Play TV shows & movies using Google Home

Play and control TV shows and movies on any TV with Chromecast or Chromecast built-in — using only your voice. 

Currently, you can only use these partners to play shows and movies on TVs using Google Home. However, you can play YouTube videos on TVs using Google Home. 

Voice-supported partners

Note: The available partners may change by country.  

Partner Supported content Partner app linking required
Here's how.
Netflix TV shows, movies Yes
CW [CWTV] TV shows, movies No
CBS [CBS All Access] TV shows Yes

HBO NOW

 TV shows, movies Yes
YouTube TV Live TV channels, TV shows, movies, sports No
Viki TV shows, movies Yes
Crackle TV shows, movies No. You can enjoy free content without signing in
Red Bull ​TV shows, movies No
STARZ TV shows, movies

Yes

Note: Voice casting using Google Home is currently only supported for STARZ direct users. Cable login isn't supported. 
Google Play Movies & TV TV shows, movies

No, content from Google Play Movies & TV  is automatically available when you set up Google Home. 

Step 1. Link TVs using the Google Home app

The following Cast devices can play TV shows and movies using voice commands with Google Home:

  1. Chromecast
  2. TVs with Chromecast built-in.

Android TV is not currently supported but will be supported soon.

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. Here are the Smart TVs that support Cast technology.   

Link TVs to Google Home
  1. Make sure your Chromecast or TV with Chromecast built-in is set up and on the same Wi-Fi network as Google Home.
  2. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your Google Home device.
  3. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  4. In the bottom-right corner, tap Account .
  5. Verify that the Google Account listed is the one linked to Google Home. To switch accounts, click the triangle next to the account name.
  6. Tap More settings.
  7. Tap Services tab TVs and speakers TVs and speakers. You'll see a list of linked devices.
  8. To link a new Chromecast or TV with Chromecast built-in, tap add Add in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  9. The Google Home app will search for remote devices on the same Wi-Fi network as your Google Home. Note: You may see a list of devices that aren’t voice-supported. These can’t currently be linked to your Google Home, but they'll be available soon.
  10. To add a device, tap the check Check next to the device name. You can select multiple devices. Tap Add. 
  11. You'll see linked devices in the TVs and speakers section of the Google Home app.  Google Home app.

Note: If you receive an "Error when linking device" error message, you must Factory Data Reset (FDR) your Chromecast device.

​Unlink a device

  1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your speaker or display.

  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.

  3. In the bottom right corner of the Home screen, tap Account Devices select the Google Home or Chromecast device.

  4. In the top right of the media control screen, tap Settings Settings icon.

  5. Scroll down and tap Remove device and then Remove .
Voice-supported Cast devices for TV shows and movies

The following Cast devices can play TV shows and movies using Google Home,

  1. Chromecast
  2. TVs with Chromecast built-in. 

Android TV is not currently supported but will be supported soon. 


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. Here are the 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 Play Movies & TV on the account linked which had been used to set up your Google Home device. Link video apps 
Some video apps require you to link the app account to your Google Account:
  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. In the bottom-right corner, tap Account .
  3. Verify that the Google Account that is listed is the one linked to Google Home. To switch accounts, click the triangle to the right of the account name.
  4. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your speaker or display.

  5. Tap SettingsSettings icon.

  6. Tap Services tab Photos & videos.

     

  7. If the app requires linking, tap Link   Link.
  8. Complete the sign in steps. 
    1. 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 
To unlink video apps:
  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. In the bottom-right corner, tap Account .
  3. Verify that the Google Account that is listed is the one linked to Google Home. To switch accounts, click the triangle to the right of the account name.
  4. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is on the same Wi-Fi network as Google Home.
  5. Tap More settings and then Videos and photos.
  6. Under "Videos," scroll to find the video app.
  7. Tap Unlink and then Unlink account to confirm you want to unlink the video app account from your Google Account. You will no longer be able to use voice commands to play the video app's media on Google Home. 

Step 3. Control TV shows and movies using voice commands

Here are some ways to talk with your Google Assistant on Google Home to play TV shows and movies.

Chromecast

To do this: Say "Ok Google" or Hey Google," then..
Open an app "Open YouTube on the TV" or "Start Netflix on the TV"

Play TV series, TV show, or movie
 

Note: For TV series, each session usually starts where the previous session ended. For The CW, each session starts from the latest aired episode.

Requesting specific episodes / seasons of a TV series is not currently supported. 

“Watch <Orange is the New Black> <on TV>" or “Watch <Orange is the New Black> <from [partner]> <on TV>"

"Watch <Stranger Things> <on Chromecast>" or "Watch <Stranger Things> <on [partner]> <on Chromecast>" 

"Play <The Crown> <on TV>" or "Play <The Crown> <on [partner]> <on TV>" 

Play next episode / previous episode

Note: This functionality is not supported for CW [CWTV]. Crackle supports "Next episode" but not "previous episode."

 “Next episode <on TV>"
“Previous episode <on TV>”
Pause/resume/stop “Pause <on TV>”
“Resume <on TV>”
“Stop <on TV>”

Skip back 

 “Skip back <time> <on TV>," “Rewind <time> <on TV>,"  “Jump back <time> <on TV>”

Turn on subtitles/captions

Turn off subtitles/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 (example: 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. 

Note: Dubbing is not supported for Google Play Movies, CW [CWTV], CBS [CBS All Access], HBO NOW, Viki, Crackle, or 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>"

Android TV

To do this: Say "OK Google" or "Hey Google," then.. 

Turn on / 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 / 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 "Ok Google, ...<on TV>" or "Ok Google, ...<on Chromecast>."

Tips and tricks to play content on your TV

Google Play Movies & TV content that you can control with your voice 

  • Purchased/rental movies
  • Purchased TV episodes and seasons
  • Content shared through Family Sharing
Simple ways to control media using your voice
When you start playing a TV show or movie using your voice, like "Ok, Google. Watch Orange is the New Black on TV," all of your next control commands (pause, next, etc.) will control that TV. You won't need to continue specifying the TV after the viewing session begins. 
Use your voice to control media you casted from your phone or tablet
 If you started playing a TV show or movie on TV by casting from your phone or tablet, you’ll need to first add <on TV> and after doing that once, you won’t need to say <on TV> again. 
Control your TV when media is playing on Google Home
When media is playing on Google Home at the same time as your remote device, all control commands will control Google Home, not your remote devices. To control your remote device,  you have to always say "Ok Google, .... <on device>."

If you stop playing content on Google Home by saying "Ok 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 you make to this remote device. Ex. "Ok Google, next video <on TV>.

Other ways to control TV shows and movies

From the Google Home app 
  1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your remote device.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. In the bottom left of the Home Screen, tap Discover
  4. Scroll to find the device card for the Google Home.
  5. You can pause/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. Make sure the Cast device is voice-supported and running Cast version 1.21+.
    2. Make you sure you linked the devices via the Google Home app
      1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
      2. In the bottom-right corner, tap Account .
      3. Verify that the Google Account that is listed is the one linked to Google Home. To switch accounts, click the triangle to the right of the account name.
      4. Tap More settings and then  TVs and Speakers. You'll see a list of all your linked devices.
    3. Make sure named the devices using a name that is 1) clear and easy to pronounce and 2) not similar to the name you gave your Google Home device.
  2. Naming Google Home and Chromecast/Chromecast built-in devices

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

    1. Give Google Home and Chromecast/Chromecast built-in devices different names and avoid using the same words in the names. This helps Google Home correctly understand your command and play content on the right device.
      1. ​Good:
        • Naming Google Home "Living Room" 
        • Naming Chromecast/Chromecast Audio device "Family TV"
      2. OK:
        • Naming Google Home "Living Room Home"
        • Naming Chromecast/Chromecast Audio 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 devices,
      1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
      2. In the bottom right corner of the Home screen, tap Account Devices to see available Google Home or Chromecast devices select your device.
      3. In the top right of the media control screen, tap Settings Settings iconand then Name.
  3. Make sure you've linked your Netflix account.
  4. Make sure you're not trying to play content on Android TV. This is not supported yet. 
  5. Try adding specific service provider to the request. Example: “Play <The Crown> <from Netflix><on TV>."
  6. If you hear an error message like, "I can only play videos on devices using Chromecast, or on cast-enabled TVs," try renaming your devices.

 

Related Links

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

 

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