Unable to turn on/off TV through voice command (chromecast)

B
Userlevel 1
  • bst
  • Contributor I
  • 5 replies

Hi 

 

I have a weird issue. For years I have been able to turn on/off my TV through voice command using google assistant on my Sonos One. Suddenly this has stopped working, and the google assistant in Sonos says “Sorry unknown error has occured on [name of my chromecast]” (this error might not be precise, I have translated it from my native language).

 

I am able to for example pause/unpause the chromecast using voice command.

 

If if say the exact same turn on/off command using the Assistant app on my phone the TV turns on/off.

 

I have tried unlinking/removing my assistant both in Google Home app, and in the Sonos. Linked it again, and went through the setup process, but the same error occurs. I have also tried renaming my Chromecast (found that advice in a similar thread), but same result.

 

Both my Sonos One and Chromecast has newest firmware.

 

If i go to https://myactivity.google.com/ and filter on assistant, I can see the command, and here it also says that unknown error has occured.

 

Anyone else experienced this problem, or have any advice on how to debug this?

 

TIA

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36 replies

H
Userlevel 1

I have the same issue. I was able to ask Google Assistant on Sonos to turn off a Chromecast, which then in turn used CEC to turn off the TV. But, suddenly it stopped working.

 

Troubleshooting the issue led me to believe that it has something to do with the version of Google Assistant SDK that the Sonos system is using. If I ask the command “Hey Google, turn off <name of chromecast>” on a Google Nest Mini or the Google Assistant app on my iPhone, the command works. If I ask the same command to my Sonos One, I get an error message back in the line of “Sorry, something went wrong with <name of chromecast>” (this is probably not the exact message, since I’m translating it from Dutch). If I then go onto  https://myactivity.google.com/ to find more debug information (which can be found by clicking on “details” shown at the end of each command), I do see that

  1. Asking the command to a Google Nest, the source is “Google Home”
  2. Asking the command to the app on my iPhone, the source is “Google App”
  3. Asking the command to Sonos One, the source is “Google Assistant SDK” 

I also have an instance of Home Assistant running on my network. This piece of software can be configured to control Google Assistant as well, which also uses the Google Assistant SDK. If I execute my command via this route, the voice command is being executed without an issue. This means I can build a work-around, but it is not a perfect solution (have a look at Home Assistant and their Google Assistant SDK integration if you want more information: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/google_assistant_sdk/).

 

All the above led me to believe that the problem lies in the version of Google Assistant SDK that Sonos is using in their System. But, of course, this is only a hunch. Only Sonos knows.

 

I already contacted Sonos about this issue. The first support engineer did not believe me that this command worked in the past. The statement was made that “Sonos does not support this command”. And he stated that if it worked, it was by accident. Obviously, this is incorrect, because Sonos does not control the feature set of Google Assistant (since they are using Google Assistant SDK). Also, the response is clearly an error message, not a message stating that the command is not supported. When Google Assistant does not support a given command, it will tell you explicitly, not via an error message. He then just put a bunch of statements to get rid of me.

 

After I was very negative in a survey by Sonos, they reached out to me again to solve this issue. This next support engineer I had on the phone was a lot better and more knowledgable. She told me that Sonos is aware of the issue, and that Sonos is looking into a solution for this problem. She was not allowed to disclose any information about this issue until (or even if) it gets resolved. Fingers crossed!

J

Same issue here. Can't use the Chromecast to turn the TV on or off through a voice command issued to the Google Assistant on Sonos One anymore. Used to work fine, but stopped all of a sudden.

Maybe see if the suggestions in this Google support link may assist you to fix it:

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7498991?hl=en

Unfortunately not. I can control TV power using Google Assistant from any other device, just not my Sonos One. Used to work, but stopped within the past month. Tried removing and relinking Sonos to Google Home again, but to no avail.

M

This has been annoying me for months. It used to work, and then it stopped working. 
Finally i found a workaround that works for me. 

When i link sonos in google home app, i now get the option to add the «sonos tv control».
 

I place this in the same room as my tv (which is connected to the sonos beam). I name this controller «TV». I can now say «ok google, turn off TV» and the TV turns off. 

S

I have exactly the same issue. Google assistance can turn on/off my TV but when asking Sonos to do it, I receive an unknown error. However, I can still stream audio and video via Sonos. It is only the turn on/off function, which is not working.

It have been working for years up to now. I did not change anything, the problem just suddenly appeared. I have the feeling it was shortly after updating my Sonos.

 

B
Userlevel 1

Yes it is, and it works if if issue the command from the Google Assistant app on my phone.

K

Same problem here! First I thought it was a ghost Chromecast or TV that it tried to control, but it actually seems to be the Chromecast Ultra. Don’t have the problem with Google Home Mini or GA on the phone.

T

Same problem here! First I thought it was a ghost Chromecast or TV that it tried to control, but it actually seems to be the Chromecast Ultra. Don’t have the problem with Google Home Mini or GA on the phone.

It’s also interesting to know if it’s only an issue with Chromecast Ultra. Can anyone confirm with the older regular HD Chromecast or perhaps the latest Google TV?

Ken_Griffiths

🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️

EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE!!

 

At exactly the same time! 
 

Unable to resolve, is there a way to get advice from Sonos on this?!

You should be able chat to Sonos Support Staff via this LINK.

Ken_Griffiths

Same issue here. Can't use the Chromecast to turn the TV on or off through a voice command issued to the Google Assistant on Sonos One anymore. Used to work fine, but stopped all of a sudden.

Maybe see if the suggestions in this Google support link may assist you to fix it:

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7498991?hl=en

T

Same issue here. Can't use the Chromecast to turn the TV on or off through a voice command issued to the Google Assistant on Sonos One anymore. Used to work fine, but stopped all of a sudden.

Maybe see if the suggestions in this Google support link may assist you to fix it:

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7498991?hl=en

I agree with “jtwall” – if I type “Turn off TV” in the Google Home app it turns off the TV just fine. Only Sonos products has issues turning off the TV. We have 9 different Sonos products with Google Assistant. It is the same with all of them. Has there been any feedback or commitment from Sonos at all?

A

This has worked for me too! So happy ☺️😁😃

R

I have received a complete set of Sonos Arc + Sub + 2x Era. I have set it up last week and turning on the TV was absolutely fine.

 

After some connection problems i have setup Google Assistant from scratch and now have the exact same problem.

Turn on TV command where from Google Home or Google Assistant app but not from Sonos App.

Any ideas? The work around above results in the same issue.

Ken_Griffiths

I agree with “jtwall” – if I type “Turn off TV” in the Google Home app it turns off the TV just fine. Only Sonos products has issues turning off the TV. We have 9 different Sonos products with Google Assistant. It is the same with all of them. Has there been any feedback or commitment from Sonos at all?

I’ve not seen anything, but you can perhaps chat with Sonos Support Staff via this Link about the TV control issue, that’s if you are unable to resolve it. I’m beginning to wonder if Google may have withdrawn the feature from 3rd-Party devices, like Sonos. It would be nice to know if anyone currently has this working?

B
Userlevel 1

Thanks for your very detailed answer HansDP :)

Let’s keep our fingers crossed, it is a function we used all the time at our place.

jgatie

Is CEC enabled on your TV and Chromecast?

M

Same issue here. Any luck?

Ken_Griffiths

So did you rename the "Sonos (Room Name) TV" device, or did you assign it a nickname instead?.. I would perhaps try assigning it a unique nickname instead of renaming the device …and see if that works for you, but remember to include the nickname in the voice instruction and ensure no other device/room in the Google Home has the same name.

Just as an example, if you assign the control a nickname of "BST’s TV” then it’s ‘Hey Google turn on BST’s TV"

B
Userlevel 1

Hey Ken

 

Thanks for your reply, I am not sure I understand what you mean. My chromecast is not known in my Sonos app/environment. I tried renaming the Chromecast device in the Google Home app, here I tried renaming it to something unique.

 

And if I do “Hey Google, turn the volume up on BST’s TV”, than that command works. This is what puzzles me greatly, some commands work, but turn on/off does not.

T

I have borrowed a Google TV and it’s exactly the same issue. Very frustrating!

H
Userlevel 1

@Sonos - I’m checking in again after half a year. Any update? Any solution in the making?

 

it is clearly an issue that bugs quite some people. I do know that Sonos and Google are not best friends right now, due to the lawsuit and what not. Obviously, that will not speed up any solution for this. I think we all just expect a solution within a reasonable amount of time. 


This feature worked before and other integrations support the on/off command for a Chromecast (even the free and open source Home Assistant does support it).

 

Hope to get an update or a statement soon!

 

Regards,

Hans

Ken_Griffiths

Hey Ken

 

Thanks for your reply, I am not sure I understand what you mean. My chromecast is not known in my Sonos app/environment. I tried renaming the Chromecast device in the Google Home app, here I tried renaming it to something unique.

 

And if I do “Hey Google, turn the volume up on BST’s TV”, than that command works. This is what puzzles me greatly, some commands work, but turn on/off does not.

Sometimes more than one device can control the on/off functions of a TV and be linked to the voice assistant.

As an example my LG TV has the Google assistant built-in and the TV skill/action itself can turn on/off the TV (mic is built into the TV remote), I can also control the TV with the Sonos action/skill (in works with Google) and also with the Harmony action/skill linked to the Harmony Hub that I use to change TV channels - so in each case, I have called the TV by different names for each of the devices - my Sonos nickname is ‘Living Room TV’, whereas my Harmony Hub knows it as just ‘TV’ and my LG TV calls it the ‘Lounge TV’ - so depending on the name I include in the voice instruction will relate to which action/skill actually switches the TV ‘on’ or ‘off’ etc... and most such actions/skills default their own connected television names to ‘TV’ - So that’s why my suggestion is to look at which devices might be controlling your TV (i.e. Chromecast & Sonos etc.) and change their nickname to something ‘unique’ and include that in the voice instruction and see if it solves your issue.

B
Userlevel 1

Hey Ken

 

Thanks for your reply, I am not sure I understand what you mean. My chromecast is not known in my Sonos app/environment. I tried renaming the Chromecast device in the Google Home app, here I tried renaming it to something unique.

 

And if I do “Hey Google, turn the volume up on BST’s TV”, than that command works. This is what puzzles me greatly, some commands work, but turn on/off does not.

Sometimes more than one device can control the on/off functions of a TV and be linked to the voice assistant.

As an example my LG TV has the Google assistant built-in and the TV skill/action itself can turn on/off the TV (mic is built into the TV remote), I can also control the TV with the Sonos action/skill (in works with Google) and also with the Harmony action/skill linked to the Harmony Hub that I use to change TV channels - so in each case, I have called the TV by different names for each of the devices - my Sonos nickname is ‘Living Room TV’, whereas my Harmony Hub knows it as just ‘TV’ and my LG TV calls it the ‘Lounge TV’ - so depending on the name I include in the voice instruction will relate to which action/skill actually switches the TV ‘on’ or ‘off’ etc... and most such actions/skills default their own connected television names to ‘TV’ - So that’s why my suggestion is to look at which devices might be controlling your TV (i.e. Chromecast & Sonos etc.) and change their nickname to something ‘unique’ and include that in the voice instruction and see if it solves your issue.

Ah, got it. My TV has no built-in functionality for this, and I have no other smart gadgets that can control my TV. Only the Chromecast via Google Assistant :)

Ken_Griffiths

Ah, got it. My TV has no built-in functionality for this, and I have no other smart gadgets that can control my TV. Only the Chromecast via Google Assistant :)

Ah I see, I thought it was a Sonos-skill/action related question and you were perhaps trying to use the Sonos TV control (action/skill) that comes with a Sonos HT product connected to the TV. Sorry that’s my mistake. I will crawl back into my hole. It might be worth giving the router/network a reboot to see if that fixes it perhaps?

B
Userlevel 1

Ah, got it. My TV has no built-in functionality for this, and I have no other smart gadgets that can control my TV. Only the Chromecast via Google Assistant :)

Ah I see, I thought it was a Sonos-skill/action related question and you were perhaps trying to use the Sonos TV control (action/skill) that comes with a Sonos HT product connected to the TV. Sorry that’s my mistake. I will crawl back into my hole. It might be worth giving the router/network a reboot to see if that fixes it perhaps?

I already tried that, but again - I can use voice commands to control volume on the Chromecast. And I can use the Google assistant app on my phone to turn the TV on/off, so I do not think it is related to connectivity :)

S

Bump.

Same issue. Hope this gets fixed as it is one of the most used command/feature in our household.

 

In general the assistant has become worse over time as well, but I guess that is somewhat Google's fault.

 

Sad that the product is now a lot worse than it was when I bought it. Doesn't make me motivated to buy more if this is what happens.

 

 

 

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