How to start Spotify with Google Nest speakers by Homey

Bit complaining and background
Since purchasing Homey, I have been somewhat disappointed with the cooperation between Google and Homey. I thought I would be able to make better use of the Google Nest Minis and Audio speakers in my house with Homey. Unfortunately, it feels like playing with Lego and Duplo together; it’s possible, but whether the result is ‘beautiful’ is debatable.

The frustration started with the lack of clarity about which Homey app to use for my collection of Google products. After some searching and reading, it turns out that the Nest Minis and the Nest Audio devices require the Google Chromecast app (@Homey; perhaps include these devices in the description of the app). After installing the app and adding the devices in Homey, it appears that you can do a bit more, but controlling music (via Spotify) still doesn’t work well (action cards not doing what they should, devices not being reachable from Homey, and the points I’m now forgetting to mention).

But wait; there’s also a Spotify app. It states that it doesn’t work with Chromecast. After some time, it turns out you can link a Nest speaker (and also the Hub) to the Spotify app. So, where Homey categorizes the Nest speakers under Chromecast, they do not in the Spotify app description. There is an important requirement for adding a device under Spotify; Spotify must be active on the speaker. Otherwise, the app doesn’t recognize any devices to add.

Unfortunately, even after using the Spotify app, you cannot start music via Homey. This is despite both the Google Chromecast app and Spotify offering action cards for starting music. The other ‘Spotify’ actions can only be used if Spotify is already playing.

I have already spent quite a bit of time looking for an alternative (two Googles talking to each other was really a too strange solution for me) and have finally found a very workable alternative with Google’s routines.

Where I previously used voice commands to have my Google Hub start Spotify and Homey directly play the right playlist, I now have a workable solution for starting Spotify via my dashboard (SmartDash).

Solution
In hindsight, it’s quite simple. Via Homey, I set the volume to 3% on the relevant speaker. A Google routine then ensures that Spotify starts playing. Subsequently, Homey can get back to work (sometimes with a mix of actions from the Homey apps for Google Chromecast and Spotify).

I hope someone can benefit from these insights or help me gain more insights. :thinking: :grin:

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As per my knowledge, You should download the Spotify app then connect to the speaker.

Google Home does not work well. This is an issue of Google not of Homey. If I use the homey app it always works ( or my dashboard app) From google I often get “ something went wrong, try again in a few seconds. And even sometimes it works while I get this message. :fearful:

Then how you start playing Spotify on a Google speaker by Homey?

To be sure: you refer to Spotify App voor Homey | Homey or just the app from Spotify for Android/IOS ?

Did you by any chance find a better solution in the meanwhile? :smiley:
If not, I tried setting it up this way. It works, but a bit clunky. It takes quite a while for Google Home to trigger the “Open Spotify” routine.

In Homey I let the volume change to 1%
A Google Home routine catches that the volume has been set to a value between 0-2%
I let Homey wait 5s (hoping Spotify would be opened by then) and then increase the volume back to 20%. However often it takes Google Home at least 10s to open music on spotify.

Do you have any suggestions for a better “flow?” :slight_smile:

Thanks!

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Sorry for the late reply.

Unfortunate I did not find a better and quicker method.

No problem :slight_smile: I decided to return the Homey Pro and ordered a Home Assistent Green.
Tbh I don’t regret my choice. Not only because of this “issue”, but had some several other issues too (Zigbee devices that left the network too often also).

Easiest way to get it working imo is:

1: Create a virtual button in Homey and call it eg. Start Spotify on Speaker XXX
2: Create a Routine in Google Home that fires when that button is pressed eg. “Play XXX playslist on speaker XXX”

You can then create a flow in Homey to “press” the virtual button in Homey and start it any way you like.
Eg. When license plate XXXX is detected, or entrance door is opened between 8-10, or when blinds are rolled up or when…

It’s still not seamless as you have to create a routine in Google Home, but it’s still only 1 extra layer :man_shrugging: