Multi-room group playback with Google Home

Group any combination of Google Home devices, Chromecast devices and speakers with Chromecast Built-In together for synchronous music throughout the home. Your favourite music and audio from Chromecast-enabled apps are instantly available to stream.

Compatible devices include Google Home devices (Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max and Google Nest displays), Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast Audio, TVs with Chromecast Built-In and speakers with Chromecast Built-In

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

Step 1. Create and manage speaker groups

Create an audio group
  1. On your mobile device, open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Make sure that all audio devices and your phone or tablet are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  3. From Home , tap Add  and then Create speaker group.
  4. Tap each device that you want to add to the group. A tick Check will appear next to each device that you select.
  5. Tap NEXT and then Enter a name for your group and then SAVE.
Edit an existing group
  1. On your mobile device, open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Make sure that all audio devices and your phone or tablet are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  3. From Home , tap the speaker group that you want to edit and then Settings and then Choose devices.
  4. Tap each device that you want to add to the group. A tick Check will appear next to each device that you select.
  5. Tap each device that you want to remove from the group. The tick Check will disappear.
  6. Tap SAVE.

Important: If you're making edits to a group that is currently casting music, group playback will stop and you'll no longer hear media on any audio device within the group. You'll need to return to the Cast-enabled app or say a voice command to start casting media again. 

Delete an existing group
  1. On your mobile device, open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Make sure that all audio devices and your phone or tablet are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  3. From Home , tap the speaker group that you want to edit and then Settings and then Delete Group and then DELETE. 

Important: If you're deleting a group that is currently casting music, group playback will stop and you'll no longer hear media on any audio device in the group.  

Step 2. Control speaker groups

Note: Changing the volume of an individual speaker in a group will change the group's volume.

Using your voice

Playing audio groups is like playing audio on individual remote devices except you’ll say “Ok Google,… on <group name>" instead of “Ok Google,…  on <device name>".

Note: Make sure that you voice-enable the group to control it with your voice. 

To do this... Say "Ok Google" or “Hey Google," then...
Play music using group name “Play rock on <group name>”
Control music using basic commands “Pause, resume, stop, play next song” 

Control volume

Note: During group playback, volume commands only change the local Google Home device unless you say "Ok Google, ... on <Group name>."

 "Set volume to 5," "Set volume to 40%"

 

From the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Make sure that your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your Google Home device.
  3. From Home , tap the speaker group that you want to control. 

You'll see the following information for the current music session:

  • Content provider 
  • Title (song name/show episode name/radio station programme)
  • Artist (if available)
  • Collection (playlist/album/show series/radio station) (if available)

You can also pause/resume, stop and control group members volume.

From the Google Home device
Google Home Google Home
To do this: Touch the device like this: Image
Play/Pause/Stop alarm or timer   Tap once on the top of the device
Turn up the volume 

Swipe clockwise on the top of the device.

Note: This only adjusts the volume of media. You can adjust alarm and timer volumes at any time in the Google Home app.
Turn down the volume 

Swipe anticlockwise on the top of the device.

Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level.  It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers.
Start your request  Press and hold down on the top of the device
Mic on/off

Press the microphone mute button on the back of the device

Note: Muting the microphone prevents Google Home from listening or responding. To interact with Google Home, the microphone must be on. 
Factory reset the device Press and hold the factory reset button located on the back of Google Home. 
Turn off power Unplug power cable from Google Home.
Google Home Mini Google Home Mini
To do this: Touch Google Home Mini like this: Image

Play/Pause/Stop media or end a current phone call 

Press and hold (long press) either side of Mini. 
Stop a ringing alarm or timer  

Tap either side of Mini. 
Turn up the volume 

Tap on right side of Mini.

To reach maximum volume, tap to volume level 10.

Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level.  It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers.
Turn down the volume 

Tap on left side of Mini. 

10 total taps will mute all audio except your Google Assistant.

Note: This only adjusts the volume of media and your Google Assistant. At volume level 0, all media will be muted but your Google Assistant will still speak at a minimum level.  It doesn’t adjust the volume of alarms and timers.
Turn mic on/off

Toggle the mic on/off switch found next to the power cable. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. 

Note: Turning off the microphone prevents Google Home from listening or responding. To interact with Google Home, the microphone must be on. 
Factory reset the device

Press and hold the factory reset button located below the power cord on the bottom of Mini. Look for a circle etched into the base.

Hold for about 12 seconds. 
Turn off power Unplug the power cable from Mini.
Start your request 

Note: You can't press and hold the top of Mini to start a request with your Assistant.

Instead, say "Ok Google" to start your request.

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

Play/Pause/Stop media.

Stop a ringing alarm or timer

End a call

Horizontal placement: Tap the line located on the top of Max.

Vertical placement: Tap the line located on the right side of Max.

 
Turn up the volume 

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

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

 
Turn down the volume 

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

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

 
Turn mic on/off

Toggle the mic on/off switch located on the back of Max. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off. You can’t use your voice or the Google Home app to turn on/off the mic. 

Note: Turning off the microphone:

  • prevents Google Home from listening or responding. To interact with Google Home, the microphone must be on. 
  • turns off Room EQ.
Factory reset the device

Press and hold the factory reset button located above the power cord on the back of Max. Look for a small grey button. 

Hold for about 12 seconds. 
Turn off power Unplug the power cable from Max.

 

  Google Nest Hub

Adjust the volume of all speakers in a group

  1. On your Nest Hub's Home screen, tap the active media card, then tap the screen once more to bring up media controls.
  2. At the bottom-left corner of the screen, tap the name of your speaker group to open volume controls.
  3. Swipe the group slider left or right to adjust the speaker group's volume.

Adjust the volume of a single speaker in a group

  1. On your Nest Hub's Home screen, tap the active media card, then tap the screen once more to bring up media controls.
  2. At the bottom-left corner of the screen, tap the name of your speaker group to open volume controls.
  3. Swipe an individual speaker's slider left or right to adjust the volume.
 

Audio delay issues

Do you hear a delay between one device in the group and the others? Use the group delay correction setting for that device to resolve the issue.

Important: Pressing your phone or tablet’s volume buttons (on the side of your phone or tablet) while in the Google Home app will not adjust the volume. 

Note: Multi-room group creation functionality is only available on iOS and Android. This feature is not supported from the Chrome browser. However, you can still cast to a group from Chrome.

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