As you relax on your comfy couch after a long day, the last thing you need to do is get up and find the remote to turn up the sound of your favorite show.
Fortunately, Google Assistant – through your Google Home device or through your phone – can give you control over many aspects of your TV, even when the remote is out of reach. For example, you can change the volume level or start Netflix with just a phrase.
All it takes is a Chromecast or smart TV. The setup process is the most time consuming step, and even it will only take you a few minutes.
How to connect Google Home to TV using Chromecast
If you have a Chromecast, a TV with an HDMI port, and a decent Wi-Fi connection, then you have everything you need to connect Google Assistant to your Chromecast.
Start by connecting your Chromecast. Your Chromecast will most likely connect to the HDMI port and use micro-USB for power. The Chromecast Ultra is slightly different in that it uses an external power supply rather than plugging directly into the TV.
Once you’ve connected and configured your Chromecast, connecting your Google Home device to your Chromecast is easy. After setting up your Chromecast, you should already have the Google Home app installed, but if not, take a moment and download it now. You can find the app in both the Play Store and the App Store
- Make sure your Google Home and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to connect them.
- Open the Google Home app on your mobile device. Google usually doesn’t allow you to install the Google Home app on computers. While possible, workarounds are mostly not worth the effort.
- Click Add, then Configure Device, then Configure New Devices.
- A list of different houses will appear. Select the home you want to add the device to, or create the home you want to add the device to. When done, click Next.
- Google will find and present a list of all compatible devices. Select your Chromecast from this list and click Next.
- The code will appear on the TV screen to which the Chromecast is connected. Make sure it matches the code displayed on your mobile device.
- You will then be given the option to send anonymous data to your device. Select “Yes” or “No”.
- Select the room your device is in and click Next.
- Select the Wi-Fi network your device should connect to and click Next.
- You will then be asked if you want to receive emails or not. Select “Yes” or “No”.
- Then select the video services you want to add and click Next.
- Click Continue.
After completing all these steps, your device should be connected. You can tell Google Home to “Play Friends from Netflix on Chromecast,†and the show should appear on screen without any additional prompts.
You can adjust the volume, skip episodes, and more. However, you cannot turn off your TV unless the Logitech Harmony Hub is connected to it.
How to connect Google Home to an already configured device
The above steps are for connecting a new device, but you may face a situation where the device is already installed in your home, such as a Smart TV. If it has Chromecast built-in, it may not show up on your list of devices to add to Google Home.
Here’s how to connect Google Home to this TV:
- Once again, make sure your device and Google Home are on the same network. If you are unsure, check which network connection your Smart TV is using in the settings menu.
- Open the Google Home app.
- Click Add and select Configure Device.
- Click. Is there something already configured?
- A list of devices appears. All related devices will be shown at the top. Click the search button in the upper right corner and enter your device name. Once you find it, click on the device name.
- You will be prompted to log in. If you are setting up a Smart TV, please use this brand – Sony, Vizio, etc. to log into your account.
- After logging in, you should receive a warning that [NameOfDevice] is now associated.
Once the devices are connected, you can control your TV using the Google Home smart assistant. You will also be able to stream content and images from your phone.
If you have a smart TV, a dedicated app for your model will also provide you with a digital remote that can do everything a physical remote can do. This is another great option when cushions have used it up and you can’t find the strength to fight your way through them.
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