Music in Routines

[dpd]

Why have routines stopped working properly? I have used a number of routines as reminders for several years. I always use the same specific media track as an action because it starts quietly, so isn't intrusive if I'm in a virtual meeting at the time, but becomes loud enough that I don't miss the reminder. This week, the Hub Max has played anything except the requested media track. On Monday, it played an obscure cover version of the original track. Since then, it has played other tracks by the artist of the requested track or something entirely random. Why?     

[lusvin]

Hi @dpd,

Thank you for reaching out to the community. I'm truly sorry to hear that you're having a hard time with the music in your speakers' routines. Don't worry; let's work together to solve this concern.

To gather more information and find the best solution, please answer the following questions:

• When did you notice the routine running or unexpected device behavior?
• Does the History view in the Home app show that a routine ran?
• Is this a personal or household routine?
• What starters do you have configured for the routine?
• Is the device part of multiple routines?

Please let me know how it goes.

Best regards,

Lusvin.

[dpd]

Hello Lusvin.

When did you notice the routine running or unexpected device behavior?
The routine stopped playing specified media on Monday 30 September 2024

Does the History view in the Home app show that a routine ran?
History confirms that routine ran at specified time

Is this a personal or household routine?
Personal

What starters do you have configured for the routine?
'When the time is'

Is the device part of multiple routines?
Yes

Thanks.

[virnab]

Hi dpd,

Thank you for your prompt response and the detailed information you've shared. It's been helpful in understanding your situation.

Regarding your question about why your routines have stopped working, there are several potential causes, including network issues, device compatibility, power problems, automation setup errors, Hub Max software issues, or third-party app conflicts.

Based on the information you provided, I suggest these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check the History view event from Step 1; it should indicate why a routine ran (example: due to inactivity or because a device changed state).
2. In the Routine Editor view, you can review your list of starters and conditions.
3. Since your device is involved in multiple routines, check for potential dependencies. One routine's action might trigger another, creating a chain effect. For example, if you have Routine A play music on Kitchen Display and Routine B has a starter to start when Kitchen Display plays media.

If the inconvenience persists after adjusting the automation settings, please let me know so we can explore other troubleshooting options.

Best regards,

Virna.

[dpd]

Hello Virna.

Thank you for trying to help but none of your suggestions apply.

1. Check the History view event from Step 1; it should indicate why a routine ran (example: due to inactivity or because a device changed state).
History confirms routine ran as expected at the correct time. Only the media was incorrect

2. In the Routine Editor view, you can review your list of starters and conditions.
Nothing has changed in the routine that has worked as expected for several years. The correct media is still named in the routine but the assistant plays something different

3. Since your device is involved in multiple routines, check for potential dependencies. One routine's action might trigger another, creating a chain effect. For example, if you have Routine A play music on Kitchen Display and Routine B has a starter to start when Kitchen Display plays media.
There are no conflicts or dependencies.

The routine has worked perfectly for years and has not changed in any way but the assistant now is incapable of playing the correct media.

This is yet another example of google assistant suddenly failing no reason.

Thanks.

[dpd]

Another day, another google assistant failure. This time the assistant no longer recognises a playlist that it has played literally hundreds of time before without any issue. The private playlist comprises thirty-eight uploaded music tracks and has played quite happily in response to 'hey google, play (name of playlist)' since 2022. The problem started last night, when the usual command prompted the usual assistant response but instead of the playlist the device played 'I had some help' by Post Malone. There is nothing to connect the name or content of my playlist with Post Malone or the song. The same has happened all day today. I can access the playlist by specifying 'playlist' in the command, rather than just naming the playlist but the assistant responds 'alright, playing a YouTube music playlist called (name of playlist)', as if the assistant doesn't recognize it as my playlist anymore. I know it's not a big issue to add 'playlist' to the end of the command but why the sudden change? This kind of thing is happening with increasing frequency - basic assistant functions just don't work as well as previously.

[virnab]

Hi dpd, 

Thank you for sharing the results of your automation settings adjustments. I appreciate the time you took to provide such detailed information.

Based on your findings, I recommend the following troubleshooting steps:

1.  Delete the malfunctioning routine. 

• Open the Google Home app.
• Tap “Automations.”
• Select the routine you want to delete.
• Tap Delete, then select the option “Delete routine.”

Home & Away Routines can't be deleted. However, you can turn off presence sensing and remove all device actions. Learn how to change Home & Away Routines settings.

2.  Reboot your Google Nest Hub Max. 

There are two ways to reboot your device, and the instructions will vary depending on the mobile device you used for setup. You can find detailed instructions in the article Reboot Google Home.

These troubleshooting steps may help resolve the second issue you reported this morning regarding playlist recognition.

3.  Create again your routine after rebooting your Google Nest Hub Max.

To get results like calendar events and commute info, you must turn on personal results.

• Open the Google Home app.
• Tap Automations, then select the option "Add,"  then select “Personal.”
• To name your routine, tap Untitled. If you add a voice starter before you name your routine, the voice starter becomes the name.
• Add the starters and actions you want. If your routine is set to start automatically and includes actions with audio, specify the device you want the audio to play on. At the bottom, tap Device for audio, select a device, and tap Save.
• Tap Save.

You can find your new routine in the list under "Personal Routines." This list also includes some ready-made routines that you can edit.

If you can't create or run routines, you may need to change the language of your phone to one that is supported for your region.

"I'm home" and "Leaving home" are both ready-made personal routines that don't use presence sensing. To create household routines that start when everyone's away or someone comes home, set up Home & Away Routines.

Please let me know if these instructions are useful. I will be looking forward to your answer.

Best regards,

Virna

[dpd]

Hello Virna.

This sounds very much like ‘turn it off and back on again’ advice. Is that what we have to expect from google assistant and devices, that they just don’t work reliably and users have to delete, reboot and start again every few days?

Dorian

[dpd]

Hello Virna.

This reply relates to the original post ‘What is wrong with google assistant’, which you merged with this post yesterday, even though they relate to different issues.

Today google assistant is incapable of playing ANY of my YouTube private playlists. Whichever playlist is requested, the assistant says ‘Got it, check out this …’ and plays something random that has nothing to do with the requested playlist.

I’m using the same default music app, same premium subscription and same playlists as always but the assistant just doesn’t recognise the command.

I’ve just created a new playlist and copied everything from an existing playlist. The new playlist has the same name as the original but with two additional words. When I request the new playlist by name, the assistant responds ‘Sure, playing your YouTube music playlist called…’ then names and plays the original playlist!!! It still won’t play the original playlist if requested by its own name or any other playlist.

Has google assistant had a breakdown?

Dorian

[dpd]

Hello Virna.

Why have you merged two posts into one thread when they deal with separate issues? This post ‘Music in Routines’ is about routines failing to run correctly. The post that you have merged was titled ‘What is wrong with google assistant?’ and concerns the assistant’s inability to play the correct playlist on command.

Both issues concern failures by google assistant but malfunctioning routines and failures to execute voice commands are not the same.

It’s very difficult to follow often lengthy suggestions for resolving problems when you merge two separate issues into one thread.

The fact that your advice in both cases seems to be ‘switch it off and back on again’ is irrelevant because that appears to be the advice on nearly all comments.

Dorian

[virnab]

Hi dpd,

I apologize for the inconveniences you've experienced with your Google Assistant since your routine has stopped working correctly and it's not recognizing your playlist using the voice commands.

We highly recommend taking the following steps, such as: 

Delete the malfunctioning routine, 
reboot your Google Nest Hub Max 
Create again your routine after rebooting your Google Nest Hub Max.

Let's start with the simpler options and gradually move to more advanced steps if necessary.
 
Thank you for your attention. I will be looking forward to your response.

Best regards,
Virna

[dpd]

Hello. Thank you for persisting with your advice but it's all just variations of 'switch it off and back on again'. Do you know why a routine that has worked perfectly for several years still starts correctly but refuses to play the specified media?

[dpd]

Right. I'm not sure why community specialists don't appear to know the answer but I've resolved the issue of routines not playing the specified media. The command in the action needs to be more specific than just naming the song and artist. In the box 'what music would you like to play?, I changed the command from '(name of song) by (artist)' to 'play the song (name of song) by (name of artist)'.

Anyone else having trouble with routines no longer playing the specified media should try using the command 'play the song (name of song) by (name of artist)'.

[dpd]

Anyone having trouble with routines no longer playing the specified media should try using the command 'play the song (name of song) by (name of artist)'.