Chromecast with Google TV Android 14 Update Breaks Sound Output Multi Channel PCM Stereo Switching

[nevmiku]

Issue: My Chromecast with Google TV 4K no longer switches back from surround sound to digital stereo and is stuck in multi-channel PCM after playing surround sound content (such as Netflix).

Expected behaviour: The Chromecast with Google TV 4K should switch to the expected surround sound format when viewing surround sound content and switch back to stereo for stereo content.

Actual behaviour: The Chromecast with Google TV 4K starts off outputting stereo, and expectedly switch to surround sound audio format when playing surround sound content but fails to switch back to stereo output (Digital Stereo), instead opting for multi-channel PCM and outputting only left and right channels through said multi-channel PCM.

The problem: Because my AVR (Arcam AVR550) thinks it is already receiving a surround sound signal (multi-channel PCM) it will not try to upmix the signal to all available channels. All I can hear is sound from the left and right channel with no option to upmix them.

Workaround: Restarting the device will get it to output stereo sound again. If I don't play surround sound content (only stereo), the device will always output Digital Stereo. But as soon as I play surround sound content, the device will revert to multi-channel PCM after the content is over even when I start playing back stereo content such as YouTube.

The problem first appeared when the Chromecast with Google TV 4K updated to Android 14. Expected behaviour was observed on Android 12.

[virnab]

Hi nevmiku,

Thanks for reaching out to our community.

I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble with the audio on your Chromecast with Google TV (4K) after the Android 14 update. The audio is getting stuck in multi-channel PCM and isn't switching back to stereo like it should, which is affecting how your AVR upmixes the sound. I understand how concerning this is and appreciate you providing a detailed description of the inconvenience and the troubleshooting steps you've already taken. Don’t worry, help is here.

To get started, please provide more information by answering these questions: 

• When did the issue start?
• Were there any changes in your Chromecast setup?
• What is the OS build of your Chromecast? This information is available on your TV screen by navigating to the upper-right corner, selecting your profile, choosing Settings, tapping System, and then selecting About and Android TV OS Build.
• What is the make and model of your TV set?
• When does the issue occur? Does it happen after the device has been idle for a period of time?
• Besides Netflix, what app are you using when the issue occurs? Does the issue happen only on this app, or does it occur on other apps as well?
• What content were you playing when the issue occurred?
• Is your Chromecast connected through WiFi or Ethernet?
• Do you have any other streaming devices (e.g., Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV)? If so, does the same issue occur on those devices?
• Is surround sound enabled in the Chromecast settings? Navigate to the upper-right corner, select your profile, choose All settings, tap Settings, select Display & Sound, and then Advanced sound settings.

Please keep me posted.

Best regards,

Virna

[Simonsifi]

Vima this only happened since the Android update 2-3 months ago in 2025, nothing else has changed in my setup and it worked fine before the update. This is a software issue on the GCC-GTV

[nevmiku]

• The issue started as soon as my device was updated to Android 14.
• There were no changes to my setup.
• Android TV OS Build UTTC.241218.008.H1.13427172
• My TV is a Samsung S95B 65" QD-OLED.
• The issue can be caused by surround sound sources such as Netflix.
• The issue can be caused by other apps as well such as Kodi when playing content with surround sound.
• Any surround sound sources, so mainly movies.
• The device is connected via Ethernet.
• No other streaming devices.
• Surround sound is enabled with Auto format selected.

[Simonsifi]

I have the same problem since the Android update, I have a Denon AVR. There is clearly an audio sync issue over HDMI to the Denon AVR, it worked before the Android update mostly fine as as expected. It's really annoying as 50% of the time when I play something in Netflix there is no audio and sometimes the video is the wrong resolution and framerate too. If I switched the AVR inputs to something else and then back it forces a resync of audio + video and usually sorts it. This is one of those things because it happens so often now is extremely annoying.

[fvztdk]

I have the exact same problem with a pionner receiver. It was driving mad thinking my receiver had a problem

[gvperkins]

Im seeing the same issue on my Denon reciver.

[virnab]

Hi everyone,

I appreciate your patience while I looked into this. Thank you, nevmiku, for providing those details. Your input is valuable and will help with our research as we work toward a solution.

While we continue to fix this issue, your feedback is valuable. To submit your feedback, please use the Google Home app and follow the instructions provided in this Google Help Center article: Share feedback about Google Nest.

Feel free to keep us posted if you have more questions.

Best regards,

Virna

[Jazzer]

I'm facing the same problem after updating my CCwGTV to Android 14. My AV receiver is Denon X3800h.

[virnab]

Hi Jazzer,

I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Please submit your feedback through the Google Home app. You can find the instructions in this Google Help Center article: Share feedback about Google Nest.

Feel free to keep us posted if you have more questions.

Best regards,

Virna

[Bscabl]

Same issue Yamaha receiver