Google’s chromecast faces outage due to expired security certificate

Google’s second-generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices are experiencing a significant and ongoing outage due to an expired security certificate. As a result, users are unable to cast content to their TVs and other screens. The tech giant has acknowledged the issue and assured users that a solution is currently in development.

On Sunday, many Chromecast users encountered an “untrusted device” error message while attempting to cast. Tech-savvy internet users quickly traced the problem to an expired intermediate certificate authority, initially set up by Google for device authentication.

According to the source, this certificate authority had been active for a decade but expired on March 9, 2025, preventing affected devices from securely connecting to Google’s backend services.

In an update shared on the Google Nest community site—where Chromecast support is now located—the company advised users not to perform a factory reset.

Google stated: “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.”

More than a day has passed since the outage began, but no further updates have been provided. Despite efforts to reach out to Google for additional information, the company has yet to offer a concrete timeline for the fix. Experts warn that since the issue stems from the built-in certificate, performing a factory reset will not resolve the problem.

However, there may still be hope for users trying to restore their devices. Polish security researcher Maciej Mensfeld has suggested a temporary fix: changing the date on a smartphone to a time before March 9, 2025, before attempting to reauthorize the Chromecast. While this workaround has worked for some, others have reported persistent issues, particularly with streaming services like Spotify.

Google quietly ended support and updates for Chromecast devices in 2023 following the release of its Google TV streamer. Despite this, many users continue to rely on these devices. While some speculate that issues like the certificate authority expiration are deliberate attempts by Google to encourage upgrades, there is no concrete evidence to support these claims.

Similar security certificate-related issues have impacted other tech companies in the past. In 2023, Microsoft’s Surface Pro X tablet cameras stopped functioning due to an expired certificate.

That same year, Cisco faced backlash when its SD-WAN equipment suffered disruptions for the same reason. In 2021, Let’s Encrypt allowed a root certificate to expire, rendering essential websites and services inaccessible on outdated devices.

As Google works on a permanent fix, affected Chromecast users will have to wait for further updates or try available workarounds in the meantime.

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