Use google home as speaker for chromecast

What to Know

  • First, make sure your Chromecast, your Google Home device, and your mobile device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • In the Google Home app, tap Menu > More settings > TVs and Speakers, then tap the plus (+) and choose your Chromecast.
  • Once Chromecast is set up, you can use voice commands to pause, resume, and control the volume on your TV.

This article explains how to add Chromecast to Google Home. All you need is a Google Chromecast plugged into an available HDMI port on your television and the Google Home app (on iOS or Android) for Chromecast to interface with.

Connect Chromecast to Google Home

Before you begin, you’ll need to make sure your Chromecast is set up to work with your television and Wi-Fi network. You’ll also want to make sure you have your Google Home device set up on the same network.

First, connect your Android phone or iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Google Home and Chromecast. Then, launch the Google Home app on your device.

In the top left corner of the app’s Home screen, tap on the menu icon. Make sure you’re using the same Google account you set up on your Google Home smart speaker. You can switch accounts with a tap to the downward-facing triangle to the right of the account name.

Next, tap More settings, then TVs and Speakers. You should see a list of all your currently linked devices. To add a new one (or your first), tap the Plus icon in the screen's lower-right corner. If you’ve set up your Chromecast correctly, you should see the new device in the resulting list.

To add it to Google Home, tap the checkbox next to the device name, then tap Add.

Now you're set to start using the Google Home app for Chromecast.

Setting up Video Apps for Chromecast and Google Home

Some video services, like Netflix, Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access), and HBO require you to log in before using them with Google Home and Chromecast. Below is a list from Google’s help page:

Services that need a login:

  • Netflix
  • Paramount+
  • HBO
  • Viki
  • Starz

Services that do not need a login:

  • CW
  • YouTube/YouTube TV
  • Crackle
  • Red Bull
  • Google TV

Using Google Home Chromecast Voice Commands

You can control your Chromecast with the Google Home app, but using voice commands is much faster and more convenient.

Activating Google Home with your voice requires a catchphrase, either "Hey Google" or "OK Google." Then you can voice whatever command you want from there. If you have multiple Chromecast devices, specify which one. We denoted this below with brackets.

So, a complete command would consist of:

Catchphrase > Command > Where to execute command

Here's an example: "Hey Google, play My Next Guest Needs No Introduction on [device]." The first phrase would be whatever show you want to watch, while the bracketed phrase is the literal name of your connected device.

If you use a streaming service like Netflix, HBO Now, or Paramount+, you can ask Google Home and Chromecast to play any show from those services. For example, try your activation catchphrase, then say, "Play Stranger Things on [service]."

Other services like YouTube also let you play videos with your voice. Say, "Play Fred Armisen Texas accents on YouTube" or "Play Adele videos on YouTube" after you use the activation phrase. If you want to specify a video on YouTube (or any other connected service), add "on" at the end of your command.

You can get Chromecast to play, pause and resume any video (or music, for that matter) you watch on your TV via Google's device. Say your preferred catchphrase, then "Pause," "Play," or "Resume." These commands work even with services not currently logged into through Google Home, like Hulu. Use your catchphrase and say "Stop" when you've finished listening or watching.

Scrubbing through a video you’re watching with your voice is also straightforward. You can tell Chromecast to back up specific amounts of time, like "Go back 10 seconds" or "Go forward two minutes."

If the volume of your TV needs adjusting, say, "Set volume to 50 percent," or "Volume down on [device]." If you want to mute it altogether, say "Mute." You can follow that up with "Unmute" when you’re ready for the sound to come on again.

You can even turn your TV off and on if your TV has HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (or HDMI CEC). Say, "Hey Google, turn on [device]."

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Can Google Home be used as a speaker for TV?

If your TV has Bluetooth (and most smart TVs these days do), you should have no problem connecting it to a Google Home speaker.

How do I make Google Home my default speaker?

In the Google Home app.
On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Home app ..
At the bottom, tap Home ..
Touch and hold your device..
At the top right, tap Device settings ..
Choose a default playback device: For music and audio: Tap Audio. Default music speaker. ... .
Select your default playback device..

How do I use Google Home as external speakers?

How to use a Google Home as a Bluetooth speaker.
Say, "OK Google, Bluetooth pairing.".
Open the Google Home app on your smartphone, tap the Google Home device you want to pair, and then select "Paired Bluetooth devices." In this menu, select "Enable Pairing Mode.".