Google briefly appeared to mark several older Chromecast models as no longer receiving critical security updates, but the company now says that was a mistake. Google told 9to5Google that the page had incorrectly indicated legacy Chromecast devices were being deprecated, and Google's current Nest security page again lists those models as still receiving critical security updates.
The five models affected by the confusion were Chromecast 2nd Gen, Chromecast Audio, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 3rd Gen, and Chromecast with Google TV 4K. Google's current support page lists all five as "Yes" for currently receiving critical security updates. They briefly appeared to be marked as no longer receiving critical security updates, but Google later said the page was wrong.
The scare landed just as some first-generation Chromecast owners were reporting casting failures in apps such as YouTube and Max, formerly HBO Max. That older model is still different from the rest of the lineup: Google's firmware page says support for Chromecast 1st Gen has ended, while Google's Nest security page currently lists the later Chromecast models as still receiving critical security updates.
Which Chromecast models were affected by the support-page confusion
Google's Nest support page tracks critical security update status for Google hardware. For a short period, that page appeared to show five Chromecast models as no longer receiving critical security updates. Google later said the page had been updated incorrectly, and the current version lists those models as still receiving critical security updates. A separate Chromecast firmware page still identifies only the 1st Gen Chromecast as out of support.
Current status by model:
Chromecast 1st Gen: Out of support. Google's firmware page says it no longer receives software or security updates, and Google does not provide technical support.
Chromecast 2nd Gen, Chromecast Audio, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 3rd Gen, and Chromecast with Google TV 4K: These were the five models caught in the support-page confusion. Google's current Nest security page lists them as still receiving critical security updates.
Chromecast with Google TV HD: Still listed as receiving critical security updates, with Google's five-year minimum support date running through September 22, 2027.
Google TV Streamer 4K: Google's current streaming device is listed with a five-year minimum support date through September 24, 2029.
What security-update status means for Chromecast owners
Losing security updates would not automatically turn a Chromecast into a brick, but it would raise two practical risks: unpatched vulnerabilities and future app-compatibility problems. For now, Google says the later Chromecast models have not lost that support. The 1st Gen Chromecast remains the clear exception because Google's firmware page says support has ended for that model.
Older streaming hardware can still face certificate-related failures. In March 2025, as reported by The Verge, Chromecast 2nd Gen and Chromecast Audio devices began showing "Untrusted device" errors, and Google later rolled out fixes through firmware and Google Home app updates. The episode is a useful reminder that aging devices can fail suddenly, but it should not be used to claim the Chromecast Ultra is now formally unsupported.
What past Chromecast failures show
The first-gen Chromecast remains the clearest unsupported model. Google's firmware page says support has ended, the device no longer receives software or security updates, and owners may notice degraded performance. Some first-gen owners reported casting failures in May 2026, but Ars Technica later reported that Google had identified and resolved the issue as a temporary technical problem. That makes the episode a warning sign for aging hardware, not proof that later Chromecast models have lost support.
The March 2025 outage was more abrupt. Chromecast 2nd Gen and Chromecast Audio devices began showing "Untrusted device" errors, and Google told affected users it was working on a fix. Days later, Google said the devices should function normally again after updates, including a Google Home app update for units that had been factory reset during the outage. The incident shows why older casting hardware can be fragile, even when Google ultimately provides a fix.
What Chromecast owners should do now
If you have a 1st Gen Chromecast: Treat it as unsupported. It may still work in some apps, but Google says it no longer receives software or security updates.
If you have a Chromecast 2nd Gen, Chromecast Audio, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 3rd Gen, or Chromecast with Google TV 4K: Do not assume your device has lost security updates. Google's current Nest security page lists these models as still receiving critical security updates after a brief support-page mistake.
If you have Chromecast with Google TV HD: No change. Google lists its five-year minimum support date as September 22, 2027.
If you are buying new hardware: Google's current streaming box is the Google TV Streamer 4K, which Google lists with a five-year minimum support date through September 24, 2029.
Why the Chromecast confusion matters
Chromecast still matters because many owners use the devices to keep older TVs useful. That is why a support-page mistake matters: owners need to know whether a device is truly unsupported before replacing it or worrying about app compatibility.
The practical takeaway is narrower than the original scare. Chromecast 1st Gen is out of support. The five later models briefly caught in the support-page confusion are currently listed by Google as still receiving critical security updates. Owners should still watch for app-specific failures and keep their devices updated, but the evidence does not support saying those five models have reached end of support.
Comments
Be the first, drop a comment!