To play music on all your Google Home and Nest speakers at once, create a speaker group in the Google Home app: open the app, go to Devices, tap Add, choose Speaker group, select every speaker you want, and give the group a name such as “Whole house.” Then say “Hey Google, play music on Whole house,” or cast from Spotify, YouTube Music, or another app to the group.
Below are the full steps, how to start and control group playback, which devices can join a group, and fixes for speakers that drop out.
What you need
- Two or more Google Nest or Google Home speakers or displays, or Chromecast-enabled speakers.
- All devices set up in the same home in the Google Home app.
- All devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.
- A music service linked to Google Assistant, such as YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, or Deezer, depending on your region.
Create a speaker group
- Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the Devices tab.
- Tap Add (the plus button) and choose Speaker group.
- Tick each speaker or display you want in the group.
- Tap Next, type a name, and tap Save.
Pick a name that’s easy for Google Assistant to recognize, such as “Everywhere” or “Downstairs.” You can create several groups, and a speaker can belong to more than one.
Play music on the group
With your voice
Say “Hey Google, play [song, artist, playlist, or station] on [group name].” For example: “Hey Google, play jazz on Everywhere.”
From a music app
- Open Spotify, YouTube Music, or another Cast-enabled app.
- Start playing something and tap the Cast or devices icon.
- Choose your speaker group.
From the Google Home app
Tap the group in the Devices tab to see what’s playing, adjust volume, or pause.
Control volume and playback
- Group volume: Adjust it from the music app, the Google Home app, or by voice (“Hey Google, set Everywhere volume to 40 percent”).
- One speaker: In the Google Home app, open the group and adjust each speaker’s slider to balance rooms.
- Stop everywhere: Say “Hey Google, stop” to any speaker in the group.
Move music between speakers
Stream transfer lets you move what’s playing without stopping it. Say “Hey Google, move the music to the kitchen speaker,” or open the media controls in the Google Home app and choose a different speaker or group. You can also add or remove a speaker from what’s currently playing without editing the group itself.
Edit or delete a group
- In the Google Home app, tap the group in the Devices tab.
- Tap the Settings gear.
- Add or remove speakers, rename the group, or tap Delete speaker group.
Tips for better multi-room sound
- Use the equalizer. In each speaker’s settings, open Audio > Equalizer and adjust bass and treble so small speakers like the Nest Mini don’t sound thin next to larger ones.
- Place speakers away from walls and corners to reduce boomy bass, or closer to them if you want more.
- Pair two identical speakers as a stereo pair in one room for wider sound. Stereo pairs can still be added to a larger group.
- Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi where your speakers support it. It’s usually less crowded and helps keep streams in sync.
- Set up a “Night” group with just bedroom speakers so evening music doesn’t play through the whole house.
Which devices can join a group?
| Device | Works in speaker groups? |
|---|---|
| Google Nest and Google Home speakers | Yes |
| Nest Hub and other smart displays | Yes (audio only) |
| Speakers with Chromecast built-in | Usually |
| Chromecast connected to a TV | Yes, plays audio through the TV |
| Bluetooth speakers paired to a Nest speaker | No |
Troubleshooting
- The group doesn’t appear in an app: Make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network, then restart the app.
- A speaker keeps dropping out: Check its Wi-Fi signal, move your router or add a mesh point, and restart the speaker.
- Audio is out of sync: Restart all speakers in the group. Some setups also offer a group delay adjustment in device settings.
- Assistant plays on the wrong speaker: Use the exact group name, or rename the group to something more distinct.
- Music service won’t play on the group: Some services or free tiers limit multi-room playback. Check your plan.
Related: How to play music on Google Home from your phone.
Related: How to connect Google Home to new Wi-Fi.
Related: Call your Google Home speaker from your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play different music on different speakers?
Yes. Each speaker or group can play its own stream at the same time.
Do all speakers need to be the same model?
No. You can mix Nest Minis, Nest Audio, Nest Hubs, and Chromecast speakers.
Can I include an Amazon Echo or Sonos speaker?
Not in a Google speaker group, unless the speaker has Chromecast built-in.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.