How to broadcast messages on a Google Nest smart speaker or display
You can broadcast messages if you have at least two Google Home or Nest speakers in your house. This feature repeats your message on all speakers (or specified ones), saving you from yelling messages across multiple rooms. This feature is compatible with allGoogle Assistant speakers. You don’t need to rely on Google’s Nest products to broadcast messages.
The broadcast message command is simple, but it can be difficult to get it working correctly the first time. We show you how to use the Google Assistant broadcast feature and avoid common issues.
What is the Google Assistant broadcast feature?
The Google Assistant broadcast feature repeats messages on connected Google Home or Nest devices in your home. You can broadcast a message to every speaker in the house, a specific room, or a device. You can’t use this feature to broadcast messages to devices that aren’t connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Broadcasting via Google Assistant is more convenient than leaving a message in a family group on WhatsApp or Telegram. It’s a neat way to keep your family updated on important events (like when dinner is ready) without reaching for your phone or shouting across the house.
When you broadcast a message, receiving devices play a short notification sound before playing your message.
you may no longer broadcast messages to your Google Family Group. This change happened on January 26, 2024.
Everything you need to broadcast messages with Google Assistant
Broadcasting messages with Google Assistant requires at least two speakers. However, there are a few more requirements to broadcast messages successfully:
You can also use your phone to broadcast messages. It doesn’t need to be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Google Assistant devices to send messages (although it won’t receive them).
Anyone (including users in Voice match and guests) can start a broadcast on Google Nest devices.
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How to broadcast a message on Google Assistant devices
Broadcasting a message is as simple as using a voice command on your phone or Google Assistant device.
Broadcast a message to all devices from an Android phone or Google Assistant speaker
When you use your phone to broadcast a message, you can trigger Google Assistant via a swipe gesture on the phone instead of saying, “Hey, Google.” Activate Google Assistant (usually by holding your phone’s power button), and say “Broadcast…” followed by your message.
Broadcast messages from an iPhone or iPad
You aren’t entirely out of luck if you use an iPhone or iPad. The integration isn’t as seamless as Android. Still, the Google Assistant app on iPhone can broadcast messages to Google Assistant speakers or displays.
Only one person can broadcast at a time.
Broadcast a message to a specific room or device
You can limit the broadcast message to a specific room or device. Here’s how to specify where you want the broadcast to play:
For example, if you want to broadcast to the Nest Mini speaker in the screenshot above, say, “Hey Google, broadcast toMy Bedroom, [message],” or “Hey Google, broadcast toMy Bedroom speaker, [message].”
Broadcasting to a specific room or device is only available in English.
How to broadcast a preset message
Google Assistant has preset messages saved for common broadcasts. For example, if you said, “Hey Google, broadcast I’m home,” the Google Assistant speakers in your home say, “Hi there, [name] has arrived.”
Other preset messages include:
A complete list of preset messages and their commands can be found onGoogle’s support page.
How to reply to a broadcast
You can reply to a broadcast to send a message to the broadcast device. Say, “Hey, Google, reply [message],” immediately after receiving a broadcast.
If an Android device or iPhone was used to send the original message, the reply appears as a notification. If you use Google Nest to announce a message, the device plays your family member’s reply out loud.
When you reply to a broadcast message, be careful with your words, as everyone around the broadcast device hears your reply.
What to do if broadcast messages are not working on Google Assistant or Home devices
If Google Assistant doesn’t broadcast your message on other smart devices, use the following steps to troubleshoot the problem:
Keep your family members in the loop
Another way to use broadcasts is through Routines. This is a handy tool if you want toautomate broadcasting messages.
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