Output device unexpectedly switching from Google Nest Hub to "This phone" when launching Spotify

[TommyT13]

Plan

Premium

Country

Greece

Devices

Google Pixel 9

Google Nest Hub

Windows 11 PC

Google Pixel 9 Operating System

Android 15 (BP1A.250405.007)

Spotify Version

9.0.40.391

Google Nest Hub Operations System

26.20250116.103.2201

My Question or Issue

Spotify on Android seems to automatically switch output device when media is already playing on Google Nest Hub via Spotify Connect.

Steps To Reproduce

1. Start playing any song to my Pixel 9, my Windows 11 PC, or the Google Nest Hub
2. Change output device to Google Nest Hub via Spotify on Android (this doesn't apply when starting playback from Google Nest Hub)
3. Quit Spotify app on Pixel 9
4. Launch Spotify app on Pixel 9*
5. Output device switches from Google Nest Hub back to Pixel 9 unexpectedly, immediately after the app is launched

*Usually I have to wait for a while (few minutes), in order for this issue to occur and the output device to switch back to Pixel 9.

Additional Info

This issue has been occuring for many months, but I am unable to further pinpoint after which Spotify/Pixel/Nest Hub update this started, as I ignored it thinking that this would be hotfixed soon. As this is not the case, and I was unable to find similar reports in the Community, I've now decided to start a topic highlighting the unexpected behaviour I am experiencing with the app. Unfortunately, I am unable to reproduce this at will since this might happen anytime when following the steps above, hence a screen recording is not attached. This would only work with reverse capturing, similar to NVIDIA's Instant Replay. The information above might not include a complete list of reproduction steps, as I am unable to better pinpoint what is causing this or any other relevant patterns to this behaviour. The same symptoms are observed when:

• Media playback originally starts from my Windows PC and then streamed to Google Nest Hub via Spotify Connect
• Media playback originally starts from my Pixel 9 and then streamed to Google Nest Hub via Spotify Connect (this may take longer for the switch to occur, as it is OK within the first few minutes and after a lot of Spotify restarts)
• Media playback originally starts from Google Nest Hub directly and remaining on Google Nest Hub via Spotify Connect when asking Google to play any song/playlist

Troubleshooting Steps

Here you will find a list of steps that are already exhausted, given this has been happening for many months and there have been a lot of changes regardless of the Spotify issue. Including those right below:

1. Reinstalled Spotify BETA
2. Opted out of Spotify BETA
3. Reinstalled Spotify stable
4. Updated Spotify on Android
5. Updated Google Nest Hub's OS
6. Updated Pixel 9's OS
7. Erased Pixel 9 and restored from recent backup
8. Erased Pixel 9 and skipped restoring from recent backup (setup as new)
9. Erased Google Nest Hub
10. Linked Google Nest Hub with another Pixel 6a I used to have 6 months ago, both under my main Spotify account
11. Changed network equipment
12. Changed network settings (Wi-Fi channels, security type, band's frequency from 2.4G to 5G and vice versa, splitted band's into two separate networks)

It is quite annoying when this happens, as this is also pretty frequent and constant. Please, advise on further steps or additional information/logs that you may need to escalate this further.

[Yordan]

Hey there, @TommyT13,

Thanks for the thoroughly detailed report!

Just to confirm, have you tried using another mobile device that's not a Pixel (or an Android) to see if you'd experience the same behavior? If possible, you can also ask someone (a friend or a relative would do) to log in to their own account and check if they can reproduce the issue as well.

Let us know how it goes 👍

[TommyT13]

Hi Yordan,

Unfortunately, I do not have a spare mobile device, either Android or iOS, to further isolate this.

Just to clarify about the second suggestion, are you proposing that someone signs in onto my Pixel phone, in order to stream music via Spotify Connect on my Google Nest Hub device, or a friend's device to be linked with my Google Nest Hub?

Either of the two will mess up my current Google Nest Hub configuration. That is quite invasive just for isolation purposes, as you understand. Can you please advise on any further next steps?

Thanks in advance!

[Yordan]

Thanks for the reply, @TommyT13!

Yes, I meant using another Spotify account with the Pixel to double-check if this is account-related, but I understand your point.

Anyway, is your Pixel connected to any other external devices (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) when you open Spotify and trigger the playback transfer? If so, try disconnecting them temporarily to see if that helps.

Keep us posted on this!

[TommyT13]

Hello again Yordan, thanks for coming back to me!

Fortunately, my Pixel is only connected to this Google Nest Hub device, not any other BT/Wi-Fi accessories. Additionally, I thought it would be helpful to mention that no Proxies/VPNs/MDMs profiles are installed to any of the devices mentioned thus far, neither on the network equipment (router/Wi-Fi adapters).

In order for such back and fourths on this thread to be prevented, will you be able to provide a more detailed list of troubleshooting/isolation steps to be exhausted, so that I can come back to you with the ones that can be performed perhaps?

Looking forward to hearing from you back here!

[MihailY]

Hey @TommyT13,

Thanks for your response and the additional info.

I'm afraid we don't have any other troubleshooting steps to suggest at this point. We've noted your report, however we can't give you an ETA for a fix. In the meantime, just make sure to keep your app up to date.

We're here for you if there's anything else you wish to address.