Google accidentally disables older Chromecasts

Two older Chromecast models are currently no longer able to stream content due to supposedly outdated firmware. The good news: Google has confirmed that this is a bug. A solution is already in the works, writes an official Google account in various Reddit threads on the topic.

In the post, Google advises against resetting the affected Chromecast to factory settings, which some users see as a possible solution. Google does not give a time frame for the problem solution: "We'll keep you posted when the fix is distributed," the Google account simply writes.

Devices affected from 2015

The Chromecast 2nd Gen and Chromecast Audio are affected. Both devices went on sale in 2015. Screenshots on social media show various error messages. The tenor: The certificate for authentication has expired because the firmware is too old. Users can no longer connect to the Chromecast, rendering the device unusable. Only the screensaver is still functional, writes 9to5Google.

The second Chromecast generation is still officially supported by Google. The first edition of the streaming device, on the other hand, has already dropped out of support and will no longer be supplied with updates.

Before Google confirmed the problem, numerous users were already looking for solutions to the Chromecast problem on their own. One of these solutions suggested first resetting the device to factory settings and then manually setting the date on the phone to the past. Other suggestions recommended manually downloading certificates. However, now that Google has confirmed the error, it is advisable to simply wait for an official solution instead.

(dahe)