Weird Chromecast bug related to Bluetooth

[Gabekawa]

I have JBL Bluetooth earphones that were never connected to the Chromecast. One thing Chromecast does that is annoying is to pop up a window asking me if I want to connect them to it if they're available (not connected to another device). Not a big deal, just annoying, the pop-up is half of the TV screen. The other thing it does, while the earphones are linked to another device Chromecast keeps reporting the power level.

It doesn't make sense even if they are linked. Maybe, and it should be an option, a warning if the power level is below a set threshold. But reporting the power level of a device that it's not under its authority is ridiculous.

[nerys]

Hi Gabekawa ,

Thanks for posting in the community! 

I understand it can be frustrating when you want to use your Chromecast, but it shows a pop-up about the battery level of your JBL headphones. No worries; I'm here to help! Just to get started, I have a couple of questions that will help me better understand this situation.

• What model of cellphone do you use with your Google Home app?
• What model of Chromecast do you have?
• Is the Chromecast connected to your cellphone or another device?

If you have more questions for me, feel free to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist further.

Best regards,

Nery.

[Gabekawa]

Hi, Nery

Answering your questions.

I don't use a cellphone with my Chromecast

It's a Chromecast 4th Generation 4K. It came with the remote, that's why I didn't connect it to a cellphone.

I guess you're asking besides the TV. The only device connected to it is the remote.

The battery popup is the small problem. It shows up, it is small, and it goes away on its own. The connection popup is the big problem. It shows up, takes half of the screen, and it never goes away. I have to cancel with the remote.

I don't know if it did it all the time. It is possible that it started after I used the JBLs with Chromecast for the first time. I rarely do but I'm sure I did a couple of times.

I'll check it out. Maybe if I ask Chromecast to forget about the JBLs (is it possible to do that?) it will stop. It's still a bug in my opinion.

[nerys]

Hi Gabekawa ,

Thanks for the reply and for sharing this useful information! 

Since you don't use your Chromecast with your cellphone, We'll need to troubleshoot in a different way. I have an idea about what could be causing this situation. Can you please confirm the following?

• Did you set up your Chromecast using the Google Home app?
• Do you have an Android device? If so, did you connect your headphones to that device?
• Are you using the same Gmail account on both your Chromecast and your phone?

Also, about the command, you can try one that might disconnect the JBL headphones. For example: "Hey Google, disconnect my JBL headphones from my Chromecast" or "Hey Google, unpair my headphones."

I hope this helps! If you have more questions for me, feel free to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist further!

Best regards,

Nery.

[Gabekawa]

I think I found a solution to the problem. At least part of it. There's an option to block the notifications of nearby devices. I found that while unpairing my headphones...

I rather use the menu. Talking to "devices" is too weird for me.

It seems to work well. I disconnected the headphones from my phone and turned off the Bluetooth interface to ensure that they stayed available. Chromecast didn't ask for a connection nor report the battery status. Even when connected to Chromecast, it doesn't pop up the battery notification.

I have to remember to unpair them every time. I turned everything off and went to bed. In the morning, I have the headphones linked to my phone listening to the news in my office (back of the house). I went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and reached the point where my phone disconnected. A point where the Chromecast is in range, so it automatically linked my headphones.

I'd like to say that that's another bug. When I press the off button I expect the device to go off.

My problem is solved.  I still think that reporting the battery status of a device that it's not in its jurisdiction is a bug, though. But I guess that if the notifications can be turned off it's not a big deal.

For your troubleshooting:

No, I don't use the Google Home App.

Yes, I do have an Android Phone, and it's the only device that I use the JBLs with. Mostly, rarely I do with the Chromecast.

Yes, I'm using the same account on both the Chromecast and the phone.

Even when my problem is solved, if you want to keep troubleshooting, I'm game. Just let me know what you need.

[nerys]

Hi Gabekawa ,

Thanks for getting back to me! 

Glad to hear that you could solve this situation with the Chromecast and your JBL headphones!

It's great that you figured it out. I was just going to discuss the steps you followed and "nearby devices," but I think you did a great job, and there's nothing else I can add.

I'm just curious about something you mentioned. About the other "bug," when you press the button and you expect to turn off the device. Is this related to the Chromecast?

If you have more questions for me, feel free to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist further!

Best regards,

Nery.

[Gabekawa]

When the JBLs paired automatically with the Chromecast, I thought it was off. I understand that some part has to be up to receive signals from the remote. But it wasn't streaming, the TV was off, and Chromecast knows it because it's connected through HDMI. It doesn't make sense to connect to an audio device under those conditions.

Now that I think of it, the WiFi is also up. I saw it connected to my network all the time, even when off. It doesn't make sense.

[nerys]

Hi Gabekawa ,

Thanks for getting back to me!

Let me explain this to you. Actually, the Chromecast is never "off"; it remains in a low-power state. The Chromecast is only off when it is unplugged. This helps the devices communicate with each other and facilitate the casting process. This is the reason you can see the Chromecast connected to your WiFi network and recognized by the JBL headphones, even when it's not actively in use.

If you have more questions for me, feel free to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist further!

Best regards,

Nery.