Having trouble with Speaker groups? Read this first

[kelanfromgoogle]

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

[kelanfromgoogle · Accepted solution]

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

[hielevation]

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.

[Uncle-Googs]

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]

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]

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 ?

[Uncle-Googs]

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

[Mrjones]

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]

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. 

[Uncle-Googs]

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..

[JohnLand]

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]

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

[ski22]

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!

[Uncle-Googs]

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

[WhyWhy99]

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

[mrxree]

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]

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?

[ArtyMarty]

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): 

[Mrjones]

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]

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]

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.

[HansWSchulze]

Google Nest 3.74.435255 casting spotify to nvidia shield is garbled for a year now. Each playing locally no problem. If there is some debug or info you need or fix known for target I can help

[Uncle-Googs]

Read this first...

By the way - the mic is off... (on google support)

[yenot6691]

Google ecosystem has always been shoddy. Works for a bit then stops working due to some issues with Google. I had to purchase alexa speakers as I dont trust google to operate correctly especially at home.  My neighbour called me when I was out saying my music was too loud I was t even home but a home max speaker decided to operate on its

own.  Now I can't get stereo pairing to work or play a home group so I use Alexa to play multiple speakers whilst Google decide how to deal with thier Shenanigans

[Uncle-Googs]

Im 1.5 months with no issues - after ditching mesh Google Wifi for TP-Link mesh Deco.

Any chance you are on Google mesh Nest/Wifi?

[yenot6691]

I'm using the same router I've always used.  I've not changed a thing.

[Uncle-Googs]

Is that same router - Google wifi/nest?

I am just trying to see if people with problems are on Google mesh Wifi. 

Switching to a different system (Deco) - made everything work for me.  Which makes me think that was the issue.

[carlalaw]

I am new to this forum. I have both a google nest and a google hub. I have created a speaker group but when I am playing spotify, it will NOT play on both speakers even though the speaker group is selected. How can I fix this - it is extremely frustrating as this is the reason why I have purchased an additional speaker.

[Michel_281]

Tap once on the Resumé touch button on the primary speaker. Does that work? If so, welcome to the sound cuts Club! 

[scragin]

Just give up and reset to factory, reattach to app and re-pair and do it over and over because Google doesn't care.

[carlalaw]

Thanks - disappointing.  I thought I was doing a good thing purchasing a google speaker and hub.  should've gone with Alexa!!!

[Zedd-Lepplin]

I do not have a speaker group, only a Nest Hub.  It plays Spotify normally for a few tracks and then continues visually, but mutes volume!  Instructing to 'Skip Track' or 'Next Track' and the next track plays normally for a few tracks and then it happens again.  No problem with Spotify on any other devices.

[Gazer2740]

Hello.  I have three Google Nest speakers. Two are in a stereo pair and one is in another location as a single speaker.   If I use a voice command and ask Google to play music to the home group, this works fine. When I try to cast music from YouTube music to the home group the app will not play music. In fact, I cannot even press play on the app. What do you know about this issue?

I can successfully cast music to the stereo pair or the single speaker separately, I just cannot cast to the home group.

[scragin]

What we know is that Google doesn't care. Some have had luck replacing their router.

[Gazer2740]

So it's a known issue?  Google's own speaker doesn't work with Google's streaming service?  WOW.

[Uncle-Googs]

Getting Google to provide any support to their hardware and services is about easy following a single thread/topic in this "forum". 

A complete jumbled up mess.

I have movies on google tv/play movies/YouTube TV/YouTube --- whatever the name of the week is - that constantly give me license issues offline.  Kid pulls down movies.... 2 days later - license error.

It a complete cluster.

[Piet-S]

Since a few weeks I have two Google Nest Audio Speakers paired in a stereo setting. When I stream music (TuneIn, Spotify etc.) and I asked the time, the volume goes to minimum (nearly to zero) and it returns NOT to the normal volume.

What have I tried to solve this little problem; 1. Reset 2. Factory Reset with no results.

The distance to the router is 0.5 mtr.

I have discovered that when I switch the mic-switch at the backside of the first speaker (switch off and on), the volume is back on the normal level.

The problem is only bij asking time, weather/myagenda etc.:no problem.

Do you have a solution?

Grtz.

Piet

[Michel_281]

H(o)i Piet,

I experience the very same phenomenon. There is nothing that we can do about this. 

I also set up two Google Nest Audio speakers in stereo mode and noticed that, randomly, this sound cut occurs when I tried to listen to news resources, to TuneIn, play music from YouTube Premium or from any other resource.

All thinkable attempts have been attempted to resolve this. All I can do to restore normal sound output is to tap on the Stop/Resumé touch button on the primary speaker.

I already have sent feedback to Google long time ago, but, until now, despite several firmware pushes, no improvement in this regard.

Michel 

[RussdaFuss]

Same behavior here! No hope that Google will change anything. The entire system is and remains complete junk. In my case since September 2023!

[Piet-S]

Hi Michel,

The stop/resume button, I didn't know untill now, is a solution! (I found out with the switch on the backside) Thanks for your reply!

Grtz.

Piet

[Michel_281]

Until present day still not permanently fixed! 

Firmware 3.74.437716 regression bug. Reintroduced the issue!! 

Firmware 3.73.429109 was OK. Seemingly fixed. 

Firmware 3.73.420420 Issue introduced itself. 

[Piet-S]

That's weird....introducing this issue back again, Well, I hope Google will find a solution for this (small) problem....