Nest Max in a group with Chromecast Audio, NHM not playing

[Alexc4rter]

Hi,

Within the past week (as of 18th November 2023) my Nest Hub Max (NHM) no longer geta included in the devices playing in a group, so long as there is a Chromecast Audio (CA) device in the group. Removing the CA then allows the NHM to play in the group. Adding CA back in stops the NHM again. Seems there may have been a recent update that is making a NHM and CA? I can force the NMH to join the devices playing via the NHM display, clicking the currently playing group and selecting 'this device' from the list of devices on the group. This changes the device with control of the audio playing from my phone to the NHM though. 

Summary:

CA, NHM and Nest Mini in a group, only CA and Nest Mini play. 

NHM and Nest Mini in a group, both play.

[RussdaFuss · Accepted solution]

Hello,
that's a very interesting observation! Thank you for that.

I operate 5x Chromecast Audio, 3x Home Mini, 1x Home Speaker and 1x Nest Hub (1st Gen.) in a group.

For me, the Nest Hub no longer plays music in the group. But it hasn't occurred to me yet that it could be the Chromecast Audio devices!

What's also interesting is that Google Support doesn't seem to know this connection either!

[Princesss]

Hello folks,

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)

For more info about this, you may refer to this link: Create and manage speaker groups

Best,

Princess