Chromecasts Suffer Widespread Untrusted Device Errors Amid Possible Firmware Issues

A widespread issue has been reported with second-generation Chromecasts and Chromecast Audio devices, where users are seeing an “Untrusted device” error when attempting to cast content. The error message suggests the issue may be due to out-of-date firmware, but many users have indicated their devices are already running the latest available firmware.
The problem seems to have started abruptly, with the majority of users reporting their devices were functioning earlier in the day prior to falling off later. The bug won’t permit users to cast video or audio content, although other functions like the screensaver continue to work. Newer Chromecast devices, such as the third-generation and Ultra, are not impacted by the issue.
The sudden occurrence of this problem has led to speculation that Google is phasing out support for these older devices. Google has not issued any official word about discontinuing support for the second-generation Chromecasts or Chromecast Audio, unlike the case of the original Chromecast, which was deprecated in May 2023.
Some troubleshooting has been attempted by users, including factory resets, with no luck. The issue persists even after the devices are reset, with some users being unable to advance past the setup due to authentication errors. The failure to identify a workaround has been maddening to many users since there is no known solution at present to bring these devices back to a functional state.
Google has acknowledged the issue, with some impacted users reporting they have been informed by Google support that Google is aware of the problem and actively working on a fix. There has been no official statement or timeline for a fix, however.
The 2nd generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio were introduced in September 2015 and have been popular for streaming content. Despite being old, the devices have continued to receive updates, albeit the latest issue puts their long-term usability into question.
The situation echoes Google’s notice to end production of the Chromecast line last August, although the company said it would continue to support newer models with software and security updates. If the current issue is to signal end-of-life status for the older devices, it would be disappointing for those who rely on them, particularly in light of the unique appeal of the Chromecast Audio.
As the issue continues to affect users worldwide, pressure is mounting on Google to address the problem at the earliest and provide clarity regarding the future support of these devices. Users are hoping for a server-side fix that will restore the functionality without requiring any effort from their side. Until then, users have no functional solution, and this highlights the need for Google to communicate effectively regarding any product changes.