Chromecast Not Casting? Here's a Quick Fix to Get You Streaming Again [Update]

Updated on March 14: Google has started rolling out the fix to affected Chromecast models via over-the-air update. It is advised that users connect their Chromecast to the smartphone.

Chromecast Not Casting? Here’s Why

According to multiple posts in the Chromecast and Google home threads on Reddit, first spotted by 9to5Google, the problem primarily affects the Chromecast 2nd Gen and Chromecast Audio. However, some users have also reported similar issues with the newer Chromecast 3rd Gen.

The main concern appears to be that these Chromecast devices are unable to play video or audio from a smartphone or tablet. Some users have shared screenshots with varying error messages, such as "Untrusted device: [device name] couldn't be verified. This could be caused by outdated device firmware."

This issue is not limited to the U.S. but appears to be impacting users worldwide. Additionally, the root cause is suspected to be on Google's server side, with one user pointing to an expired intermediate authentication certificate, which was valid until March 9, 2025, at 16:44:39 GMT, based on the shared strings of code. Reports indicate that the problem began immediately after this expiration.

Some users speculated that this issue could be related to Google's discontinuation of support for these older Chromecast models. However, this theory has been contradicted by the fact that Google has not officially announced any deprecation of the affected devices.

A Possible Quick Fix for Chromecast Connectivity Issues

While some users initially attempted to reset their devices, this approach did not resolve the issue. In some cases, it even caused the Chromecast to completely lose connectivity, making it inaccessible.

Fortunately, a few workarounds have been shared on Reddit. The simplest non-technical solution involves:

1. Resetting the Chromecast device.
2. Re-adding it to the Google Home app.
3. Setting the date on the smartphone or tablet used for setup to a time before March 9, 2025.

However, this method has had mixed results, working for some users but failing for others. Additionally, those who successfully reset their device and changed the date have been unable to modify the settings, leaving their device stuck with the default configuration.

Although this workaround has helped some users, it is now recommended to follow Google's advice, posted below, as they work on the definitive fix.

Google's Response to Chromecast Not Working

On Monday, Google acknowledged the issue affecting select Chromecast devices, preventing them from casting. It also advises the affected users to avoid factory resetting their device. Now, in a follow-up update on Thursday, the company confirmed it had identified the cause and addressed a fix via an update, but those who got their device stuck during factory reset should wait for another fix.

We have started to roll out a fix for the problem with Chromecast (2nd gen) and Chromecast Audio devices, which will be completed over the next few days. Your device must be connected to receive the update.

If you performed a factory reset during initial troubleshooting, you may still be experiencing an issue where you cannot re-setup your device. We are working to resolve this as soon as possible. Please continue to check the Community page here for updates and next steps.

Additionally, Google advised users not to reset their Chromecast devices, as some users encountered setup issues that left their devices stuck. Instead, they recommended waiting for the official fix. Google has not provided a timeline for the solution, which is expected to arrive via a software update.

Is your Chromecast impacted by this issue? Have you found any workarounds that worked for you? Please let us know in the comments!

Via: 9to5Google