No longer able to stream music directly to Chromecast Audio or use it as a Default music speaker

[RetiredBy55]

Hello Community,

Up until a few days ago, I've been able to stream Spotify to my Chromecast Audio. This device has been working flawlessly but now something has changed.

Here's my configuration: Google Nest Audio (obtained as a replacement when Google Home Audio devices were bricked), 4 Google Home Minis and 1 Google Chromecast Audio. All devices are on the same mesh WiFi network and are reporting as connected. They're all running the latest cast firmware. They all respond to verbal commands correctly (not the Chromecast as it has no input.) I can stream music to them directly via a linked premium Spotify account. While streaming, I am able to transfer the audio from once device to another via the UI in Spotify. 

The output Chromecast Audio, which is named "Stereo", is connected to my home stereo and has been set as the Default music speaker for the Google Nest Audio. Until a few days ago, I've been able to invoke the Nest as follows: "Hey Google, play (insert request here)" to which it responds "Alright. Playing (request) on stereo." The result is the music request plays on the stereo.

Now when I attempt the same request, I get the same response but nothing happens. No music and no indication of music playing when looking at either the Nest or the Chromecast via the Google Home app on my Android device. If I attempt to force music to the Chromecast with "Hey Google, play (request) on stereo", the response is "Alright. Playing (request) on stereo" but nothing plays.

I've rebooted all the Google devices, reset the Chromecast to factory, and reset the network. Still no music.

What have I missed? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any help you might offer.

[RetiredBy55]

I know it's not the solution we want, but if you need to get your streaming back up (while we continue to wait for a fix??), I've had success with an old Bluetooth streaming adapter that takes Bluetooth as input and both RCA and 3.5mm jacks as outputs. Search the rainforest or the bay for "bluetooth audio adapter" for it and similar products.  The Nest or Mini can be directly paired with it and can use it as the default music speaker. Pros: inexpensive, 3rd party, . Cons: additional investment and limited by Bluetooth range. 

[DeaneG]

Thanks! I think I'll cut my time-losses and swap my two Chromecast Audio dongles out for Bluetooth receivers, or a new pair of Bluetooth speakers. Great solution and likely better supported.

[rsemedo]

The problem with Bluetooth is that you need to start the pairing again everytime you turn off, etc....

[RetiredBy55]

@rsemedo I agree. My solution is to leave the adapter on all the time. Not optimal, but it works. My CCA was on all the time as well.

[Justmurdoch]

There is also a loss of quality with Bluetooth.

[Justmurdoch]

I cannot wait for Apple’s Smart Home Display so that I can throw all these failed Google devices in the bin.

[lerroybrown]

an update on my youtube music journey.
So although everything seemed great i ask google mini to play foo fighters and it works.....but  its been a bit of a nightmare. (read my rant at bottom if interested)

Long story short I want spotify back. 

I have just been on the chat to google about youtube music and then after getting no answers went back to asking about fix for our chromecast audios,

I spoke to 2 different people, went through all the normal steps but one support told me CCA was end of life 😞 
I told him if google had a similar new product would happily buy again. Second support told me possible fix in future like others have said in this post, however could not say either way may not happen. So annoyed Ive been a google / android user for decades and this frustrates the hell out of me....

Rant about YTM (yes some of this is pretty niche)

• The app just plain isn't as good as Spotify.
• I actually just wanted a single plan like i did with Spotify and have multiple users have access (we dont need multiple streams happy to share), well you cant do that with YTM (youtube music) as its linked to you google account, signing in will give them access to your account on their device
• So I got a family account, my 12 year old daughter likes to use a bluetooth speaker outside with Spotify move her to YTM and she cant open the app, I have just been chatting to google and they don't let supervised accounts (child controlled) access the app at all. They have to have a full account 
• When I ask youtube music to play my playlists via nest mini it just plays some random playlist with maybe one of the words in the name like mine. i renamed my playlists but still had issues works one out of 5 times.
• I have buttons around the house that are connected to home assistant and would let me play a playlist directly on the chromecast audios. There is no official integration in home assistant and have been fighting with music assistant as google have removed or limited SDK access the token expires every 2 days which is pointless. I was able to make routines in google script editor and after spending all day trying to sort its now playing great via my buttons, it shouldn't be this hard though

[RetiredBy55]

Hi @leroybrown,

It appears that there is an integration capability amongst Home Assistant, Spotify and Google streaming devices, It involves HA's official Spotify integration, creating a Spotify developer account, enabling Google cast within HA, optionally installing Spotcast via HACS and writing the automation(s) to handle the requests. I'm just an hour or so into it, so I don't have it working yet. Hopefully by week end it will be up and running.

[lerroybrown]

Hi @RetiredBy55 yes thats what I had been using for quite some time. This stopped working when firmware rolled out and playng on CCA failed when selecting songs or playlists. I tried different groups etc. 

[RetiredBy55]

Hi @lerroybrown , So you're steps ahead of me. I'll not pursue if it isn't going to work.

I've been able to stream to my CCA for a while now - it's the only member in a music group. I wonder why others are unable to make it work?

[lerroybrown]

When you say stream? Do you mean ask google mini/nest to play a song? Or just open phone and cast

I can cast to pretty well so times takes a while, this is direct to CCA or a group.

Kinda making me want to factory reset everything and start from scratch with spotify just to test and make sure 

[RetiredBy55]

Yes - verbal command via Nest or Mini. Works all the time. Let me know if you want to compare firmware versions of any component.

[Catalinescu]

I know is not the perfect solution, but I wonder why you guys don’t use the audio group workaround? For me works allright, voice commands works for spotify. 

[lerroybrown]

As in setting CCA into a group by itself? 

This was how I always had it and didn't work. I tried removing and recreating new groups to no avail. 

But if yuu have another way would love to hear it.. Currently researching CCA replacements etc.. 

[Christoforadams]

This will work if you add a second google speaker to the group. You can always have one in the basement with volume set to zero..

[rsemedo]

Sorry, can you please give more details... 🙂

[Catalinescu]

You can search my other posts where I explained. CCA+ nest mini (or display) = audio group.  Then go to the nest mini and set the default audio output the new created group

[1Mdub]

I had tried this, but doesn’t work for me. When asking to play Spotify music on the Google Nest Hub, it says it will play on the Audio group (containing the CCA and the Nest Hub), but nothing plays. 

At least I can still manually cast to my devices/groups in Spotify…for now. 

[rsemedo]

Hi all,

I just tried the 'Group' option and it's working perfectly for me...I can ask Spotify (with voice) to 'play' tracks or playlist, etc and it works!! 🎉

My steps:

Created a 'Living Room Group' with only one 'Living Room Speaker' (Chromcast Audio)...then in my Kitchen Room Google Max Display, made the 'Living Room Group' the default speaker...and it's working perfectly so far....

[Justmurdoch]

Does the Spotify playlist / art load up automatically on your Max Display or do you have to swipe on the display to view same?

[rsemedo]

Need to swipe... 🤔

[Bugrock]

I could not get spotify to play to a group with the CC audio in the group either but out of frustration I tied again and got this very bizarre result....

If I give the group a name like "blue" and set the mini to use "blue" as the default speaker it doesn't work. If I say to the mini " OK google, play <song> " it replies saying "OK playing <song> from spotify on blue"  but nothing is played. 

Here is where it gets weird. If I say "hey google, play <song> on red" it works!!! In fact it works when I replace the word blue with any other word it works. If I say "hey google play <song> on marshmallow ( or cat or dog or anything) " google will reply "OK playing <song> from spotify on blue" it works!  So weird, as long as I create a group and put the CC audio in it and set that as the default speaker but ask google to play a song on a nonexistent device(any word other than the group name) it works. Absolutely baffled. I'm curious if this works for anyone else.