix of devices from google and third party manufacture's. I could not get all to play nicely together and god forbid I wanted to check my 7 nest cameras it would send all speakers into stammering and stuttering + spinning wheel video feeds. 

So I found the group leader (audio Chromecast) and ran ethernet to it. It improved so I hard wired another audio cast, then a Max Speaker then 2 more audio cast. So my music listening has greatly improved and can check my camera feeds without pausing the music!

CarolynPoss
Community Member

I have a google home mini and we have google devices and tuya smart app to use for the non google devices as google home mini keeps having problems connecting.  So I have a husband with a deep Italian voice and my own Aussie voice and my three girls voices using this machine as they all have lights or devices in their rooms they switch on and off using the google home mini.  We set up our voices on the google home app when we first got the machine.  Now for some reason the google home mini doesn't like my voice (adult female) so we have set the voice up twice thinking this might be the problem.  When google declines my voice they say I'm sorry one or more devices are not set up.  My husband says the same thing immediatly and it works.  Google's other favourite message is 'I'm sorry I dont understand'.  So today in sheer frustration I said to my husband I'm angry with Google home and I want to get another machine because it's rude (obviously this is a computer problem but I still think it's rude).  So my husband in a falsetto which was absolutely ridiculous says okay google lights a hundred percent.  I told him I'm killing the google home machine if it works.  He said it again while looking in the air (the speaker was on the desk next to where he was standing).  What did the machine do?  Can you guess...Either I'm killing the google home mini or someone needs to fix this outrageous problem quickly.  Thankyou

I read your last line and had to chuckle. You don't actually expect Google to care about the frustrations of its users, do you? There's a reason why this thread is so long.

I had a power outage about a week ago, and now at least five of my Google devices randomly reboot between 4 PM and 5 PM, messing up any music I’m playing...barring I was able to even remotely get audio groups to work in the first place! 

I'll probably start dumping their products and look for better alternatives from companies that care about their customers. This is frustrating, especially considering how much money I spent buying all these speakers and displays.

Sorry about the mess you're dealing with, but you're not alone with these crappy products!

The fact that this is a pinned topic - like a badge of honor.... "read this first"...shows the level of care they have.

A single mini? Just put it in a charity box and move on. The bots here only wake up every few months.

mrxree
Community Member

This topic was opened by Google and then marked as answered in July. I don't think it's being monitored any longer. I created a new topic about this issue remaining unresolved and largely neglected, but I doubt it will matter. 

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Unresolved-Speaker-Groups-issues-and-to...

ColdNorthMenace
Community Member

Any updates on this? Speaker groups STILL have issues. Firmware is up to date, both speakers in same group. Freshly factory reset with a brand new speaker group, still only the main speaker plays via voice command. 

Who at google wants to give me the money back for the speakers *I* didn't break?

If you live in Australia, you can ask consumer affairs to make a request to Google to refund the money for all the speakers you purchased as the product is "not as advertised" when you originally purchased it, and not "fit for purpose"

 

A product has to match the features that were advertised when you purchased it.  So if features are removed or broken later by them updating firmware etc you're entitled to a refund. 

Also changing/ updating the terms after you purchased  is all well and good, but even if you agreed to those terms, if they go against what I've mentioned above the updated terms don't apply as consumers in Australia cannot sign away their consumer guarantee rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL): 

 

I just keep rebooting my router and devices.  Can get them to work ok. Funny that I can say “hey google play Chill 55 from Sirius on downstairs” and it does. But when I go to the Home app to adjust volume it says none of my speakers are connected.  

yaz_man
Community Member

Well, I'm giving up on Google. I'm taking advantage of Amazon black friday deals and am buying a few Amazon speakers. I will share what has been working for me with the Nest speakers: I have 2 stereo pairs, and 2 single speakers with a hub (display) in the kitchen. I give voice instructions to one of the single speakers to get started listening to music, radio, etc. Then I go to the Google Home app, and add the other speakers (I've given up on speaker groups). If there's a problem with getting any of the other speakers going, I unplug and plug them back in. This seems to work, especially for the stereo pairs. I've even thought of connecting them to smart plugs, and scheduling a power cycle in the middle of the night. Since I don't subscribe to any music services other than Amazon Prime, which I can't stream over Google speakers, I'm moving to Amazon devices. Goodbye Google.

Oh, and I often have to kill and restart the Google Home app as well. Good luck folks.

Macialek
Community Member

Two Nest speakers still do not want to work in stereo group. JBL authentics 500 does not work inside group.  Just honestly tell if you are really going to fix that or your soft is a crap and I should switch to Sonos.