Tech Reference

How to use your Google Home device as a music speaker in 2 different ways

Written by Steven John and William Antonelli
Google Home base colors
There are two easy ways to use your Google Home as a speaker. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
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Do you have a Google Home device? Do you have a smartphone or tablet with Bluetooth capabilities, or a music streaming account? 

Then you have a ready-to-use (and easy-to-use) speaker, as well as the tools you need to control it.

While usually one thinks of Google Home as a smart assistant ready to take commands and help manage your household, the Google Home can also serve as a humble smart speaker, cranking out tunes in surprisingly good quality for such a compact device.

Here's how to use your Google Home as a speaker in two ways, whether you have an iPhone or Android device.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Google Home (From $99.99 at Best Buy)

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $599.99 at Best Buy)

How to use a Google Home as a Bluetooth speaker

To use your Google Home as a speaker, first put it in pairing mode. You can do this in two ways:

  • Say, "OK Google, Bluetooth pairing." 
  • Open the Google Home app on your smartphone, tap the Google Home device you want to pair, and then select "Paired Bluetooth devices." In this menu, select "Enable Pairing Mode."
Google Home Mini
You can control your Google Home with your voice or the app.  Google/YouTube

Once you put your Google Home into pairing mode through either of these methods, you can then connect it to your smartphone like you would any other Bluetooth device.

So, on an iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Select "Bluetooth" in the first group of options.

3. Give your iPhone a moment to search for devices, and then select your Google Home (if you've renamed it, it'll appear with that name) from the "Other Devices" section.

4. The two devices will take a moment to pair. If they won't connect, move the devices closer.

And on an Android:

1. With two fingers, swipe down from the top of your screen.

2. Tap and hold the Bluetooth icon. If it's not on this screen, swipe left to see all your Quick Access options and tap it there.

3. Give your Android device a moment to search for devices. Depending on what phone or tablet you have, you may need to tap a button that says "Pair new device" or "Search for devices."

4. When your Google Home appears in the list of Bluetooth devices (if you've renamed it, it'll appear with its new name), tap it.

5. The two devices will take a moment to pair. If they won't connect, move the devices closer.

Once you pair your devices, the Google Home will act just like any other Bluetooth speaker and play all the audio your phone, whether it's coming from YouTube, Spotify, Safari, or another app.

How to use a Google Home as a speaker by connecting it to your streaming accounts

You can also connect your Google Home directly to one of your music streaming accounts — this includes services like Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music, and more.

When you set up your Google Home, you'll usually be asked to connect to all of your streaming accounts. But in case you weren't, or your decided to skip that step, here's what you can do.

1. Open the Google Home app.

2. On the homepage, select "Settings."

3. Under the "Rooms, groups, and devices" heading, tap "Add…"

IMG_4806
Select "Add..."  William Antonelli/Business Insider

4. In the new menu, under the "Add services" heading, you'll see three options. Depending on what sort of audio you'd like to listen to, select "Music and audio," "Videos and photos," or "Radio."

IMG_4807
If you have a Google Home Hub, you can stream Netflix and other video services.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

5. On each screen, you'll be presented with a list of streaming services that your Google Home can connect to. Tap each one you want and log into your account, and then confirm that you want to give your Google Home access to that service.

IMG_4808.PNG
Your Google Home can connect to a number of different music services.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

Once you've done this, you can use your Google Home as a speaker with just a command.

For example, you can say, "OK Google, play Spotify" to hear music from Spotify. You can also get more specific — for example, "OK Google, play 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen on Spotify."

 

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Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.
WillAntonelli
William Antonelli
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.