(Pocket-lint) – Many of us own multiple Google Assistant devices and have set up multi-room audio so that they can all play the same tunes at once. But there’s an audio feature that can take your music-listening experience to the next level.
Have you ever started listening to music on one Google Nest device, say, in your kid’s bedroom while putting them to bed, but then you wanted to go sit down on your deck, for instance, and continue listening to music through another Nest device out there? Yes, that’s an oddly specific scenario, but it highlights one of the many different ways people use their Google Assistant devices. Sure, you could enable multiroom audio, but then both speakers would be playing – and the one in your kid’s room would be keeping them up.
Luckily, Google has come up with a feature, called stream transfer, which allows music to follow you around the house. You can move music, videos, and podcasts between devices. In fact, stream transfer supports any audio (except news and media playing via Bluetooth) – even YouTube videos. Here’s what you need to know about the feature and how it works.
How to use Google’s stream transfer
You can easily control stream transfer through Google Assistant voice commands.
| Action: | Say, “OK Google …” |
| Transfer media to another device |
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You can also control Google stream directly transfer from a Nest device or the Hub app. See Google’s support page for more details to learn more.
Which devices support Google’s stream transfer?
You can move music, podcasts, radio, and YouTube videos streaming from your Google Nest or Home speaker or display, or Chromecast device to another Nest speaker, speaker group, display, or Chromecast-connected device. Here is the full list of supported devices:
- Google Home, Google Nest Mini (2nd gen), Google Home Mini (1st gen), Google Home Max, Google Nest Audio
- Google Nest Hub or Google Nest Hub Max
- Chromecast with Google TV, Chromecast (2nd or 3rd gen), Chromecast Ultra, or Chromecast Audio
Which apps support Google’s stream transfer?
Stream transfer is compatible with YouTube, YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, and other apps at launch.
When will Google’s stream transfer be available?
Stream transfer first started rolling out in 2019. It is now widely available.
Want to know more?
Check out our guides on Google Home, Nest Hub and Hub Max, Chromecast, and Google Assistant:
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Writing by Maggie Tillman.
