Nest Hub Max no longer playing audio on speaker group

[rhammond84]

Nest Hub Max is no longer playing music on the speaker group it is in when asked. All other speakers in the speaker group play, and I can manually add the Hub Max back into the group whilst playing audio through the display interface. 

Am presuming this is an issue with latest preview version firmware/cast firmware?

System firmware version: 12.20230611.1.59

Cast firmware: 1.70.375332

[DuuveL]

I have the same issue

[aarontax]

I was just in NYC and went to the Google Store help desk.  They said they were unfamiliar with this issue and suggested I try resetting my devices 😊.  I responded that many of us have this issue and that would not solve it.   They had no useful response to that.  

[bpcs]

New info I discovered:

Google lost a recent lawsuit to Sonos over "room" creation features, so it would appear that Google has removed multiple speaker group creations as a response. Unfortunately, even those who are not enrolled for the latest firmware/ software, will eventually be crippled as well. Google has released a recent advice about no longer being able to create multiple speaker groups, yet in the Home App, it still allows you to attempt multiple speaker groups! Also, there is no advice in the App in the Speaker Group section advising you that only one speaker group is allowed.

Having said all this, I believe a second or more speaker group is allowed providing only non Google speakers are selected in that group. My Samsung Q990C Soundbar does "stick" as a (solitary) member of a second speaker group.

Or one can go into the devices on the Hub and manually add or remove speakers to create a "new" group "on the fly"... but that cannot be saved for future playing via voice command.

[bpcs]

Here is the Reddit link:

https://reddit.com/r/googlehome/s/NQqbjeZQhE

And the lawsuit info:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/26/23739273/google-sonos-smart-speaker-patent-lawsuit-ruling

[Princesss]

Hey folks,

Thanks for all the info you've shared.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having an issue with your Google Nest speakers. 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

[Traxtar944]

Just so the Google team working on this is aware, the restriction of devices to a single speaker group isn't considered an acceptable solution by any users of these products... Google has pulled back on core functionality that was integral in our decision making process for choosing a wireless multi-room home audio ecosystem. We all picked Google products, and it turns out that was the wrong choice. To say we're disappointed would be an understatement. Thanks for nothing.

[Chuckee]

are these limitations by design?  is there another lawsuit that's affecting the product?  if so, I. would appreciate a heads up so we can make informed buying decisions.

Very disappointing...

[Youckle]

It seems to be a result of loosing the Sonos lawsuit. And a decision that removing features is easier than buying a license to keep using the feature. 

someone must have come to the conclusion that this is the easy way/ path of least resistance 

[bpcs]

Google could buy Sonos without really noticing, so money can't be the issue. Maybe pride is. Or Google might reintroduce speaker groups with their own software that does not infringe on Sonos patents.

[rhammond84]

Irrespective of the ridiculousness of this, something's still not right. I can still create as many speaker groups as I like/receive no errors, but even if I remove them all, the only speaker group with the Nest Hub Max in it still does not play audio on the Nest Hub Max itself - I have to manually add it through the Hub interface. 

[bpcs]

If you do some reboots, clear Google Home cache etc, you will end up with your one and only allowed speaker group, including the Hub Max, all playing properly... you could also be on a software version inbetween the old pre Sonos lawsuit issue and the latest (I subscribe to the beta or pre release software downloads).

[rhammond84]

Speaker groups appear to now be limiting duplicate devices in multiple groups (attempts to create duplicates just disappear) ..... But the specific Nest Hub Max issue still present.

N. B. This is a Nest Hub Max in a group with Google Home Max and a Google Home Mini (V1) stereo pair. The latter two sets of devices are older and not restricted in speaker groups per the new restrictions if that's relavant to this bug. 

[Youckle]

And again shows a tech giant it's true colors. Why not get a license to a feature you've sold to us, when you just can remove a key feature in a firmware update. This is killing the connected / smarthome acceptance level, and willingness to buy new tech.

[t34wrj]

Please could you advise what Google's customers should do where the device in question is already only in one speaker group, as your post will not be applicable to these people. customers. 

[Bazinen]

Still doesn't work to add into a single group. 

I removed the only speak group i currently have and added 4 devices into it. All speakers are playing except the google nesthub v2.

The ones working in the group are the mini x2 and one jbl speaker.

[Ghoulish]

I have reset everything so many times I'm doing it in my sleep. I have just done it once again. Set every device back to factory default and turned them off. Deleted Home storage, deleted the devices and then removed Home and rebooted my phone. 

Reinstalled Home on my phone and set up. Turned each device on, one at a time starting with the hubs and set each one up again. Interestingly this time there was a software update available for the hubs so installed that and then set up each speaker again.

Created one single group with both hubs and four speakers in it. Results were exactly the same as previous. Casting to the group, music only came out of one hub and nothing from the rest of the devices. Removing both hubs from the group allowed music to play from all 4 remaining speakers without issue.

There is something fundamentally wrong with the hubs.

[bpcs]

Sorry to hear... mine did that after I did what you did, and then they settled down... all Speakers and Hubs playing properly in the one allowed group. Do you subscribe to pre release software? I see my Hubs are on versions newer than the "stable" versions.

[Elguezio]

I’m glad I’m not alone. This has been infuriating. I have tried everything I can think of and have the exact same problem. As far as I can tell this has nothing to do with the Sonos lawsuit as I only have on group. 

[Romulus101]

Same problem here: My speaker group has been working with Nest Hub in it for many months. Al of a sudden the Nest Hub no longer wants to participate in the group. All other speakers (Nest Audio, Max and Mini) work fine. Casting directly to the Hub also works. I tried recreating the Group adding the Hub as a single speaker first, that worked. I added the other speakers and low and behold they all played. It was short lived it only worked until I disconnected and casted to group again => Hub is not responding; all other speakers play fine.

Together with the popping issue:  Popping  I am also troubled by I can honestly say that Google Speakers are turning into a mess.

[rhammond84]

Yes, have run through exactly same experience - recreating group, group playing including Nest Hub Max on first try, then not playing on subsequent attempts.

Separately, I get the noticeable popping on a separate Nest Audio pair. 

[morgenman]

I have a similar, but slightly different problem here. 

If I put my Max in a speaker group with a Chromecast audio, the Max doesn't pick up the audio stream. 

If I make a group with minis, everything behaves as expected..

How bizzare?

[rhammond84]

Presuming you mean Nest Hub Max (vs Google Home Max), then expect this is exactly the same issue.

An incompatibility (/bug) between the Nest Hub Max on the latest cast firmware and older devices (like the Chromecast audio, or in my case V1 Google Home Minis and Google Home Max) that are on older versions of the cast firmware. 

[qlity]

Google should just pay Sonos to use the technology. Google has the resources and loyal customers that will stick by them and continue buying their products. Otherwise, as seen in this thread, customers will continue to get disappointed and choose other products that do what we need and want. Hope this is temporary and that Google has a bigger plan in the future.

[VillageMan]

I've having all the same problems as have been mentioning. Honestly, I'm happy to find this thread as I was going out of my mind trying to fix this issue. I have been in touch with Google support and after nearly a week did tell me that my Nest Hub Max is the reason that I cannot play my groups like I did. I had four different groups it was in and would allow music to play in different parts of my home, it was lovely. Sadly as some have said, had I know about these issues and  the lawsuits I may have kept the money in the bank until something was resolved or gone with someone else which I am now going to do. 

Anyone more senior to the what was called the higher tier technical help that wants to review this case please do as I'd love to have some answers. 

The case reference number is 9-4036000035188.  Strangely I have noticed that my system firmware version on my Nest Hub Max has been updated since this whole issue started but it's still exists.

System firmware version 12.20230611.1.67 Cast firmware 1.70.377722 

This has been a game changer for me and I think I'm gonna jump ship and be done with it. 

[rhammond84]

Yes, I received the newer preview firmware version a few weeks back. Same issue. 

I expect Google would argue that we're by choice on the Preview firmware version. The production version still seems to be version 11.

Unfortunately, there's no easy way to revert to production firmware other than, presumably, to factory reset the device (or leave the preview program and wait for Production versions to catch up). 

[bpcs]

Yes, being part of the software Preview Programme,  I was told by Google during signup that I would get an email letting me know of new features etc. I have never been informed once, never mind being given the option to install a preview software, or not. Anyways, sooner or later, everyone will be affected by the Sonos lawsuit... Sonos is a superior product, but also its a much higher price product.

[rhammond84]

It looks like this firmware is now rolled out to production (based on the support site link re: firmware versions) , so despite the numerous reports and feedback submitted.... no fix has been applied. 

[t34wrj]

I also have this issue and have raised a support ticket, i.e. that my Nest Hub Max only belongs to one speaker group yet when I cast to that speaker group it does not play on my Nest Hub Max, just the other two devices in the speaker group. I can cast to the Nest Hub Max on its own and that works fine.

[BeerNecessities]

I have some similar behavior with my nest hub.  It rarely works in speaker group.  I can add the speaker on the display but then I have no volume control with spotify.  It also works on its own.  Sometimes it shows spotify playing but with no sound.  You have to add it on the display.

[bpcs]

Th saga continues... Google will reinstate the multiple speaker groups "within 48 hours" after successful appeal against Sonos!!

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/10/23911491/google-home-grouping-features-now-available-sonos

[t34wrj]

Thanks for the update. Hopefully this will positively impact those who are struggling with only one speaker group (which shouldn't have been impacted by the changes made as a result of the litigation). 

[aarontax]

I've been having this very same issue for weeks. I've called Google multiple times. I've been promised a call back all of those times and no one ever gets back to me. I've been walked through the same scenarios as everybody else. Please factory reset the devices; please restart all of the devices, etc etc etc and nothing works. If Google knows this is an issue, at minimum they should train their workers to at least say they know it's a known issue and that they are working on it. That would be the least they can do, rather than implying that we are out of our collective minds. Come on Google. 

[Bannman]

Exactly the same thing happens to me with my Nest Hub 2 and my other speakers. I add them to a single group and even though I give the command for the entire group to play, the Nest Hub 2 always remains unplayed. Only the other speakers in the group play music. This goes beyond what happened with the Google v/s Sonos ruling, it is an extremely annoying operation. I've tried everything too.

[JPCoetzee]

I'm having exactly this problem too. I wonder if ANYONE has got this to work recently?

[CravenLovelace]

I am having the same problem as described by several above — I have (and have only ever had) one speaker group. Everything worked fine until a couple weeks ago when my Nest Hub stopped playing when I send music to the speaker group. Plays fine when I target just the Hub. Very disheartening to see how long this problem has been going on and remains unsolved. I can't say my experience as a Google Home and Wifi user has been one I could commend to my friends.

[aarontax]

I just dropped by the Google Store in Manhattan and explained the issue. They said I need to factory reset all the devices and create a new speaker group and that should solve it :).  

[Chuckee]

am I alone to say I don't believe this will work?... not for one second?...

[aarontax]

I'm willing to give it a go, but I somehow think I will waste half a day and nothing will change.  

[Chuckee]

hey Aarontax, did you try it?

[aarontax]

I'm traveling so I haven't had a chance to try it yet. But I suppose I will waste half a day when I get home and give it a go. I'll certainly keep you all posted when I do.