Create and manage speaker groups

Group any combination of Google Nest or Home speakers and displays, Chromecast devices and Google Pixel Tablets together for synchronous music throughout the home. Your music and audio from Chromecast-enabled apps are instantly available to stream.

Compatible devices include:

  • Google Home
  • Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
  • Google Home Mini (1st gen)
  • Google Home Max
  • Google Nest Audio
  • Google Nest displays
  • Google Nest Wifi point
  • Google Pixel Tablet (in Hub Mode only)
  • Chromecast with Google TV
  • Chromecast
  • Chromecast Ultra
  • Chromecast Audio
  • Speakers with Chromecast Built-In and selected TVs

Note: This feature is not supported on Chromecast (1st gen).

Step 1. Create and manage speaker groups

Note: Speaker group creation is only available on a phone or tablet. This feature is not supported on the Chrome browser. However, you can still cast to a group from Chrome.

Create an audio group
  1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Chromecast or Pixel Tablet.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap Settings Add Speaker group.
  4. Tap each device that you want to add to the group. A tick Check will appear next to each selected device.
  5. Tap Next enter a name for your group tap Save.

Note: You can only add a Pixel Tablet to a speaker group when it's attached to the Charging Speaker Dock.

Edit an existing group
  1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Chromecast or Pixel Tablet.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap Devices .
  4. Select the group that you want to edit tap Choose devices.
  5. Tap each device that you want to add or remove. All devices in the group will have a tick Check.
  6. Tap Save.

Important: If you make edits to a group that's currently casting media, group playback will stop and all audio devices in the group will stop playing. You'll need to return to the Cast-enabled app or say a voice command to start casting media again.

Note: You can only add a Pixel Tablet to a speaker group when it's attached to the Charging Speaker Dock.

Delete an existing group
  1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Chromecast or Pixel Tablet.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap Devices .
  4. Select the group that you want to delete.
  5. Tap Delete group Delete.

Important: If you delete a group that's currently casting media, group playback will stop and all audio devices in the group will stop playing.

Step 2. Control speaker groups

Use a voice command to start playing media on a speaker group. Then, control your media with voice commands, the Google Home app or touch controls on your device.

Note: Your phone or tablet's volume buttons won't adjust the volume of your speaker group.

Using your voice

To do this: Say 'Hey Google', then:
Play music using group name 'Play rock music on [group name]'
Control music using basic commands 'Pause'
'Resume'
'Stop'
'Play next song'
Control volume of a device in a speaker group 'Louder'
'Set volume to 40%'

Note: During group playback, volume commands only change the device that you said the voice command to.

From the Google Home app

  1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Chromecast or Pixel Tablet.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap Favourites .
  4. Tap the current media session for:
    • Playback controls
    • Volume control
    • Playback device selection

From the Google device

Note: Each device's touch controls adjust only its own volume, not the speaker group's volume.

Google Home and Nest speakers

Important: Speaker touch controls change the volume of media and Google Assistant only. To change the volume of alarms and timers, use the Google Home app or the Quick Settings menu on a Nest display.

Google Home Google Home

To do this: Touch Google Home like this: Image
Turn up the volume Swipe clockwise on the top.
Turn down the volume

Swipe anticlockwise on the top.

Note: When the volume is set to 0:

  • Media is muted
  • Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume
Start your request Press and hold on the top.

Googel Nest Mini Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)

Note: The Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) has a wall mount screw slot on the back. If your device doesn’t have a wall mount screw slot, it is a Google Home Mini (1st gen).

To reverse right and left controls, open the Google Home app Tap Favorites or Devices touch and hold your Nest Mini's tile. Tap Settings Audio Reverse device controls.

To do this: Touch Google Nest Mini like this: Image
Pause, resume or stop media

Tap the centre of the Nest Mini.

Google Nest Mini center tap

Turn up the volume

Tap the right side of the Nest Mini.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.

Google Nest Mini volume up

Turn down the volume

Tap the left side of the Nest Mini.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.

Note: When the volume is set to 0:

  • Media is muted
  • Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume
Google Nest Mini volume down

Google Home Mini Google Home Mini (1st gen)

To do this: Touch Google Home Mini like this: Image
Pause, resume or stop media Press and hold either side of the Home Mini.

Turn up the volume

Tap the right side of the Home Mini.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.

Turn down the volume

Press and hold the left side of the Home Mini.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.

Note: When the volume is set to 0:

  • Media is muted
  • Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Google Home Max Google Home Max

To do this: Touch Google Home Max like this: Image

Pause, resume or stop media

Horizontal placement: Tap the line on the top.

Vertical placement: Tap the line on the right side.


Turn up the volume

Horizontal placement: Swipe from left to right along the line on the top.

Vertical placement: Swipe up along the line on the right side.


Turn down the volume

Horizontal placement: Swipe from right to left along the line on the top.

Vertical placement: Swipe down along the line on the right side.

Note: When the volume is set to 0:

  • Media is muted
  • Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Google Nest Audio Google Nest Audio

To do this: Touch Google Nest Audio like this: Image
Pause, resume or stop media Tap the centre of the Nest Audio.

Turn up the volume

Tap the right side of the Nest Audio.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%.

Turn down the volume

Tap the left side of the Nest Audio.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%.

Note: When the volume is set to 0:

  • Media is muted
  • Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Nest Wifi point Google Nest Wifi point

To do this: Touch Nest Wifi point like this: Image
Pause, resume or stop media Tap the centre of the Nest Wifi point. Nest Wifi center tap

Turn up the volume

Tap the right side of the Nest Wifi point.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.

Nest Wifi point volume up

Turn down the volume

Tap the left side of the Nest Wifi point.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.

Note: When the volume is set to 0:

  • Media is muted
  • Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume
Nest Wifi point volume down

Google Nest displays

Important: To control the volume of alarms and timers, use the Quick settings menu. The volume button and media card adjust the volume of media and Google Assistant only.

Use the media card to pause, resume, play the previous or next song, or change the devices that are playing media.

Volume button

To do this: Touch Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max like this: Image

Turn up the volume

On the back of the Nest display, press the upper volume button.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%.

Turn down the volume

On the back of the Nest display, press the lower volume button.

The volume ranges from 0–100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%.

Note: When the volume is set to 0:

  • Media is muted
  • Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume
Quick Settings menu
  1. To open the Quick settings menu, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
  2. Tap Volume .
    • Use the main volume control slider for media and Google Assistant
    • If needed, tap Expand  to open the volume control slider for timers and alarms
  3. To change the volume, swipe the slider left or right.

Media card

  1. To find the media card, swipe down from the top and then tap Media.
    • Note: If the screen shows the media that's playing, you can tap the screen instead.
  2. Use the controls on the card to pause, resume or play the previous or next song.
  3. To open more controls, tap [display name] . You’ll get a list of available devices and a volume control slider for each device that’s currently playing.
    • To start or stop playing media on a device, tap the radio button next to its name.
    • To change the volume on an active device, swipe its slider left or right.

Google Pixel Tablet (Hub Mode)

When you change the volume on your Pixel Tablet while it's docked, the volume on the speaker dock will also change.

Volume button

To do this: Touch Google Pixel Tablet like this:
Turn up the volume

Press the side button closest to the power button.

Volume up

Turn down the volume

Press the side button that's farthest from the power button.

Volume down

Media widget

When media is playing in Hub Mode, you can control playback on your lock and home screens by touch. A media widget will automatically appear with buttons to control what's playing

Some media apps have widgets that you can add to your home screen for easy touch control. Place the widget on your home screen, then tap the widget to control the volume, pause playback, skip or change songs or podcasts, change the radio station and more.

Audio delay issues

If there's a delay between one device in the group and the others, use the group delay correction setting for that device to resolve the issue.

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?
true
Search
Clear search
Close search
Google apps
Main menu
14296868673179724478
true
Search Help Centre
true
true
true
true
true
85561
false
false