As a tech writer and Google Home user for over 5 years, I’ve explored various methods for streaming audio from Google Home smart speakers to computers. Whether you want to record audio, use your computer’s speakers instead of Google Home, or simply expand the available audio outputs, casting and streaming Google Home audio can be useful in many scenarios.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through multiple methods to send Google Home audio to laptops and desktop PCs, along with the pros and cons of each approach.
Table of Contents
Streaming with Bluetooth
The easiest way to get audio from your Google Home onto a computer is to use Bluetooth. As long as your computer has Bluetooth connectivity, you can pair it with Google Home and stream audio directly.
Pros:
- Simple, no additional hardware/software needed
- Works with all audio services (Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.)
Cons:
- Audio quality can suffer due to Bluetooth compression
- Need to be in Bluetooth range, usually 30 feet or less
To enable Bluetooth streaming:
- On your Google Home speaker, open the Google Home app
- Go to your speaker’s settings and ensure Bluetooth is enabled
- Select “Pair Bluetooth device” and pick your computer from the list of available devices
- Your computer may prompt you to confirm pairing
Once connected via Bluetooth, any audio played on Google Home will also be transmitted to your computer’s speakers or headphones.
Casting with Chromecast Built-in
Google Home speakers have Chromecast streaming capabilities built-in, allowing you to “cast” audio to other devices including computers. This gives you more range and higher quality than Bluetooth.
Pros:
- Increased range, works over WiFi
- Lossless audio quality
Cons:
- Requires compatible app or browser extension
- Doesn’t work with all audio services by default
Casting from Mobile Apps
If you play audio from a mobile app that supports Chromecast, such as YouTube Music, you can select your Google Home speaker as the audio output. This will stream the audio to Google Home rather than playing from your mobile device.
To cast from mobile apps:
- Open the app and start playing audio
- Tap the Cast button (looks like a WiFi symbol)
- Choose your Google Home device under “Cast targets”
Casting from Chrome Browser
You can also cast audio from Chrome on a desktop or laptop computer using the Google Cast browser extension.
To cast audio from Chrome:
- Install the Google Cast extension
- In Chrome, open a tab that plays audio such as Spotify web player or YouTube
- Click the Cast extension icon and select your Google Home
- Audio will now be streamed to your smart speaker
Recording Google Home Audio
If you wish to make permanent recordings of Google Home audio rather than just streaming it live, there are a few options available.
Recording with Voice Recorder Apps
There are various voice recording apps for mobile devices that let you record audio over WiFi, which can capture Google Home’s output. Some top options include:
- Cassette Recorder (iOS/Android)
- Audio Recorder (Android)
- Voice Record Pro (iOS)
To record from Google Home:
- Connect your phone and Google Home to the same WiFi network
- Position phone close enough to speaker to pick up audio
- Start recording in the app and play audio on Google Home
- The recording will capture what Google Home plays
Pros: Easy to setup with no additional hardware required
Cons: Can pick up background noises, quality dependent on phone microphone
Recording with OBS Studio
For more advanced audio recording, OBS Studio is a free and open source software solution. It’s designed for video recording and live streaming but can capture high quality audio as well.
To record Google Home with OBS Studio:
- Download and install OBS Studio on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer
- Add an Audio Input Capture source and select your computer’s speakers/headphones
- Start recording and play audio on Google Home
- OBS will capture the audio streamed to your computer at CD quality or better
Pros: Lossless audio quality, advanced editing features
Cons: Increased complexity, requires running cables to computer
Recording with Voice Command
Google Home speakers have built-in voice commands to record short audio clips. You simply say “Hey Google, record audio” to begin a 5 minute recording. The file will be saved to your Google Drive account.
Pros: Quick hands-free recordings with just your voice
Cons: Short 5 minute limit, saved only to Google Drive
Conclusion
Whether you need to capture Google Home audio, expand the available outputs, or use a computer’s superior speakers, streaming and recording Google Home to laptops and desktops is easy with the right method. Bluetooth and Chromecast built-in provide wireless streaming options, while various apps can record audio as well.
With these techniques, you can break free from just using the smart speaker’s internal transducers and instead leverage the versatility of your home computer setup.
