Play media from Chromecast-enabled apps to Google Home

Playing music on Google Home is simple way to enjoy your favorite audio apps optimized for your speaker. You can even use your mobile device or tablet as a remote and control everything from playback to volume.

Step 1. Cast from Chromecast-enabled apps to Google Home

  1. Make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as Google Home. 
  2. Open a Chromecast-enabled app.
  3. Tap the Cast button Inactive cast extension .
  4. Tap the Google Home you'd like to cast to.
  5. When you're connected, the Cast button will turn color, letting you know you're connected.
  6. You can now cast audio to Google Home.
  7. To stop casting, tap the Cast button in the top right corner. Tap Stop Casting.

Note: Some music providers, like Spotify, require a subscription to play music from its Chromecast-enabled app. 

Step 2. Control Chromecast-enabled apps using voice commands

The following commands should work with almost all Chromecast-enabled apps.

To do this... Say "Ok Google" or “Hey Google," then...
Pause  "Pause," "Pause the music"
Resume "Resume," "Continue playing"
Stop "Stop," "Stop the music"
What’s playing  “What’s playing?”, “What song is playing?”, “What artist is playing?”
Control volume  "Set volume to 5," "Set volume to 40%" 
Don't forget! Check out the advanced voice commands for Chromecast-enabled apps like Spotify, Google Play Music, and more. 

Other ways to control your music

You can also control music by touching the top surface of Google Home or by using the Google Home app. 

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 the volume of alarms and timers at any time in the Google Home app.
Turn down the volume 

Swipe counterclockwise 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 the 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 the left side of Mini. 

A total of 10 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 cord. 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. In 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. In 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.
From the Google Home app
  1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as Google Home.
  2. On your mobile device, open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap the device that’s playing media. On the top of the screen, you will see the following information for the current music session:

 

Turn up the volume

Swipe clockwise on the volume slider. You can swipe all the way to 100%.

Turn down the volume

Swipe counterclockwise on the volume slider. You can swipe all the way to 0%. This will mute all music but will not turn off the mic.

Equalizer settings Device settings Help & feedback  

Related Links

Play audio on speakers and TVs from Google Homes
Play video on TVs using Google Home
Listen to radio
Listen to podcasts
Control restricted content on Google Home
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