Google Extends Security Updates for Chromecasts
▼ Summary
– Google initially posted that it was ending software support for nearly all Chromecast models, but later clarified that a support article update incorrectly indicated this and that support is not ending.
– The only Chromecast still receiving critical security updates is the 2022 Chromecast with Google TV (HD), because it is within its 5-year support window.
– Devices no longer listed for security updates include Chromecast (2nd Gen), Audio, Ultra, (3rd Gen), and Chromecast with Google TV (4K).
– The change was made within the past few days, as an archived page from March 13 showed all five models still supported.
– Another support page specific to Chromecast updates has not been updated to reflect this change, and app and server-side updates may continue for Google TV-powered models.
A puzzling glitch that temporarily knocked out first-generation Chromecast devices has now prompted Google to pull the plug on software support for nearly every other model in the lineup. But before you toss your streaming stick, the company has clarified that critical security updates are not ending just yet.
Google initially published a support article that “incorrectly indicated deprecation of software support for legacy Chromecast devices.” The company has since corrected that page, stating: “Google is not ending support for Google Chromecasts and the support page has since been updated with the latest and most accurate information.”
No gadget receives updates forever, though the Nvidia Shield TV might be the exception if Nvidia gets its way. TV streaming devices generally enjoy a longer support lifespan because consumers don’t swap them out as frequently. Google supported its original Chromecast for a decade before ending software updates, but now the clock has run out for nearly every other model in the family.
According to a support page detailing software coverage for Google Nest products, which includes Chromecast, the company has quietly switched the status on several devices. Specifically, nearly every Chromecast model is now listed as no longer receiving “critical” security updates, including:
- Chromecast (2nd Gen)The sole exception is the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) released in 2022, which still shows a “yes” for security updates. That device remains within Google’s stated five-year minimum support window. Most of the other models have long since passed that threshold. The Chromecast (2nd Gen) hasn’t been promised any updates since 2020, and even the 3rd Gen model saw its window close in 2023.It’s curious that Google has simultaneously pulled support for all five models. A Reddit user noticed the change occurred within the past few days, and archived pages confirm all five were still supported as of March 13.Still, the situation isn’t entirely cut and dry. Another support page specifically dedicated to Chromecast updates has not been updated to reflect these changes. That page, where Google officially listed the first-gen Chromecast as unsupported, hasn’t been refreshed since November 2025. Moreover, even if Google ceases updates for its Google TV-powered Chromecast, app updates and server-side fixes are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.We’ll update this story if Google provides further clarification.Are you still relying on any of these now-unsupported Chromecasts?
