Why can't I cast music to my Google Home?

Casting music to Google Home devices allows you to play music from supported apps on your phone or tablet and stream it directly to Google Home speakers. This lets you control playback of songs, playlists, radio stations, and more using just your voice and the Google Assistant. Casting provides an easy and seamless way to get music playing on your Google Home speakers.

However, sometimes issues arise that prevent casting from working properly. This content will provide an overview of casting music to Google Homes and troubleshoot some common problems that can prevent casting from working.

Compatible Music Services

The Google Home supports streaming music from a variety of popular services. Here are some of the main music apps and platforms that allow you to cast music to Google Home speakers:

YouTube Music – Google’s own music streaming service that comes pre-installed on Google Home. You can cast audio and music videos from the YouTube Music app to Google Home speakers (source).
Spotify – The popular music streaming app can cast to Google Home. Make sure the Spotify and Google Home apps are connected (source).
Apple Music – Subscribers can cast music to Google Home using AirPlay from iPhone/iPad or the Apple Music app on Android (source).

Pandora – Pandora Premium subscribers can cast stations and playlists to Google Home (source).
Other services – Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, TuneIn Radio, and SiriusXM also work with Google Home (source).

So most major music apps allow you to stream to Google Home speakers. Make sure the app and your Google Home device are linked properly.

Set Up Casting in Music Apps

To cast music from your phone or tablet to your Google Home speaker, you first need to make sure the music app you want to use supports Google Cast technology. Popular music apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, Pandora, and TuneIn all allow casting to Google Home.

To set up casting in the app:

Open the app on your mobile device and play a song.

Tap the Cast button (it looks like a WiFi symbol).
Select your Google Home speaker from the list of available devices.
The app will now stream to that speaker.

You can adjust volume and song selection from the app on your phone or tablet while it casts. Make sure your phone and Google Home are connected to the same WiFi network. Some apps have additional settings related to casting and audio quality, so check for a “Cast Settings” menu. For step-by-step instructions on enabling casting in apps like Spotify and Pandora, visit this guide.

Connect Google Home to WiFi

One of the most common reasons you may not be able to cast music to your Google Home is if the speaker is not connected to the same WiFi network as your phone or computer. The Google Home speaker needs to be on the same local network in order to communicate with other devices for casting.

To ensure your Google Home is connected to the right WiFi network:

Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
Tap on the speaker you want to connect.
Tap “Settings” and then “Wi-Fi.”

Select the WiFi network you want the Google Home to connect to and enter the password if prompted.

The Google Home will reconnect to the selected network. You may need to give it a few minutes. Now try casting music again from your phone, tablet or computer. As long as those devices are on the same WiFi network, you should be able to cast to the Google Home speaker.

If you recently changed your WiFi password or router settings, your Google Home may have lost connection. Follow the steps above to reconnect it to the network. Check that other devices like your phone can connect as well. If you’re still having trouble, you may need to factory reset your Google Home to clear any issues linking with your WiFi.

For additional troubleshooting on WiFi connectivity, refer to Google’s own connectivity guide and router reset tips.

Check Google Home Volume

One of the most common reasons you may not be able to cast music to your Google Home is that the volume is turned down too low on the device itself. Google Home and Nest speakers have physical volume controls that are separate from the volume you control via the Google Home app or your voice commands.

To check the volume on your Google Home or Nest speaker:

Look for the physical volume control on the device, usually indicated by a + and – sign. On the Google Home Mini and Nest Mini, this is on the side. On larger speakers, it may be on the back or top.
Turn the volume up by pressing the + volume button or twisting the control knob clockwise until you hear an audible beep indicating the volume has been increased.
Try casting music again, keeping the phone volume around 50% to ensure enough volume is going to the speaker.

Increase the physical volume control on the Google Home if the music is still too quiet.

The volume on Google Home devices ranges from 0 to 100%. Make sure it is set adequately high to be able to hear music and other audio being cast to it. Setting the volume to at least 50% or higher is recommended.

If adjusting the physical volume control does not resolve quiet playback, there may be other underlying issues, which we will cover how to troubleshoot next.

Troubleshoot the Google Home App

One of the most common issues that can prevent casting music to a Google Home is a problem with the Google Home app itself. Here are some steps to troubleshoot the app on your phone or tablet:

First, force stop the Google Home app by opening your device’s Settings > Apps > Google Home > Force Stop. This will fully close out of the app.

Next, clear the app’s cache and data by going back to Settings > Apps > Google Home > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data. This deletes temporary files and resets the app.

If the issues persist, try fully uninstalling and reinstalling the Google Home app from the app store. Download the latest version and set up your Google Home again from scratch. [1]

Resetting the app often resolves connectivity problems, glitches, and other bugs that could prevent casting. Make sure to also check for any pending app updates which may contain fixes.

Factory Reset Google Home

If you have tried other troubleshooting steps like checking your WiFi connection, Google Home app connectivity, and volume levels, but are still unable to cast music, a factory reset may help. A factory reset will erase all your custom settings and paired devices and reset your Google Home to its original factory settings.

According to Google’s support article, you can factory reset your Google Home in a few ways depending on your model:

On Google Home speakers, locate the reset button on the bottom of the device near the power cord. Press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds until the LED lights up orange, then release.
For smart displays like Nest Hub, go to Settings > Device Settings > Factory Reset.

You can also reset your device through the Google Home app. Go to Settings > Your Device > Factory Reset.

Once the reset is complete, set up your Google Home again through the app. You’ll have to reconnect to WiFi and re-link any music streaming services. Hopefully after resetting, you’ll be able to successfully cast music again.

Contact Customer Support

If you are still having issues casting music after trying the troubleshooting steps, you may need to contact Google Nest customer support for additional help. Google provides several options to contact their customer service team for Google Home and Nest products:

Call the Google Nest support phone number at 1-855-469-6378. This number is available 24/7.
Initiate a live chat through the Google Nest Help page.
Send an email to the Google Nest team by filling out the contact form on the Google Nest Help main page.

When you contact Google Nest support, be ready to provide details about your Google Home device, the music services you are trying to cast, and the troubleshooting steps you have already tried. The customer service agents can use this information to better diagnose the issue and provide solutions to get music casting working again.

Consider a Device Upgrade

If you are still unable to cast music to your Google Home after trying all troubleshooting steps, the issue may be due to an older or incompatible model. Newer Google Home models have improved hardware, software, and connectivity that may resolve casting problems.

For example, the Google Nest Audio speaker was released in 2020 and can stream music through services like YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, and more. The Nest Audio utilizes Chromecast technology and has WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 for reliable wireless streaming.

Upgrading to a newer model like the Nest Audio or Nest Hub Max smart display could provide the latest casting capabilities and resolve any incompatibility issues with older Google Home devices. Checking the specifications and features before upgrading can help ensure your new device will work seamlessly for casting music.

Summary

There are a few main troubleshooting steps to try if you are unable to cast music to your Google Home:

Make sure you are using a compatible music service like Spotify, YouTube Music, or Pandora.
Check that casting is enabled in your music app’s settings.

Confirm your Google Home is connected to your WiFi network.
Check the volume on your Google Home speaker.
Update or reinstall the Google Home app.

Factory reset your Google Home device.

If you still can’t resolve the issue, contact Google Home customer support or consider upgrading your device.

Why can’t I cast music to my Google Home?