Following a strange issue causing first-generation Chromecast devices to fail, Google has ended software updates for nearly every other Chromecast model.
No device gets software updates forever – maybe except for the Shield TV, should Nvidia get its way. But TV streaming devices tend to have a longer lifespan than most because, for many, it’s a device that isn’t replaced all that often. It took a decade for Google to end software support for its original Chromecast model, but now that time is up for nearly every other model too.
On a support page detailing software support for Google Nest devices – which includes Chromecast – Google has switched the status on several devices. Specifically, nearly every Chromecast device is listed as no longer receiving “critical” security updates, including:
- Chromecast (2nd Gen)
- Chromecast Audio
- Chromecast Ultra
- Chromecast (3rd Gen)
- Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
The only Chromecast device still listed as “yes,” still receiving security updates, is 2022’s Chromecast with Google TV (HD). That’s likely because the device is still within its 5-year window which Google has set as a “minimum” of software support. Support for most of these models has been outside of that window for some time now – Chromecast (2nd Gen) hasn’t been promised any updates since 2020, and even Chromecast (3rd Gen) saw its window close in 2023.
It’s interesting that Google has pulled the plug on all of these devices at roughly the same time. A Reddit user notes that Google apparently made the change within the past few days, and the last archived page shows all five models were still supported as of March 13.
While it seems pretty cut and dry that Google has ended software support for these devices, there are a couple of things worth noting. For one, another support page specific to Chromecast updates has yet to be updated to list these devices as no longer supported. That page is where Google officially listed the first-gen Chromecast as no longer supported. That page hasn’t been updated since November 2025, though. Beyond that, even if Google is ending updates for its Google TV-powered Chromecast, it’s likely that app updates and server-side updates will continue for the forseeable future.
We’ll update this article if Google provides any further details about the change.
Are you still using any of these now-unsupported Chromecasts?
More on Chromecast + Google TV:
- Walmart’s new 4K Google TV stick is the Chromecast replacement I needed [Gallery]
- Chromecast vs. Google TV Streamer: Are the upgrades enough? [Video]
- First-gen Chromecast streamers are suddenly failing for some users, 13 years later
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