Google’s second-generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio are currently facing a serious issue. Users are unable to cast any content because of an expired security certificate. Google knows about the problem and is working on a fix.
On Sunday, many users reported an “untrusted device” error, which stopped them from casting to their TVs. It turns out that this issue stems from an expired intermediate certificate authority created by Google, which has been in place for 10 years. This certificate expired on March 9, 2025, affecting models that rely on it. Without a valid certificate, these devices can’t connect securely to Google’s servers.
Google acknowledged the issue, stating, “We’re aware of an emerging issue impacting Chromecast 2nd gen and Chromecast Audio devices, and we are working on a fix,” according to The Register.
In an update on the Google Nest community site, Google urged users not to factory reset their devices. They promised to keep everyone informed when the fix is available. For those who have reset their devices, Google stated they would provide instructions to help set them up again.
The outage struck nearly a day ago, and details are scarce. We reached out to Google for more information and will keep you updated. Just to clarify, resetting the device won’t resolve the certificate issue.
If you’ve already reset your Chromecast or if you’re looking for a workaround, there might be hope. Polish security researcher Maciej Mensfeld shared a guide that suggests changing your phone’s date to before March 9, 2025, and then trying to reauthorize your Chromecast. However, this method isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone and may take a few attempts. Plus, some services like Spotify might still experience problems after this fix.
Interestingly, Google discontinued the Chromecast line last year, replacing it with the Google TV Streamer. Support and updates for existing Chromecast devices have been winding down since 2023. Despite this, many users still rely on these devices, as seen from ongoing discussions online. Some speculate that Google might be nudging users to upgrade through such issues, but there’s no evidence to confirm this.
This isn’t the first such issue for tech companies and won’t be the last. In 2023, Microsoft faced problems with expired security certificates that affected Surface Pro X cameras. That same year, Cisco ran into trouble when an expired certificate impacted its SD-WAN devices. Also, in 2021, a lapse in a root certificate by Let’s Encrypt disrupted many major websites and services. These situations highlight the importance of managing security certificates properly.
