Play TV shows and films with your speaker or display

Play and control TV shows and films on your Google Nest display or on any TV with Chromecast or Google Cast using only your voice.

Currently, you can only use select partners to play shows and films on Nest displays or TVs using speakers or displays. However, you can play YouTube videos on TVs using Google Nest or Home speakers or displays.

Voice-supported partners

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Some of these partners may be unavailable in your region. Visit the partner's website to check their availability where you live.

Partner	Supported content	Partner app linking required	Supported device
Star+	TV shows, films	Yes	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
Disney+	TV shows, films	Yes	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
Netflix	TV shows, films	Yes Note: Mobile casting isn't supported in the Basics with ads plan. Voice casting in the Basics with ads plan is supported for Android TV and Chromecast with Google TV devices. Learn more in the Netflix help centre.	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
Hulu	TV shows and movies from basic subscription tier	Yes	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
Paramount+	TV shows, films	Yes	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
YouTube TV	Live TV channels, TV shows, movies, sports	No	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
Sling TV	Live TV channels, TV shows, movies, sports	Yes	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
STARZ	TV shows, films	Yes Note: Voice casting using speakers and displays is currently only supported for STARZ direct users. Cable login isn't supported.	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast, Nest display
CW [CWTV]	TV shows, films	No	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast
Max	TV shows, films	Yes	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast
Viki	TV shows, films	Yes	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast
Crackle	TV shows, films	No. You can enjoy content without signing in.	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast
Red Bull	​TV shows, movies	No	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast
Google TV	TV shows, films	No, content from Google TV is available automatically when you set up your speaker or display.	Chromecast, TVs that work with Google Cast
Apple TV	TV shows, films	Yes	Chromecast with Google TV

Step 1. Link TVs using the Google Home app

Note: This step is only for Chromecast, Cast and Android TVs.

The following cast devices can play TV shows and films using voice commands with your speaker or display:

1. Chromecast
2. TVs that work with Cast
3. Android TV
   Note: You will need to set up Google Assistant on your Android TV.

Important: Some smart TVs may appear to support cast technology (because the functionality is similar to casting) but they don’t actually support cast technology. Smart TVs that support cast technology.

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 that 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.
   2. To switch accounts, tap the down arrow  next to the Google Account, then tap another account or Add another account .
4. Tap Favourites or Devices ..
5. Tap and hold your device's tile  Settings  or More   Settings .
6.  At the top right, tap Settings   Recognition and sharing.
7. Check 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 Google streaming device.

​Unlink a device

1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices or Pixel Tablet.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Tap Favourites or Devices .
4. Tap and hold your device's tile.
5. Tap Settings   Remove device.

Voice-supported Cast devices for TV shows and films

The following cast devices can play TV shows and films using your speaker or display:

1. Chromecast
2. TVs that work with Cast
3. Android TV
   Note: You need to set up Google Assistant on your Android TV.

Important: Some smart TVs might seem to support cast technology (because the functionality is similar to casting) but they don't actually support cast technology. Smart TVs that support cast technology.

Step 2. Link video apps to your Google Account 

This step isn't required to watch content from Google TV on the linked account that has been used to set up your speaker or display.

Link video apps 

Some video apps require you to link the app account to your Google Account:

1. Make sure that your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices or Pixel Tablet.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Tap your account.

4. 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 drop-down icon , then tap another account or Add another account

5. At the bottom right, tap Settings.
6. Under Services, tap Video.
7. Under the video app that you want to connect, tap LINK.
8. Complete the sign-in steps.

Note: For Netflix, if you have a personal profile on a Netflix account, you can link your personal profile and set up Voice Match to play content where you left off.

Unlink video apps 

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 drop-down icon , then tap another account or Add another account

4. At the bottom right, tap Settings.
5. Under Services, tap Video.
6. Next to the video app that you want to disconnect, tap UNLINK.

Note: Account linking with Hulu will link to the primary profile of the account. Any 'child-friendly' restrictions from secondary profiles will not be applied.

Step 3. Control your Android TV using voice commands

Below are some ways to talk to your Google Assistant on your speaker or display to play TV shows and films:

Nest displays

To do this:	Say 'Hey Google', then:
Open an app	'Open YouTube' 'Start Netflix'
Play TV series, TV show or film Note: For TV series, each session usually starts where the previous session ended.  Request of specific episodes or seasons of a TV series is not currently supported.	'Watch <Orange is the New Black> on <partner>'
Play next episode or previous episode	'Next episode' 'Previous episode'
Pause or resume or stop	'Pause' 'Resume' 'Stop'
Skip back	'Skip back <time>' 'Rewind <time>' 'Jump back <time>'
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 <language> subtitles Note: Supported languages depend on the content service (e.g. YouTube or Netflix) and the video title.	'Turn on Spanish subtitles'
Turn on dubbing Note: Dubbing switches the spoken language to a language of your choice. Dubbing is not supported for CBS [CBS All Access] and STARZ.	"Dubbing on" "Turn on dubbing" "Can you turn on dubbing?"
Change dubbing to a language of your choice	'Change language to <German>' 'Switch language to <Spanish>' 'Turn on <French> dubbing' 'Play it in <English>'

Chromecast

To do this:	Say 'Hey Google', then:
Open an app	'Open [app name] on the TV' 'Start [app name] on the TV'
Play a specific channel	'Play [channel] on TV' 'Change channel to [channel]'
Search and play content	'Search for [genre] films' 'Play [album name]' 'Play [artist name]'
Play TV series, TV show or film Note: For TV series, each session usually starts where the previous session ends For The CW, each session starts from the latest aired episode. Requests for specific episodes or seasons of a TV series aren't supported.	'Watch [TV series] on [TV name]' 'Watch [TV series] from [service] on [TV name]' 'Watch [TV show] on [TV name]' 'Watch [TV show] on [service] on [TV name]' 'Play [film] on [TV name]' 'Play [film] on [service] on [TV name]'
Play next episode or previous episode Note: Some services don't support requests for next or previous episode.	'Next episode on [TV name]' 'Previous episode on [TV name]'
Pause or resume or stop	'Pause on [TV name]' 'Resume on [TV name]' 'Stop on [TV name]'
Skip back	'Skip back [time] on [TV name]' 'Rewind [time] on [TV name]' 'Jump back [time] 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'
Turn on dubbing Note: Dubbing switches the spoken language to a language of your choice. Some services don't support dubbing.	'Dubbing on' 'Turn on dubbing' 'Can you turn on dubbing?'
Change dubbing to a language of your choice	'Change language to [language]' 'Switch language to [language]' 'Turn on [language] dubbing' 'Play it in [language]'

Android TV

To do this:	Say 'Hey Google', then:
Turn on or off	'Turn on TV' 'Turn off TV'
Open an app	"Open <YouTube> on TV"
Play Netflix	"Play <Stranger Things> on TV"
Control media Note: Next, previous and seek commands are only supported for Cast-enabled apps.	'Play <on TV>' 'Pause <on TV>' 'Resume <on TV>' 'Stop <on TV>' "Next episode <on TV>" "Previous episode <on TV>" "Seek forward 30 seconds <on TV>”

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 Chromecast>'.

Tips to play content on your TV

Google TV content that you can control with your voice 

• Purchased or rental movies
• Purchased TV episodes and seasons
• Content shared through Family Sharing

Simple ways to control media using your voice

When you play a TV show or film using your voice (for example, when you say 'Hey Google, watch Orange is the New Black on TV'), all of the control commands that you say next (pause, next, etc.) will control that TV. You won't need to keep specifying the TV once the viewing session has begun

Use your voice to control the media that you cast from your phone or tablet

If you started playing a TV show or film on TV when you cast from your phone or tablet, you'll first need to add <on TV>. Once you have done this, you won't need to say <on TV> again.

Control your TV when media is playing on your Google Nest or Home speaker or display

When media is playing on your speaker or display at the same time as on your remote device, all control commands will control your speaker or display, not your remote device. To control your remote device, you always need to say 'Hey Google, .... <on device>.'

If you stop playing content on your speaker or display by saying 'Hey Google, stop', and you want to start controlling the remote device that is currently playing, you must first add <on device> to the next command that you make to this remote device. Example: 'Hey Google, next video <on TV>.'

Other ways to control TV shows and films

From the Google Home app 

1. Make sure that your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your remote device.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Tap the current media session for:
   • Playback controls
   • Volume control
   • Playback device control

Fix problems

Need some help? Try these troubleshooting steps

1. Make sure that you've linked your devices correctly, including:
   1. Make sure that the Cast device is voice-supported and is running Cast version 1.32+.
   2. Make you sure that 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 drop-down icon , then tap another account or Add another account

      4. Tap Settings Under Services Tap Works with Google 
      5. It should show a list of all your linked devices.
2. Name your speaker or display, as well as your Chromecast or devices that work with Cast.

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

   1. Give your speaker or display, Chromecast or devices that work with Cast different names, and avoid using the same words in the names. This helps your speaker or display to understand your command correctly and play content on the right device.
      1. ​Good:
         • Name your speaker or display 'Living room'
         • Name your Chromecast 'Family TV'
      2. OK:
         • Name your speaker or display 'Living room home'
         • Name your Chromecast 'Living room TV'
   2. Make sure that the name is easily pronounceable.
   3. Avoid using emoji or special characters.
   4. To change the name of your Chromecast or speaker and display:
      1. Open the Google Home app .
      2. Tap Favourites 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. Make sure that you've linked your media provider account.
4. Make sure you're not trying to play content on Android TV. This is not supported yet. 
5. Try to add the specific service provider to the request. For example: 'Play <The Crown> <from Netflix> <on TV>'.
6. If you get an error message like, 'I can only play videos on devices using Chromecast, or on Cast-enabled TVs', try to rename your devices.

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