Choose between Google Cast and Spotify Connect

[misio1]

Plan

Premium

Country

Poland

Device

Pixel 7 Pro / Samsung S22

Operating System

Android 16

My Question or Issue

I've been using spotify to stream to my NAD C338 via spotify connect for couple of years now.

Recently it stopped working - only google cast option is currently available on the newest spotify app.

As a part of troubleshooting I downloaded older spotify APKs and installed on my android phone to see if it helps - it did! The latest version of spotify app which shows spotify connect option to my NAD is 9.0.78.1116, starting from version 9.0.82.1008 the spotify connect is not available, just google cast.

Can the app be fixed so that I have spotify connect option back available on my NAD C338 please?

[benrnd]

My Question or Issue Spotify connect is not showing up on my Android phone, but weirdly it's only for one of the two accounts on that phone: doesn't show up on my account (I can still see all of the devices but Connect is not an option, just chromecast), while it shows up without issues on my kid's account. I have three Connect devices on the network and none of them show up.

What I've tried:
- Works on my laptop (on the same wifi network)

- Tried restarting the wifi router and the Connect devices

- Did several clean reinstall of the app (delete data, uninstall, check no leftover data,  reboot phone, reinstall, re-add the two accounts). Always end up with the same issue on my account, while my kid's account is always fine.

Plan Premium

Country USA

Device Pixel 9 Pro

Operating System Android

App Version 9.0.90.1229

[pabulous]

Having the same problem. Connect no longer shows as an option in the app, only Google Cast.

[milescr]

Agreed, thanks! But then I can't use Google cast when I want to 😂

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

Right, but Spotify has only announced lossless for Spotify Connect, so unless/until they say different, Google Cast doesn’t support lossless.

It’s definitely frustrating and confusing and MAY finally push me to switch to Apple Music. Need to replace my Google Home’s with Apple HomePods to obtain my current functionality however, a completely unnecessary expense,,, then again that’s how these companies are so profitable, convincing us a want is a need.

[JanPl1]

Hello,
Just to add a few more funny twists to this confusing situation:

* My son's Android phone can cast lossless via Spotify Connect to our CXNv2 on our home network - he doesn't even see Google Cast.
* When he logs into my phone's Spotify app with his credentials, Spotify Connect appears - so I assumed it was an issue with my account settings.
* However, when I log into his phone with my account, it also works fine.
* The same happens with my wife's phone: her Spotify app doesn't show Spotify Connect, but if our son logs into her app, it works. When she logs into my son's phone, it works too - but back on her phone, only Google Cast appears.
* The issue repeats on our Android tablet.
* All three Spotify accounts (mine, my wife's, and my son's) are under the same Premium Family plan (registered to me).
Jan

[JanPl1]

...... and have suddenly solved the problem by completely deleting Google Home (which we barely used - only for one device which can still be connected via bluetooth - and the problem is gone. Not an ideal solution though, especially for anyone heavily invested in Google Home...

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

While NONE of that makes any sense, I’m glad you got it figured out for your account!! I use Google Home more for automation and control of lights than speakers at this point, maybe it’s time I figured out if Apple Home is an easy replacement.

[natalie_fitz]

Same issue here with my Anthem AVR.  Can only select the AVR as Google Cast from the latest Android app.  Previous  apps allowed to select the AVR as either Connect or Cast. 

[Malasson]

I have the same issue (everything worked fine until some weeks ago). The difference being I use both android and iOS, and my device is a Sony Dnr-1050 instead. Have not found any older Spotify version to try with. 

[kiwibot21]

Hi all - same issue. Can someone provide a solution?? Does deleting Google Home work? Does that affect your ability to google cast?

[luborj]

It's been month and a half since this issue appeared. There were several updates of the app on Android and none solved the issue. To be honest, I would have assumed that the problem concerning the huge number of users would have been solved long ago by now. I understand that we are not dealing with a small company with personal approach and that there are corporate processes most likely slowing these kind of things down...but month and a half?

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

@kiwibot21 - I can't speak to whether or not deleting Google Home will help your situation, although it should NOT impact your ability to Google Cast from other apps, as the transmission protocol is not dependent on having the Home app installed. BUT a user on another thread in here DID find a workaround involving Google Home that you might try since you mentioned it, IF you have the end-point device (IE smart speaker, or Chromecast Audio which is the topic of the other thread) added into Google Home.

Step 1 - Start playing Spotify in the app on your phone / laptop / lossless capable device.

Step 2 - Open Google Home and select the device you want to stream to, obviously one able to reproduce the higher resolution audio, IE Chromecast Audio or a DAC or soundbar / receiver.

Step 3 - Select the 'Cast my audio' button, and hit YES when it pops up to explain you will be mirroring your device audio. PLEASE NOTE - this option is only available on Android version of Google Home app.

Step 4 - TA DA, you're now streaming lossless via Google Cast instead of Spotify Connect. Just FYI your Spotify App will show that you are playing music on 'This Device' as opposed to having the 'device' icon shaded green and listing whatever end-point device you selected in Google Home.

@Luborj - I eventually got frustrated enough I decided to switch to Apple Music! Or at least I will compare to Spotify sound quality and ease of streaming to various devices around the house after receiving a new pair of Powerbeats Pro 2 thru a promotion at work, which comes with 3 months of free Apple Music. One more step into the dark side!

[daleally]

2 apps on the same network talking to the same speaker. The Linux app allows me to choose Spotify Connect or Google Cast, the Android app only Cast. The problem is with the app. Not the network, not the speaker.

[slivain]

Well, in this case the Spotify app streams lossless, but we don't know if what is sent to the receiver via Cast is transmitted lossless... The spotify app has no knowledge of that because it doesn't know that you are casting your device audio.

[natalie_fitz]

Same issue!

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

@silvain - if you're responding to my post, the DAC of the poster who found a workaround was showing a reading IMPLYING lossless anyway, but yes you're right I'm not sure how we would know without A/B listening or maybe some way more advanced measurement process. Here's a screenshot from page 14 of this thread -> https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/Allow-lossless-playback-to-Chromecast-Audio-device/idc-p...

[kiwibot21]

Hi all

I found the issue in my case. It had nothing to do with the router, wifi, DNS settings or Google Home. In my case, I had a Google Audio connected to the same network. As soon as I removed this device (disconnected it) Spotify Connect appeared. Looks like Google Audio was some how interfering with or masking Spotify Connect device. 

Hope this helps others. 

[picht]

Same issue here.

Yesterday I set up a Naim CI 102 in my kitchen. In the living room I have a Naim nsc 222. After a lot of googling, troubleshooting, reinstalling apps etc. I discoverd the following:

When both devices are powered on (either standby or fully on) I can only select Google Cast on my phone (galaxy s22). When I pull the power cord on one of the devices then Spotify connect becomes available. (and is then the only option) 

So it seems that IF you have only ONE spotify connect capable devices in your netwerk (powered on) then there is no issue. Somehow if there is more than one google cast capable device on your network Spotify prefers this as the only option.

Before the CI 102 from Naim,  I had a bluesound node, which does not support google cast, there was no problem.

[Gharding79]

This was working fine for me on my KEF LS50Wii speakers until the most recent (I think) app update - I could select Spotify connect or Google cast, either using lossless. 

Now I only have Google cast with 320kbps MP3 max quality.

It seems like it is related to Google home groups - removing my speakers from the multi room groups I have in Google home allowed the use of Spotify connect and lossless again (but now no option for Google cast!).

[tilarien]

Thank you for posting your solution, kiwibot21!

---

I had a Google Audio connected to the same network. As soon as I removed this device (disconnected it) Spotify Connect appeared. 

I also had Google Chromecast Audio on the same network, and after unplugging it, and force-stopping the Spotify app and the Google Home app, Spotify on Android now uses Connect to stream lossless to my KEF LSX II (which are capable of both Chromecast and Spotify Connect).

This aligns with picht's hypothesis that:

---

if there is more than one google cast capable device on your network Spotify prefers this as the only option

Until now, it was so annoying that in order to enjoy Spotify Lossless on these speakers I had to boot up the PC and select the music in Spotify Windows app.

Affected device: Google Pixel 6 Pro

OS: Android 16

Spotify app version: 9.0.90.1229