Remote controls are so 90 ‘! With Google Assistant compatible speakers and a Chromecast, you can control your TV with your lips, without your hands. We explain how.
What if you could do without a remote to control your TV? This is in part the promise of the TV component offered by the Google Assistant – Chromecast couple. In part, because to this day, the possibilities are still limited: impossible for example to zap among the TNT channels. Only two content platforms are currently supported in France, Youtube and Netflix.
>>> Read also – Guide: all you need to know about Google Assistant
Until services like Molotov or MyCanal are compatible with Google voice recognition, here is what you need to control Youtube and Netflix by voice:
- A Google Assistant compatible speaker or a smartphone equipped with Google Assistant
- A Chromecast module
- An Internet connection
- A Wi-Fi network
- A google account
Step 1: Link a Chromecast key to your Google Assistant speaker
To get started, power the Chromecast module either from the electrical network via an AC adapter, or from one of the USB ports on your television if it is equipped with one. Then connect the Chromecast module to one of the free HDMI ports on your TV.
On your smartphone, download the Google Home app (for Android, or iOS), then launch it. Smartphone in hand, stand near the module then launch the Chromecast configuration once it has been detected by the application. Follow the different steps displayed on the screen then check that the Chromecast is among your devices by going to the “Devices” section of the side menu.
In the list of devices, go to your Chromecast then tap on “Activate voice control and more” to associate the module with your Google account. This association will allow you to control your Chromecast by voice via the Google Assistant function on your smartphone or a connected speaker compatible with Google Assistant.
Step 2: Link your Netflix and Youtube accounts in the Google Home app
In the app, open the side menu and then select “more settings”. In the Services section, go to the “Videos and photos” section, where currently only Netflix is offered. Tap on “Associate”, then log into your Netflix account in the window that opens. Once recognized, the window closes, your Netflix account is now associated with Google Assistant.
No need to do the same with Youtube, the service being the property of Google, and therefore natively compatible.
Step 3: Master the essential commands
Once your installation is configured, head to the sofa! Here are the main commands to master for Netflix and Youtube. Note that before saying these commands, you will first have to pronounce the traditional “Ok Google” or “Hey Google”.
NETFLIX
- Start a series: “Play [Nom de la série] by Netflix on [Nom du Chromecast]”
- Example : “Play Netflix Mindhunter on Living Room TV”.
- Mute / activate sound: “Mute” / “Activate sound”
- Pause: “Pause” / “Resume playback”
- Next / previous: “Next episode”, “Previous episode”
- Fast forward: “Fast forward”
- Fast reverse: “Go back”
Netflix controls available only from a Google Assistant compatible speaker:
- Change language: “Change the language to [langue]”
- Example : “Change language to English”
- Activate / deactivate the subtitles: “Activate the subtitles”, “Turn off the subtitles”
- Change the language of the subtitles: “Activates the subtitles in [langue]”
- Example : “Activate English subtitles”
YOUTUBE
- Play videos from a specific channel: “Play videos from [Nom de la chaîne] on [nom du Chromecast]”
- Example: “Play videos from 01netTV on TV in the living room”
- Play a specific video: “Play the video [Nom de la vidéo] on [nom du Chromecast]”
- Example: “Read the video Our advice for choosing the right True Wireless headphones on TV in the living room”
- Play videos from an artist: “Play videos from [Nom de l’artiste] on [nom du Chromecast]”
- Example: “Read videos of Agar Agar on Télé du salon”
- Read a trailer: “Read the trailer for [Nom du film] on [nom du Chromecast]”
- Example: “Read the Star Wars Episode 8 trailer on TV in the living room”
- Play videos from a category: “Play videos from [Nom du thème] on [nom du Chromecast]”
- Example: “Read cat videos on TV in the living room”
Bonus step: Turn your TV on or off with Google Assistant
With Google Assistant and a Chromecast, it is also possible to turn your television on or off… under certain conditions. The first is to have a television equipped with an HDMI CEC (for Consumer Electronics Control) input. This protocol makes it possible in particular to turn on or off an HDMI CEC product via the remote control of another HDMI CEC product to which it is connected. The CEC can take other names according to the manufacturers (Viera Link for Panasonic, AnyNet + for Samsung…)
The other condition sine qua non is to power the Chromecast key from an electrical outlet and not from one of the TV’s USB ports. Finally, in order to function, turning your TV on and off via voice command requires that you use standby and not power off via a physical button.
You are ready ? Now you just have to try with these two very simple commands:
- To turn on the television: “Ok Google, turn on the television” or “Ok Google, turn on [Nom du Chromecast]”
- To turn off the TV: “Ok Google, turn off the TV” or “Ok Google, turn off [Nom du Chromecast]”
