Unable to change channels on YouTube TV with Google nest mini

[Ryan_1]

Using the Google home app, Chromecast, and the Google nest mini, I am unable to change channels on YouTube TV. I can control everything else with voice except for changing channels on YouTube TV.

[JillG]

Hi @Ryan_1 

I've noticed some other users reporting the same and have escalated to the Google Assistant Community managers. 

They are currently investigating.

[Ryan_1]

I also noticed that I cannot watch a show on Netflix by saying "hey Google, watch [specific movie] on Netflix on my TV". I can open Netflix with my voice but cannot start a show.

This is the same for YouTube. I say, "hey Google, watch [specific YouTube channel] on YouTube on my TV".

[Kimy]

Hi folks,

Thanks for posting here in the Google Nest Community. I’m sorry for the trouble, and this is not the experience that we wanted you to have. This has been endorsed to the right team and is currently under investigation. We’ll keep you posted on this.

Thanks,

Kimy

[wkrasner]

I am experiencing the following.  I give a command such as:  "ok google play 6ABC from youtube tv on bedroom TV"   GA responds ok playing 6abc from youtube tv on bedroom TV.  The  streaming does not start and several seconds later its reports "I dont understand".  This occurs on all my nest google TV chromecast devices.  Very frustrating.  

[Kimy]

Hi wkrasner,

Thanks for posting here. Based on your description, it seems that the situation you have is the actual bug itself. If you can check the links that I shared here in this thread, you’ll notice the exact situation that you are experiencing, just like other users. The bug is about the Google Assistant function, and their team is already aware of it and is investigating it. We hope that this gets resolved as soon as possible. We’ll keep you posted.

Thanks,

Kimy

[Gatornut]

Same for me. If I say “hey Google change to NBC” my nest responds “OK playing NBC from YouTube TV on living room TV.” Then after delay it says  “Sorry I didn’t understand” We use this feature for a handicap family member to control the tv so it’s very important for us. 

[jzlako2001]

 I'm having the same issue with my various Google devices. I am also disabled and I rely on this for my television and other devices. Unable to change channels, but TV turns on, and I can adjust the volume, and I can turn off, but no changing of channels! It's very frustrating, the device was working flawlessly before.

[Kimy]

Hi jzlako2001,

We hear you. The Google Assistant team is already aware of this, and an investigation is ongoing. We’ll keep you posted on this. Again, we’re truly sorry for this.

Sincerely,

Kimy

[jzlako2001]

Well to  flesh things out, I'll let you know that I have 2 Google HD Chromecast devices running all the latest updates, and a 2021 Sony Bravia KD-50X85J Smart TV running the latest Google TV software and all updates. The problem occurs across all devices.

[Frustrated9394]

3 months later and the issue has not been addressed. Typical canned response from Google tech that they are trained to reply. 

[Ks891]

Chiming in to say I'm having the exact same problem.

[Kimy]

Hi folks,

Thanks for posting. The bug is with the Google Assistant; devices such as Chromecast with Google TV, Nest speakers and displays, etc. that have it built-in were affected. It was recognized in the Google Assistant Help Community and has been trending on this thread: Google home mini no longer capable of changing TV channels, used to work just fine.

Different teams (Chromecast, Nest speakers and displays, etc.) have already reached out to the Google Assistant team, and a bug ticket has already been created. They are currently investigating this. We’re sorry for the inconvenience, but we’ll wait for their update on this and hopefully get it resolved as soon as possible.

Outside of the Google Assistant issue, your devices should be fine with their functions. Kindly stay tuned for updates related to the bug.

Thanks,

Kimy

[jzlako2001]

Thanks for getting back to us.  It helps to know that our concerns are being taken seriously.  I am a C4 quad and this technology is crucial to me and many in the disabled community.  Please pass on to the engineers that their efforts are appreciated.  I know myself, and many in the disabled community , have made significant investments in Google technology.  When it all works it is life-changing technology.  Thanks,  Jz

[Ryan_1]

I too am a C1/C2 quad and this is critical for my activities of daily living.

[Kimy]

Hi there,

We appreciate you understanding the situation. We hope that the Google Assistant team gets this fixed as soon as possible. The convenience of Google Assistant functions, especially for people with disabilities, is an urgent matter here. We’ll keep you posted.

Sincerely,

Kimy

[trickywoo2]

Just chiming in here to say I have the exact same problem that develped late October early November 2023. I can tell the google assistant to turn on or off the Chromecast TV but it will no longer change a channel as directed. The assistant repeats back the ask: "Hey google,  tune to Smithsonian channel on YouTubeTv"   it replies "Ok, tuning to Smithsonian Channel on YouTubeTV on living room TV".....several seconds pass, nothing happens on the TV and then the assistant says "Sorry I don't understand". It's happening across all devices (Samsung TVs). 

[Kimy]

Hi trickywoo2,

Thanks for posting here. Kindly check the links that I previously shared here in this thread. Right now, we’re all waiting for the Google Assistant team, which is currently working on this bug. We’ll keep you posted.

Regards,

Kimy

[TerryP1963]

I have the same issue. 

I have a lot invested in home automation from lights to window blinds and TV. To run the house from different rooms: 2 Displays, 2 Minis, 1 Main Speaker, Youtube TV, and cloud storage. 

So frustrated with Google Support and Google not caring about their customers, thinking of dropping subscriptions and replacing Speakers and Displays with Alexia. Switch to Amazon Cloud storage and equivalent to Google TV and Chromecast (Guess that is fire stick)

[Kimy]

Hi TerryP1963,

We hear you. I’m sorry for the trouble, and this is not the experience that we wanted you to have. We are still waiting for the Google Assistant team to resolve this bug.

We’ll keep you posted.

Sincerely,

Kimy

[wkrasner]

I agree with Terryp.  Google is demonstrating their lack of hearing the customer.  I too have a  lot invested in google nest and home products and was an early adopter. I also run amazon parallel to google because of missteps like this.  It time for google to hear the voice of the customer and not the engineers. They need to feel the vibration.  I am very close to dumping google entirely and selling my stock.  It is now been 3 weeks since this engineering "faux pas" has occurred .  

[Kimy]

Hi folks,

I'm sorry if this makes you feel that you've ridden the wrong merry-go-round. We’re still waiting for an update, but rest assured that our Google Assistant team is doing their best to resolve this once and for all. We’ll keep you posted.

Warmly,

Kimy

[Ks891]

Was there a new release recently?  It appears the issue is resolved as of this am.

[TerryP1963]

Yes this seems to be fixed now.

[TerryP1963]

Spoke too soon, I just checked and it stopped working again 😞

[TerryP1963]

Just checked and it Stopped working again 😞

[MX5Racer]

Mine work this morning too... Yippie

[MX5Racer]

• Stopped for me too %^$#@%^$#

[Ks891]

Well, that was premature celebration. It's now broken again for me

[jzlako2001]

Still broken for me using Google Nest & Assistant to change channels. No celebration here.

[jzlako2001]

I'd really like to have this working. For the disabled it's the only game in town.  He used to work really well with  My YouTube TV service.

[wkrasner]

On Thursday it worked flawlessly for a few hours, now is fubar again. 

[TerryP1963]

Can we please get an update on when this will be fixed. Nothing so ambiguous as what @Kimy wote to me on Monday. "We are still waiting for the Google Assistant team to resolve this bug.". Who is working on this asn when is it estimated to be fixed!!

[trickywoo2]

Still broken for me. Assiatant will not change YTTV  channel. Repeats command to change channel then no action and "sorry I don't understand" even though Assiatant confirmed it heard the command and repeated it back!

[Ryan_1]

It looks like the issue has been fixed again. Hopefully, permanently. Thank you.

[jzlako2001]

Yes… It looks like it is been fixed for me as well. It's working with my  Sony  Bravia Google  TV and all of my Google HD TV adapters. It seems like channels are changing smoothly and relatively crisply.  Hopefully, we are all good to go! 

Thanks, Jz

[Kimy · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone,

The work ticket for the bug is still not closed, which means it’s still being worked on or hasn't reached its completion. For those that are experiencing it up and down, I suggest you put in the details as you send feedback. For those who already have it working, I suggest you observe and send feedback if something comes up.

I hope this gets resolved soon. We’re almost there, folks.

Thanks,

Kimy

[Ryan_1]

Good to know. Thank you.

[Kimy]

Hi Ryan_1,

You’re most welcome. I think it’s almost there. Let’s give it a few more days.

Cheers,

Kimy

[Kimy]

Hi folks,

Is anyone still experiencing this issue? We would like to know before we send the report upon completion of the bug ticket.

We look forward to your responses.

Cheers,

Kimy