Audio to Google Home & Chromecast speakers from Windows
I wanted to be able to play audio from any application running on my Windows computer using Chromecast Audio devices (or Google Home compatible speakers).
I listen to music using iTunes in Windows. I listen to Internet radio stations using the Firefox web browser.
I use the Desktop Audio Streamer app from here to cast audio to Chromecast from any software running on my Windows computer. This is the only reliable software that I have found that will cast audio from any software that I use in Windows.
The app automatically finds and lists the Chromecast devices (and also finds Google Home compatible speakers). The app also finds and lists device groups that I have created in Google Home. I can click on a device or group to send audio to a device or to all the devices in a group.
The options avaialble include "Show window at startup" or not. I have not ticked this option and the app starts and is an icon in the system tray (in the bottom right corner of the screen). I can left click on the icon to display the full app on screen ... a second click on the tray icon minimises the app back to the tray. A right click on the tray icon lists Chromacast devices, speakers and groups and I can click on the list to start sending audio.
I have been using Desktop Audio Streamer for a few weeks and I do not of any reason why the software will not be reliable but I cannot be sure that the software will work on all computers at all times.. I do not know and I have never spoken to the author of the software.