Cannot add WiiM Sound as a device in Google Home app

[Kman]

WiiM Sound is a big disappointment for me because I cannot group any speakers with my Sound using Roon Ready. I also cannot play the Sound with Chromecast groups using any app. Grouping devices is a big part of why I am building a WiiM ecosystem.

Summary:

*** WiiM Sound cannot be set up as a device in the Google Home app. It can only be accessed in the Google Home app through the "Now Playing" tab at the bottom when it's an active Chromecast device.

*** WiiM Sound doesn't work with Chromecast groups. All apps fail to connect to a Chromecast group that includes WiiM Sound. It doens't matter whether other devices in a Chromecast group are WiiM or another brand.

*** WiiM Groups don't work with WiiM Sound using Roon Ready. Attaching another WiiM device through the WiiM app fails when using Roon Ready. This is not a problem with my Ultra or Pro Plus.


***** Problem #1: Cannot group my Sound with Ultra when using Roon Ready. Roon is my primary app for playing music.

If I play to my Ultra with Roon Ready and try to group my Sound in the WiiM app the Sound will turn on but will not play music. Oddly, the Sound shows "Now Playing" and its "play/pause" control works on the Ultra. The same problem if I start playing Roon Ready on my Sound and try to group my Ultra.


***** Problem #2: I cannot add WiiM Sound as a device in the Google Home app. WiiM Sound fails to work with any Chromecast group.

WiiM Sound shows as an available Chromecast speaker in my music apps but I cannot add it as a device in the Google Home app. I press "+", then "Device". I tried scanning the QR code on the package but it wasn't recognized. I the tried "Add a different way" but there is no entry for WiiM or Linkplay. I'm completely stuck. The Google Home app previously found my Ultra and Pro Plus devices just by being on the same wifi but I think the app has changed since then.

I was able to make a Chromecast group that includes my Sound by selecting "Now Playing" at the bottom of the Google Home app when playing to Sound through Chromecast. That group does not appear in Google Home but it does show in my various apps. However my apps (Spotify, Qobuz, Roon) fail to connect to that Chromecast group.

I have no problem using Chromecast groups with my Ultra and Pro Plus, even with non-WiiM devices. The problem is with my Sound.

 

[Wiimer]

At least my WiiM Sound is added to the room via Google Home. Additionally, a "stereo pair" group has been created with WiiM Sound Lite, allowing casting via Spotify Connect.



If this doesn't work, you may need to factory reset the device, set it up again, and enable Google Cast. I don't know anything about Roon, but is Roon Ready enabled in the WiiM home app?

 

[Kman]

I have enabled Google Cast. My WiiM Sound appears as a Chromecast device in my apps and can play music using WiiM Home, Roon, Qobuz, etc.

I just can't find a way to add it as a device within the Google Home app, and any Chromecast group that includes my WiiM Sound won't connect in any app even though the groups appear as devices in Spotify, Qobuz, Roon, etc.

I have enabled Roon and it has no problem playing to only my WiiM Sound. But when using Roon Ready I cannot group the Sound with my Ultra using the WiiM app.

Because my Sound can't connect to Chromecast groups and won't group with other WiiM devices when using Roon Ready it cannot be part of a whole home system using Roon. Roon Ready and Chromecast groups are failures with my WiiM Sound, unlike my other WiiM devices.

 

[Wiimer]

I have enabled Google Cast. My WiiM Sound appears as a Chromecast device in my apps and can play music using WiiM Home, Roon, Qobuz, etc.

I just can't find a way to add it as a device within the Google Home app, and any Chromecast group that includes my WiiM Sound won't connect in any app even though the groups appear as devices in Spotify, Qobuz, Roon, etc.

I have enabled Roon and it has no problem playing to only my WiiM Sound. But when using Roon Ready I cannot group the Sound with my Ultra using the WiiM app.

Because my Sound can't connect to Chromecast groups and won't group with other WiiM devices when using Roon Ready it cannot be part of a whole home system using Roon. Roon Ready and Chromecast groups are failures with my WiiM Sound, unlike my other WiiM devices.

It might be an issue with your home network.

Have you reported it to our support team?

 

[VMoose22]

Is your Sound added to the "Home" so that it doesn't show up only as a local device?

Also, sometimes it takes a day or two for a Chromecast device to show up in Home app, in order to add it to the "Home".

I've also seen where certain mesh networks create issues seeing WiiM devices in the Home app.

 

[Burnside]

Is your Sound added to the "Home" so that it doesn't show up only as a local device?

Also, sometimes it takes a day or two for a Chromecast device to show up in Home app, in order to add it to the "Home".

I've also seen where certain mesh networks create issues seeing WiiM devices in the Home app.

Yeah, that was at the back of my mind from problems reported a while ago - the WiiM devices may not quickly appear in the Google home app for whatever reason, and importantly they need to be in a “room” before they’ll properly interact.

 

[Kman]

Problem is now solved. Not sure what changed. First, everything was on the same wifi. I use different names for 2.4 and 5gHz.

Next day I rebooted my router and WiiM Sound, cleared caches for Google Home and WiiM Home apps, rebooted my phone.

Suddenly the WiiM Sound appeared as a local Chromecast device in the Google Home app and I could add it to a room/home. Chromecast groups including the Sound now work correctly.

I can use Roon to play to Chromecast groups mixing WiiM and non-WiiM devices. I cannot use Roon with WiiM groups because it doesn't appear as a device in Roon's settings, unlike Qobuz Connect and Spotify Connect.

Yeah, that was at the back of my mind from problems reported a while ago - the WiiM devices may not quickly appear in the Google home app for whatever reason, and importantly they need to be in a “room” before they’ll properly interact.

Chicken and egg problem about adding to a room: the device needs to show as a local network device before you can add it to a room/home

 

[Kman]

Problem is now solved. Not sure what changed. First, everything was on the same 5gHz wifi. I use different names for 2.4 and 5gHz.

Toady I rebooted my router and WiiM Sound, cleared caches for Google Home and WiiM Home apps, rebooted my phone.

After that the WiiM Sound appeared as a local Chromecast device in the Google Home app and I could add it to a room/home. Chromecast groups including the Sound now work correctly.

I can use Roon to play to Chromecast groups mixing WiiM and non-WiiM devices. I cannot use Roon with WiiM groups because those groups don't appear as a devices in Roon's settings, unlike Qobuz Connect and Spotify Connect.