Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is getting updated to Android 12 soon

Ben Schoon | Sep 22 2022 - 6:12 am PT

It’s actually happening. After nearly two years and very few updates during its lifespan, the Chromecast with Google TV is getting updated to Android 12.

Google confirmed to 9to5Google this week that the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) will be updated to Android 12 in the not-too-distant future. An exact timeline was not provided, but the update is incoming.

Why is this such as big deal?

The Chromecast with Google TV first launched in October 2020, almost two years ago, and has only received a handful of updates in the time since. Most of these updates have been merely security patches and bug fixes, as well as app-based updates that delivered features such as user profiles.

Updates have been far and few in between, to say the least, especially as time has gone on. The leading theory as to why Google’s streamer has been neglected in this regard has been due to storage limitations with the device. The Chromecast shipped with merely 8GB of storage, and it doesn’t take long to fill up that storage with apps. As our Kyle Bradshaw so aptly pointed out a while back, storage fills up so quickly, it’s often difficult to keep apps updated, much more so the system itself.

I can’t update apps on Chromecast with Google TV because there’s not enough storage

Top comment by JT

Liked by 6 people

The biggest enhacement to my use would be the ability to cast audio from the currently playing video, preferably with a default speaker in settings. Bluetooth to my Nest Audio or B&O A9 works for a while, but always disconnects after a minute or so of being paused/stopped. I end up having to let it play if I step away and then rewind to watch what I missed. Casting to a speaker pair or group would also be a nice bonus.

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How is Google working around this limitation?

We asked the company, and a spokesperson pointed back to some previously-announced improvements being made to Google TV to handle storage. But there are no specific changes being made around this update in particular.

What does Android 12 bring to Google TV? Honestly, not a whole lot. Most new features for Google TV come via app updates rather than full system updates, but there are a few key changes. As we broken down last year, the update brings support for camera/microphone privacy indicators and blocking, 4K UI support, and a few other minor tweaks.

Everything new in Android TV 12: tweaked design, privacy toggles, ‘Quick Connect,’ more [Gallery]

Stay tuned for more on when the Chromecast with Google TV gets its Android 12 update. The new Chromecast with Google TV (HD) ships with Android 12 out of the box and is now available at the Google Store and major retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy.