Google hasn’t necessarily been treating Nest and Chromecast users that well lately. It ended support for first- and second-generation Nest Thermostats in 2025, effectively turning them into “dumb” models. As for Chromecasts, those are no longer sold at all — they were dropped in favor of the Google TV Streamer. While technically superior, the Streamer lacks the portability of its predecessors, which made them fantastic for travel.
As if that weren’t enough, Google has repeatedly broken support for some older Chromecasts, meaning the ones prior to the last generation. As of early September 2026, everything should be back to normal — although after you apply this fix, you may want to consider upgrading sooner rather than later.
- Dimensions
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6.4 x 3 x 1-inch
- Connective Technology
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Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
How to get your old Chromecast up and running again
Not as straightforward as it might seem
Google hasn’t identified which Chromecasts the new fix applies to. In July, however, users began reporting problems with at least two models, namely the 2013 original and the second-generation dongle from 2015. These issues affected usage in some cases, but primarily setup — effectively bricking a Chromecast if something went wrong, or if you were trying to hand it off to a new owner.
The solution to this involves two steps, beginning with updating the Google Home mobile app to version 4.26 or later. Android users can download the update via the Google Play Store, if it hasn’t already downloaded automatically. iPhone owners will of course have to use the Apple App Store.
To reinitiate setup, you’ll have to perform a factory reset on your Chromecast. That can be accomplished via physical buttons or the Google Home app. If your Chromecast is still linked to Home, you can tap and hold its device tile, then select Settings -> More -> Factory reset. Otherwise, you’ll need to use button-based commands.
For the first-generation Chromecast:
- Plug the Chromecast into a power source and your TV’s HDMI port.
- Hold the button on the Chromecast for 25 seconds, or until the LED flashes red. Keep holding.
- You can release the button after the LED blinks white and your TV goes black.
- Once the Chromecast restarts, follow the usual Google Home setup flow.
For second-gen, third-gen, and Ultra devices:
- Plug the Chromecast into power and HDMI.
- Press and hold the button on the side of the Chromecast. An LED should start flashing orange.
- Once the LED turns solid white, let go.
- After the Chromecast restarts, follow the usual Google Home setup process.
Burning at both ends
Google’s recent track record suggests that Google will end all updates for the oldest Chromecasts within a few years, even critical ones. It makes unfortunate sense. For starters, those devices use pre-Google TV software — they exist solely for Google Cast. More significantly, their specs are vastly out of date. The 2013 model is limited to HDMI 1.4, so the best video it can manage is 1080p at 30Hz, with no HDR support whatsoever. The Ultra is more relevant — offering 4K60, HDR10, and Dolby Vision by way of HDMI 2.0 — but a product like the Google TV Streamer adds HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos into the mix, not to mention such radical concepts as a remote and an onscreen interface.
Arguably, even the Streamer is outdated. While it does use HDMI 2.1, it doesn’t offer VRR for refresh rate sync. It’s also limited to Wi-Fi 5 at a time when the first Wi-Fi 8 devices are hitting shelves, and it’s doubtful that it’ll get Dolby Vision 2 and HDR10+ Advanced compatibility via a software update.
