Updated
Updated · 9to5Google · May 20
Google’s $35 First-Gen Chromecast Fails in More Apps as 2013 Device Nears End
Updated
Updated · 9to5Google · May 20

Google’s $35 First-Gen Chromecast Fails in More Apps as 2013 Device Nears End

6 articles · Updated · 9to5Google · May 20
  • Reports have surged in recent days that 2013 first-generation Chromecast devices no longer work reliably, with some apps failing to detect them as casting targets at all.
  • Support for the $35 streamer ended in 2023, when Google warned users they could see performance degradation, and the latest failures appear tied to aging software and shrinking app compatibility.
  • Reddit users say the breakage is inconsistent: Disney+ and Spotify may still cast, while YouTube, HBO Max and other apps often do not, with results varying by device and user.
  • Google has not publicly addressed this latest wave, and the problems affect first-gen models even as second-gen Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices continue working after an early-2025 cast fix.
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