Google Chromecast Not Working? Expired Certificate Causes Major Outage
Users of Google’s second-generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio have been struggling with a widespread outage due to an expired security certificate. The issue, which started on March 9, 2025, has left many devices unable to cast content to TVs and speakers, leading to frustration among users.
Why Is Chromecast Not Working?
The issue stems from an expired intermediate certificate authority that Google originally set up a decade ago to handle device authentication. Since this certificate expired, affected Chromecast devices can no longer securely connect to Google’s servers or verify themselves, causing casting failures.
Many users attempting to stream content received an “untrusted device” error message, preventing them from using their Chromecast normally. The Register was among the first to report that this was due to the expired certificate.
Google Response: Don’t Factory Reset Your Chromecast
In an update on the Google Nest community forum, the company acknowledged the issue and advised users not to perform a factory reset, as this would not resolve the problem.
“Do not factory reset your device—we will keep you updated when the fix rolls out. If you have already factory reset your device, we will provide instructions on how to set your device up again as soon as possible,” Google stated.
Possible Workaround: Reauthorizing Chromecast by Changing Date
While Google works on an official fix, Maciej Mensfeld, a Polish security researcher, has suggested a potential workaround. Users can try reauthorizing their Chromecast by changing their phone’s date to a time before March 9, 2025. However, this method doesn’t work for everyone, and some users have reported continued issues, especially with services like Spotify.
Why Is Google Not Supporting Chromecast Anymore?
Google released its Google TV streamer in 2023, quietly ending support and updates for the original Chromecast lineup. Despite this, millions of users still rely on Chromecast devices, and there is no indication that this certificate issue was an intentional move by Google to push users toward newer products.
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Other Companies Have Faced Similar Issues
Google is not the only tech company to experience disruptions due to expired security certificates:
- In 2023, Microsoft’s Surface Pro X tablets had camera failures due to an expired certificate.
- In the same year, Cisco faced major disruptions when its SD-WAN equipment stopped working.
- In 2021, Let’s Encrypt allowed a root certificate to expire, causing older devices and websites to become inaccessible.
When Will Google Fix Chromecast’s Certificate Issue?
Currently, Google has not provided a timeline for a solution. However, given the widespread nature of the problem, an official fix is expected soon. If you own a second-gen Chromecast or Chromecast Audio, it’s best to wait for Google’s update rather than attempting troubleshooting steps that may not work.
