11-28-2024 09:17 AM - edited 11-30-2024 09:24 PM
UPDATE: I am able to select a Photo album by using the Google Home app on my phone to go into my Chromecast and Google TV Streamer devices. However, two things are happening:
---
As of November 27, 2024, the Google Photos album (of our toddler) was suddenly not playing on all of the following devices:
Instead, whatever the default pictures were showing (stock, as in whatever would display when you first set up the device).
Through multiple attempts via the Google Home app, I was finally able to connect to Google Photos again on the Google Nest Hub Max.
But with all our our Chromecast with Google TV (4K) and Google TV Streamer devices, it keeps trying to load Google Photos and then says:
Unable to load
There was a problem loading your albums. Check your
connection and try again.
Screenshot:
My connection is fine. On the Google TV Streamer and one of the Chromecasts, I am connected via Ethernet and on the other Chromecast, I am connected via wi-fi.
I tried switching over to wi-fi on the Streamer, but same error.
I should also note that, when this issue first occurred, when trying to reconnect Google Photos to the Google TV Streamer, I was prompted to enter my Google password. After doing so, I was prompted to create a PIN using the remote. So, I did this. Now, everything I am trying to change my wallpaper/ambient mode to Google Photos, I am prompted for this PIN - right after I successfully enter it, I get the "Unable to load" error.
Is anyone else experiencing this?
Answered! Go to the Recommended Answer.
01-01-2025 12:10 PM - edited 01-01-2025 12:22 PM
Okay, I FINALLY figured out how to get all photos to display again.
DISCLAIMER
BACKGROUND
Here's the background/preconditions to my scenario
WHAT I DID ON DEC 31,2024 THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUE
Here's a visual of the setting that was "Off" for my spouse when in the Ambient mode "Google Photos" setting as a member of my Google Home:
Now, the same Toddler album still works on my sister-in-law's Chromecast and her parent's Chromecast. The commonality there is that both my sister-in-law and their mother are also members of the Google Family Plan, but my spouse is not a member of their Google Home.
CONSLUSION
It looks like some additional setting/permission was set up where all Google Home members need to enable a setting before any pictures in their Google Photos can be displayed on a screen in the home. I believe this to be the case because the pictures still display fine in other homes that the photo owner is not a member of, but has shared the album with some who is in the home (a gap, perhaps).
That was not fun to figure out.
12-01-2024 03:58 PM
Hi Realrob,
Thank you for posting in the community, i'm sorry to hear that appears an error message unable to load when you go into your Chromecast and Google Tv.
At the moment, I'd like to share a few troubleshooting below:
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist you further!
Best regards,
Rusell.
12-02-2024 11:24 AM
Hey, @Rusell. Thanks for the steps. I cleared the cache. Then, after about 3-5 minutes of searching the UI, I found where to remove the PIN. However, after all of those steps, I am still receiving the same "Unable to load" error.
12-02-2024 12:02 PM
Hi Realrob,
Thank you for your response. I'm sorry to hear that none of the previous troubleshooting work before. I'm here to help you!
We would appreciate it if you can do these other steps:
Keep me posted
Best regards,
Rusell.
12-02-2024 12:05 PM - edited 12-02-2024 12:06 PM
"Remove the app"
What app?!
12-02-2024 12:16 PM - edited 12-02-2024 12:29 PM
Hi Realrob,
Thank you for your response. Remove the app (Google Photos) and then please install it back. Also you can a look a look at this article: Ambient screensaver for Chromecast and Google TV Streamer
Let me know if doing the other steps work.
Best regards,
Rusell.
12-02-2024 12:49 PM
Google Photos is not in the list apps on my Chromecast. Instead, it appears to be backed into the Ambient Mode app. I reset the Ambient Mode app to factory defaults, and updated it again, but still no go. In the end, this is the kind of experience I am used to with Google products as they are just too big with too little care put into them. I'll just deal with the crap until they actually won't even play content at all, at this point I'll start using other products.
Thanks for trying to support Google's junk.
12-02-2024 12:56 PM
Hi Realrob,
Thanks for posting in the community, We understand how frustrating this must be and we appreciate all the steps you have done.
The team would like to learn more about this behavior. When you get a chance, please fill out this form and let us know when you’re finished. We’ll have someone reach out to you via email from there.
Be sure to submit the following relevant information:
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist you further!
Best regards,
Rusell.
12-02-2024 06:42 PM
Thanks, @Rusell. I have completed the form.
12-03-2024 09:13 AM - edited 12-03-2024 09:14 AM
Hi Realrob,
Thank you for posting in the community. We've received your form and appreciate the details you provided. Please keep an eye on your email, as someone from my team will contact you shortly to help.
If you have any questions or concerns in the future, feel free to reply to this post.
Regards,
Rusell
12-28-2024 04:25 PM
They can’t even make these bots sound like real people
01-01-2025 12:10 PM - edited 01-01-2025 12:22 PM
Okay, I FINALLY figured out how to get all photos to display again.
DISCLAIMER
BACKGROUND
Here's the background/preconditions to my scenario
WHAT I DID ON DEC 31,2024 THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUE
Here's a visual of the setting that was "Off" for my spouse when in the Ambient mode "Google Photos" setting as a member of my Google Home:
Now, the same Toddler album still works on my sister-in-law's Chromecast and her parent's Chromecast. The commonality there is that both my sister-in-law and their mother are also members of the Google Family Plan, but my spouse is not a member of their Google Home.
CONSLUSION
It looks like some additional setting/permission was set up where all Google Home members need to enable a setting before any pictures in their Google Photos can be displayed on a screen in the home. I believe this to be the case because the pictures still display fine in other homes that the photo owner is not a member of, but has shared the album with some who is in the home (a gap, perhaps).
That was not fun to figure out.
01-02-2025 02:42 PM
Hi Realbob,
Thank you so much for the update. We're glad to hear that this inconvenience has been fixed and we apologize for the inconvenience caused. Your tips will be valuable to many people.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist you further!
Best regards,
Rusell.
2 weeks ago
Hey @realrob,,
It's good to see you've found a workaround - the team would still like to look into this but need some additional information. If the issue is persisting, do you mind submitting feedback through Google TV? Somewhere in the feedback report (either at the beginning or the end) be sure to include "#ambient" so that the team can easily find your feedback. You can also submit via the Google TV mobile app - instructions can be found in this article.
Thank you.