No longer able to stream to Google home devices with Chromecast Audio set as "Default music speaker"

[RetiredBy55]

Plan: premium

Country: USA

Device: Google Nest Audio, Google Home Minis, Google Chromecast Audio

Hello Community,

I have multiple Google home devices distributed around my house. They're all on the same network, as is my Android phone and my Google Chromecast Audio. In Google Home, Spotify is configured to be my default music service. I can stream Spotify from any of these devices and direct the output to any other device by voice command, Google Home, Spotify smart app, Spotify web or Spotify on my PC. 

I've been streaming to my stereo using a Google Chromecast Audio device (named "stereo") for several years. In Google Home, I've configured my Google Nest Audio to use the Chromecast as the "Default music speaker". So when I address the Nest with "Hey Google, play some [content choice]", it responds with "Alright. [content choice] from Spotify - playing on stereo." This results in content from Spotify streamed to my stereo.

Sometime early February 2025 this stopped working. Google responds, but no content streams. There's no indication on the Nest, Chromecast or Spotify that content is playing.

No other functionality - as outlined at the top of this post - is broken. All Google devices have the latest cast firmware. All devices running Spotify locally have the latest software release.

What's interesting is that other streaming services work. For example, I can ask the Nest to "Play NPR", to which is responds "Streaming #### XXXX from NPR on stereo" (where #### is the radio station address and XXXX is the station call letters.) The content streams correctly.  So it appears to be a Spotify issue.

Other Google Home users are experiencing the same issue.

Any thoughts? 

[Catalinescu]

Had an workaround and made a group with mini and chromecast audio, then set the group as default audio output for mini. Worked ok for a few days (playing both) but since today, not working anymore, and worst, not even from my phone I could not stream spotify to chromecast audio, and this makes my device or my spotify account useless. What is going on???? Also as a feedback - today spotify behaved badly also on volumio plugin, could not next songs or bouncing out from the volumio player. Something buggy felt these days with spotify specially with google chrome cast audio. Hope we get good news and updates soon! 😞

[Justmurdoch]

Here is the Google thread to the issue at bar:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/No-longer-able-to-stream-music-directly...

[babounette92]

Plan

Premium

Country

France

I have been using Spotify on ChromeCast Audio devices since many years.

Since 9 of march afternoon, it is impossible to connect anymore with the Chromecast Audio devices. (it was working well in the morning)

I have 2 Chromecast in 2 rooms ; I can see both on the app, as usually, but when I attempt to connect, 'connection' status run endlessly and no connection occurs.

I have reset internet box, chromecasts and phones. No progress.

Any idea ? Thanks

[Capribloke]

worldwide fault at google.  waiting for a fix by them

[Terminalbliss]

I'm having the same issues.. it worked fine for years and is not connecting to Google Chromecast. I have no hub, it's just Google home with the devices connected to my home. 9.0.24.601 on android Google pixel 8 but doesn't work from a Samsung tablet either

[wie1]

Hi,

I have the exact same issue. Worked fine for many years.

I have tried the workaround but it doesn't work for me. Can you please fix this asap as this suggested workaround ('move this to <device>') is only available in English language of Google assistant.

Thank you.

[MarcusPr]

What also works: "OK Google, Beatles". What doesn't work:

"OK Google, play Beatles"

"OK Google, Blackbird"

"OK Google, play Blackbird"

[Charlie1974]

Same problem here, after I was able to use this feature for many years. Infuriating! Ultimately I completely deleted my Google Home environment: the complete home and all the devices, updated the firmware on chromecast and Google home mini, reconnected Spotify account, etc. It doesn't work with Spotify! Other services, like TuneIn still work perfectly.

[mrfletching]

I'm having the same issue. Used to work fine asking the Google Home to play music on Chromecast Audio, but now it responds saying "Playing musing on living room speakers" but nothing happens. Same with the WiiM Amp. 

[J-S-D]

Same problem for me.

Nothing changed in wifi environment and everything else runs just fine controlling with Home assistent. It's ONLY Spotify that does work to start with voice command on Chromecast Audio. 

I have done a lot of testing to fix this at my end and nothing helps. 

It could be a Chromecast issue, but why does everything else that i throw att it with voice command work. I also believe this is more of a problem with Spotifys implementation and if it s not i would say Spotify need to sort this out with Google.

Hope to see a fix soon as this have worked flawless for many years and is the reason i use Spotify instead of other streamingservices.

[wie1]

I wish representatives of both companies would stop suggesting setting it up new and suggesting it is user config error and a) acknowledge and b) fix ASAP. This is one of two reasons I have Google devices... and I like Spotify better than Google Music

[domogeek]

Yes, the situation has lasted long enough. The problem has been there for weeks and there has been no response from Google and/or Spotify. All my multiroom audio is based on Google Mini > Chromecast Audio > ceiling speakers. I didn't pay hundreds of dollars for Google equipment for nothing. And the same goes for the monthly Spotify family subscription. My family is starting to get annoyed and frustrated with this situation. What if it were customers? This is unacceptable.

[Jed_35]

If having the same issues, but can't seem to find any solution yet, other than to switch to a different service. Would really appreciate a fix. In the mean time I'll be trying a free trial of youtube music.

[Novy]

Hey folks, 

Thanks for the reports. 

We'd suggest reaching out directly to Google in order to report this correctly, since voice commands for their devices aren't handled by Spotify. 

Let us know how it goes.

[lerroybrown]

Hi Novy

Thanks for posting back.

I realise this is an issue with Google and not a Spotify problem however it is effecting your business.

I have now left Spotify and had to reluctantly move to YouTube music, I really don't like it but if Spotify wont play on my Chromecast audios via voice commands its no use to me. I am not alone and on reddit / forums / facebook etc allot of users are having to do the same. we have hardware that is costly to replace and frankly there isnt anything newer that ticks all the boxes.

It would be great if Spotify could put some pressure discuss with google and maybe come up with a working solution.

[wie1]

Thanks Lerroy, I agree with you. It's a big issue for users from both companies and been going on for way too long. 

Unlike you I have looked at replacing my Google devices with something else but that would be quite costly. 

I just had switched from Spotify to YouTube Music and was coming back to find this not working as I really don't like how YouTube Music works across multiple devices.

Can't wait for this to get fixed. I am assuming that Google would be aware but this recent post suggests it might not 🤷‍♂️

[lerroybrown]

Hi Wie1

I have gone down allot of avenues before swapping streamers.... looked at replacing was considering a bluetooth to 3.5mm adaptor but Bluetooth quality isn't great and also Wimm pro but pretty costly for 6 zones of audio 😞 

I feel the same YTM users system Isn't great, my daughter cant use it either with a supervised account and integration for home assistant is patchy require a new token every few days. I used to have keypads around house to play spotify playlists which was really handy.

really hope its rectified

[RetiredBy55]

Hi @Novy,

I created this thread and one of the same name in the Google Nest community forum. There's a link to that thread in one of the posts above. The Google thread is quite lengthy and offers what I consider to be useful test cases for Google to use in the debug & fix of the problem. I have pushed them to provide a fix but they seem indifferent to the problem and the users impacted.

I concur with @leroybrown 's post below. Early on I asked for a collaboration between the two companies to come up with a resolution - or at least discuss the problem - but there's obviously been no traction. Maybe you can  have a second look?

[domogeek]

hi

I tested today and it's now working!! Hourra!

thanks

[wie1]

Same here. In the basis it is working again.

It isn't as good as it was before though, I cannot tell Google to stop playing music... it knows it is playing (well, the Google Home app does), but that voice command doesn't work (yet?).