How to connect Google Home to your TV

Google Home features now include working with the TV. Although it is not possible to physically connect the Google Home to a TV, it is possible to use it to send voice commands over the home network to a TV in several ways which, in turn, allow you to stream content from selected apps and / or control some functions TV.

Google Home can be used with televisions from a variety of manufacturers including, but not limited to, those made by LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony and Vizio.

How to connect Google Home to your TV via Chromecast

One way to connect Google Home to your TV is via a Google Chromecast or Chromecast Ultra media streamer that connects to any TV that has an HDMI input.

Typically, a smartphone or tablet is used to stream content through Chromecast so that you can see it on a TV. However, when a Chromecast is paired with Google Home, you have the option to use Google Assistant voice commands via your smartphone or Google Home.

To get started, make sure the Chromecast is connected to the TV and that it, smartphone and Google Home are on the same network. This means they are connected to the same router.

Collega Chromecast

There may be slight variations between Android and iOS apps, the following steps are for Android.

1. Turn on the TV and make sure the Chromecast screen is showing on the TV.

2. Open the Google Home app on your smartphone.

3. Tap the plus sign at the top.

4. Choose Configure Device.

5. Tap Set up new devices in your home.

6. Choose an existing home or create a new one, then tap Next.

7. Wait for the phone to search for the Chromecast. Tap Next when the app finds the Chromecast.

8. Check that the code on the TV matches the one in the app, then press Yes.

9. Choose Agree to continue.

10. Tap Yes, I’m there (or No thanks, if you prefer).

11. Choose a room to identify where the Chromecast is, then tap Next.

12. Connect the Chromecast to Wi-Fi by following the steps on the screen.

13. Tap Next to link the Chromecast to your Google account.

14. Follow any additional onscreen steps to set up your Chromecast.

Connect Google Home to Chromecast

If you set up Google Home in the same house as the Chromecast, you should have no problem immediately pairing the two to play music and videos.

However, if you can’t get your Google Home to communicate with the Chromecast, try this:

1. From the Google Home app, tap the TV your Chromecast is connected to.

2. Click the gear icon at the top.

3. Tap Default TV and make sure Chromecast TV is selected.

4. Tap Home and then choose the home you added the Chromecast to in the previous steps.

5. On the settings page, tap Default TV and make sure Chromecast TV is selected.

6. Tap Next.

7. Choose Move Device.

It still does not work? Go back to Settings, tap Default TV and make sure Chromecast TV is selected.

Using the Google Assistant commands on the TV

Once the Chromecast is connected to Google Home, you can use the Google Assistant voice commands to stream (cast) video to your TV.

You cannot use Google Home voice commands to watch (cast) content from apps other than those listed above. To view the contents of any add-on apps you want, you need to send them to the Chromecast using your smartphone. See Google’s list of compatible streaming apps.

On the other hand, you can use Google Home to ask Chromecast to perform additional TV functions (they may vary by app and TV). Some commands include Pause, Resume, Skip, Stop, Play specific program or video on a compatible service, and toggle subtitles / captions. Also, if your content offers more than one subtitle language, you may be able to specify the language you want to be displayed.

If your TV also has HDMI-CEC and that feature is enabled (check your TV’s HDMI settings), you can use Google Home to tell your Chromecast to turn the TV on or off. Your Google Home can also switch to the HDMI input that the Chromecast is connected to on the TV when you send a voice command to start playing content.

This means that if you are watching a broadcast or cable channel and you tell Google Home to play something using the Chromecast, the TV will switch to the HDMI input that the Chromecast is connected to and start playing.

How to connect Google Home to TV with built-in Google Chromecast

Linking Chromecast with Google Home is one way to use Google Assistant voice commands to stream video to your TV, but there are a number of TVs that have Google Chromecast built in.

This allows Google Home to stream content and access some control functions, including volume control, without having to go through an additional plug-in Chromecast device.

If a TV has Chromecast built-in, use an Android or iOS smartphone to preliminary setup using the Google Home app.

To connect Google Home to TV with Chromecast built-in, follow the same steps as above.

The services that Google Home can access and control with a Google Chromecast are the same services that can be accessed and controlled on a TV with Chromecast built-in. Casting from a smartphone provides access to multiple apps.

When you tell Google Home to play a video from one of the selected apps, the TV will automatically switch from the channel to the app. Also, Google Home can’t turn the TV on or off as well as it can when using an external plug-in Chromecast.

Use Google Home with a Logitech Harmony remote control system

Another way to connect Google Home to your TV is through third-party universal remotes like compatible Logitech Harmony remotes.

By connecting Google Home to a compatible Harmony Remote system, you can perform many of the content access and control functions for your TV using Google Assistant voice commands.

1. Tap the plus sign at the top of the Google Home app.

2. Select Configure Device.

3. Choose Have you already configured something?

4. Tap the search icon at the top and select Harmony.

5. Tap Harmony from the list.

6. Follow the on-screen directions to link your account.