Important: This feature is not supported on Chromecast (1st gen).
Group any combination of Google smart speakers and displays, Google streaming devices, and Google Pixel Tablets together for synchronous media throughout the home.
You can create pre-set speaker groups you use often or use the mini-player to add, remove, or move speakers when playing media.
Compatible devices
Speakers
- Google Nest Audio
- Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
- Google Home Max
- Google Home Mini (1st gen)
- Google Home
Displays
- Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
- Google Nest Hub Max
- Google Nest Hub (1st gen)
Create, edit, and delete pre-set speaker groups
Important: Speaker group creation is only available on a phone or tablet. This feature is not supported on the Chrome browser. However, you can still cast to a group from Chrome. Learn how to cast audio from Chrome.
Create a speaker group-
Make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or Google Account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices, or Pixel Tablet.
- Open the Google Home app
.
- At the top, tap Add
Speaker group.
- Choose the devices that you want to add to the group. A check
will appear next to each selected device.
- Tap Next, then enter a name for your group.
- Tap Save.
Tip: You can only add a Pixel Tablet to a speaker group when it's attached to the Charging Speaker Dock.
Important: If you make edits to a group that's currently casting media, group playback stops and all audio devices in the group also stop playing. You need to return to the Cast-enabled app or say a voice command to start casting media again.
-
Make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or Google Account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices, or Pixel Tablet.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Home
- Tap Settings
Choose devices.
- Choose the devices that you want to add or remove. All devices in the group will have a check
- Tap Save.
Tip: You can only add a Pixel Tablet to a speaker group when it's attached to the Charging Speaker Dock.
Important: If you delete a group that's currently casting media, group playback stops and all audio devices in the group also stop playing.
-
Make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or Google Account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices, or Pixel Tablet.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Home
- Tap Settings
.
- Tap Delete group
Use and control pre-set speaker groups
Use a voice command to start playing media on a speaker group. Then, control your media with the Google Home app, voice commands, or touch controls on your device.
Tip: Your phone and tablet's volume buttons won't adjust the volume of your speaker group.
- Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Home
.
- Tap the current media session for:
- Playback controls
- Volume control (media and voice assistant)
- Playback device selection
Important: During group playback, volume commands only change the device you said the voice command to.
|
To do this: |
Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," then: |
|---|---|
|
Play music using group name |
"Play rock on [group name]" |
|
Control music using basic commands |
"Pause" |
|
Control volume of a device in a speaker group |
"Louder" |
Important: Each device's touch controls adjust only its own volume, not the speaker group's volume.
Google smart speakers
Important: Speaker touch controls change the volume of media and your voice assistant only. To change the volume of alarms and timers, use the Google Home app or the Quick settings menu on a smart display.
| Action | Image |
|
Pause, resume, or stop media Tap the center of the Nest Audio. |
|
|
Turn up the volume Tap the right side of the Nest Audio. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%. |
|
|
Turn down the volume Tap the left side of the Nest Audio. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%. When the volume is set to 0:
|
| Action | Image |
|
Pause, resume, or stop media Tap the center of the Nest Wifi point. |
|
|
Turn up the volume Tap the right side of the Nest Wifi point. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. |
|
|
Turn down the volume Tap the left side of the Nest Wifi point. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. When the volume is set to 0:
|
To reverse right and left controls:
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Home
, then touch and hold your Nest Mini's tile.
- Tap Settings
| Action | Image |
|
Pause, resume, or stop media Tap the center of the Nest Mini. |
|
|
Turn up the volume Tap the right side of the Nest Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. |
|
|
Turn down the volume Tap the left side of the Nest Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. When the volume is set to 0:
|
| Action | Image |
|
Pause, resume, or stop media Horizontal placement: Tap the line on the top. Vertical placement: Tap the line on the right side. |
|
|
Turn up the volume Horizontal placement: Swipe from left to right along the line on the top. Vertical placement: Swipe up along the line on the right side. |
|
|
Turn down the volume Horizontal placement: Swipe from right to left along the line on the top. Vertical placement: Swipe down along the line on the right side. When the volume is set to 0:
|
| Action | Image |
|
Pause, resume, or stop media Press and hold either side of the Home Mini. |
|
|
Turn up the volume Tap the right side of the Home Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. |
|
|
Turn down the volume Press and hold the left side of the Home Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. When the volume is set to 0:
|
| Action | Image |
|
Turn up the volume Swipe clockwise on the top. |
|
|
Turn down the volume Swipe counterclockwise on the top. When the volume is set to 0:
|
|
|
Start your request Press and hold on the top. |
Google Nest displays
Important: To control the volume of alarms and timers, use the Quick settings menu. The volume button and media card adjust the volume of media and your voice assistant only.
Use the media card to pause, resume, play the previous or next song, or change the devices that are playing media.
| Action | Image |
|
Turn up the volume On the back of the Nest display, press the upper volume button. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%. |
|
|
Turn down the volume On the back of the Nest display, press the lower volume button. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%. When the volume is set to 0:
|
- To open the Quick settings menu, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Volume
.
- Use the main volume control slider
- If needed, tap Expand
to open the volume control slider for timers and alarms
.
- Use the main volume control slider
- To change the volume, swipe the slider left or right.
- To find the media card, swipe down from the top, then tap Media.
- If the screen shows the media that's playing, tap the screen instead.
- Use the controls on the card to pause, resume, or play the previous or next song.
- To open more controls, tap [display name]
. You’ll get a list of available devices and a volume control slider for each device that’s currently playing.
- To start or stop playing media on a device, tap the radio button next to its name.
- To change the volume on an active device, swipe its slider left or right.
Google Pixel Tablet (Hub Mode)
When you change the volume on your Pixel Tablet while it's docked, the volume on the speaker dock will also change.
| To do this: | Touch Google Pixel Tablet like this: |
| Turn up the volume |
Press the side button closest to the power button. |
| Turn down the volume |
Press the side button that's farthest from the power button. |
When media is playing in Hub Mode, you can control playback on your lock and Home screens by touch. A media widget will automatically appear with buttons to control what's playing.
For easy touch control, some media apps have widgets you can add to your Home screen. When the widget on your Home screen, you can control the volume, pause playback, skip or change songs, podcasts, radio station, and more.
Add, remove, or move speakers while playing media
You can add or remove speakers from playback or move media from one speaker to another without creating a pre-set speaker group.
-
Make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or Google Account as your speaker, display, Google streaming devices, or Pixel Tablet.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Home
- On the mini-player, tap Cast
- Tap each device that you want to add or remove. All selected devices will have a check
Audio delay issues
If there's a delay between one device in the group and the others, refer to How to correct group playback delay.
Troubleshoot issues with speaker groups
Make sure your speakers are updated to firmware version 3.73 or above. This should allow you to setup speaker groups for the following device types:
- Nest Audio
- Nest Mini
- Google Home Mini
- Google Home
Speaker groups with these devices should not experience disrupted playback. If you continue to have issues with your Speaker group, remove any devices not listed above then test again.