Play YouTube videos on Google Cast-enabled TVs with your speaker or display

Initiate and control YouTube videos from any Google streaming device or TV that works with Google Cast using only your voice.

Note: If Digital Wellbeing is enabled, this feature may be restricted or blocked by Downtime, Filters or Do not disturb.

Learn more about Digital Wellbeing

 

Step 1. Link TVs using the Google Home app

Link TVs to your speaker or display

Link a device

Note: The following steps are optional if you only want to control your TV with your mobile device or tablet. However, if you want to use voice commands through your speaker or display to control your TV, follow the steps below.

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your Google device. 
3. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your Google device.
   1. At the top right, tap your account.
      1. To switch accounts, tap the down arrow  next to the Google Account, then tap another account or Add another account .
4. Tap Favorites or Devices ..
5. Tap and hold your device's tile  Settings , or More   Settings .
6.  At the top right, tap Settings   Recognition & sharing.
7. Find the for a banner at the top of the page that says “Enable voice control and more.”
   • If the banner appears, tap it and follow the steps to link your TV.
   • If the banner doesn't appear but your email address appears under “Linked account(s)”, your TV is already linked.

Note: If you get an "Error when linking device" message, factory reset your streaming device.

Unlink a device

1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, speaker, or display.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Tap Favorites or Devices .
4. Tap and hold your device's tile.
5. Tap Settings   Remove device.

Voice-supported Cast devices for YouTube videos

The following Cast devices can play YouTube videos on TVs using your speaker or display:

1. Chromecast
2. Chromecast with Google TV
3. Google TV Streamer
4. TVs that work with Google Cast
5. Android TV devices

Important: Some smart TVs may appear to support Cast technology because the functionality is similar to casting. Learn more about smart TVs that support Cast technology.

 

Step 2. Control YouTube videos on TVs using voice commands

Below are some ways to talk with your Google Assistant on your speaker or display to play YouTube videos on TVs:

To do this:	Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then:
Play general videos from TV show, YouTube Channel, or artist	"Play [artist] videos on [TV name]" "Play [YouTube channel] videos on [TV name]" "Play [TV show] videos on [streaming device name]"
Play specific videos or songs	"Play [video name] trailer on [TV name]" "Play [song name] on [TV name]"
Play videos by category	"Play [topic] videos on [TV name]"
Turn on subtitles or captions     Turn off subtitles or captions	"Turn on subtitles" "Turn on captions" "Subtitles on" "Captions on" "Turn off subtitles" "Turn off captions" "Subtitles off" "Captions off"
Turn on subtitles for a specific language Note: Supported languages depend on the content service and the video title.	"Turn on [language] subtitles"
To control videos on a remote device, add "on [device name]" to any of the basic voice commands for music.	"Pause on [device name]" "Resume on [device name]" "Skip on [device name]" "Stop on [device name]"

If you only have one linked voice-supported Cast device, you don't have to say its name in your command. Instead, you can say "Hey Google, ...<on TV>" or "Hey Google, ...<on streaming device>."

Other ways to control video

From the Google Home app

1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Tap Favorites .
4. Tap the current media session for:
   • Playback controls
   • Volume control (media and Google Assistant)
   • Playback device selection

On the media player, you get the following information for the current session:

• Content provider
• Title (song name, show episode name or radio station program)
• Artist (if available)
• Collection (playlist, album, show series, or radio station, if available)

You can also pause or resume, stop, and control the remote device from the device card.

Fix problems

Need help? Try these troubleshooting steps

1. Make sure you've correctly linked your devices, including:
   1. Cast device is voice-supported and running Cast version 1.32 or newer.
   2. You've linked the devices via the Google Home app:
      1. Open the Google Home app .
      2. Tap your account.

      3. Verify that the Google Account shown is the one linked to your Google device. If correct, tap to close the account window. To switch accounts, tap the dropdown icon , then tap another account or Add another account

      4. Tap Assistant settings  Devices. You'll find a list of all your linked devices.

2. Name your speaker or display, streaming device or device that works with Google Cast

   To ensure proper playback on your TV, follow these tips when naming your devices:

   1. Give your speaker or display, streaming device, or device that works with Google Cast different names, and avoid the use of the same words in the names. This helps your speaker or display correctly understand your command and play content on the right device.
      1. ​Good:
         • Name your speaker or display "Living Room"
         • Name your streaming device "Family TV"
      2. Ok:
         • Name your speaker or display "Living Room Home"
         • Name your streaming device "Living Room TV"
   2. Make sure the name is easily pronounceable.
   3. Avoid using emoji or special characters.
   4. To change the name of your streaming device, speaker or display:
   5. 1. Open the Google Home app .
      2. Tap Favorites or Devices .
      3. Touch and hold your device's tile  at the top right corner, tap Settings   Device information  Device name. 
      4. Delete the current name and type in a new name. Tap Save.
3. If your remote devices don't seem to respond to voice commands, or you get a response that says "Nothing is playing,” be more specific in your request by adding “…. on <device name>” to your request. This will re-initiate media focus and allow you to better control the device.
4. Try to add "videos" or "trailers" to the request. Examples: "Play funny videos on TV" or "Play movie trailers on TV."
5. If you get an error message like, "I can only play videos on devices using Chromecast, or on Google Cast-enabled TVs," try to rename your devices.

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