Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. Guides

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

How to reset a Google Chromecast

Michael Bizzaco
By

Your Google Chromecast is an instant portal to a world of smart content, even if the TV you have it connected to isn’t web-connected. But, like any tech, there are times where your Chromecast may require a reset. Maybe the device has stopped working correctly or you’re considering an upgrade and want to clear your data from your Chromecast before trading up. Whatever the reason, we’ve put together this guide to walk you through the reset process for each Chromecast product.

Resetting Chromecast with Google TV

Chromecast with Google TV plus remote
Google

The latest Chromecast model is the first to feature an onscreen interface. Google TV parses through all of your subscription services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video) to build a quick-access landing page with recommended movies and shows based on your interests. It’s the first Chromecast product to not exclusively use casting from a mobile device and also the first to feature a remote.

Recommended Videos

If you need to factory reset your Chromecast with Google TV there are two ways to do so. We cover both below.

Related

Resetting from the Chromecast device

Every Chromecast product features a physical reset button located near the power port of the device. To begin the reset process, press and hold the reset button. Your Chromecast will start blinking yellow. Keep the button held until the LED light turns solid white. This indicates that the factory reset was successful.

Using the Chromecast voice remote

You can also reset your Chromecast with Google TV using the provided remote. To begin, make sure your TV is set to the input your Chromecast is connected to. On the Google TV home page, navigate to the top right of the page, select your profile avatar,  then select Settings. Then, select System>About, then Factory Reset.

Resetting Chromecast (2nd/3rd gen) and Chromecast Ultra

Google Chromecast (3rd gen)
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Using the tried and true casting method, the second and third-gen Chromecast models (and the Chromecast Ultra) allow you to stream content from your preferred iOS/Android mobile device to your TV. An upgrade in hardware from the second to third-gen iterations, and the added 4K HDR support with the Chromecast Ultra, makes this family of Chromecast devices one of the best.

If you need to reboot any of these three models, read on to find out how.

From the Chromecast device

With the Chromecast physically powered, hold down the reset button on the back of the device. Your Chromecast will begin blinking orange. Once the LED turns solid white, the factory reset will begin.

Using the Google Home app

In this section, we’ll cover how to reset using both Android and iOS devices. Let’s begin with Android. Grab whatever mobile device your Google Home app is installed on. Open the app, tap the Chromecast device you wish to reset, then tap Settings. At the top right of the page, tap More (three dots), then tap Factory Reset.

For iOS devices, open the Google Home app, tap your Chromecast device, tap Settings, then Remove Device. Then, tap Factory Reset, then tap Factory Reset once more to confirm the reboot.

Chromecast (1st gen)

Chromecast first gen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The one that started it all, the first-generation Chromecast introduced app-casting to the world of streaming content. There are two major ways to perform a factory reset of the O.G. Chromecast.

From the Chromecast device

With your Chromecast plugged into the TV, hold down the reset button on the bottom of the device for about 25 seconds. The solid LED will begin blinking red. Once the LED starts flashing white, let go of the button. Your Chromecast will then begin the reset process.

Using the Google Home app

For Android devices, open the Google Home app, then tap your Chromecast device. Select More (three dots), then Settings, then tap Factory Reset. For iOS devices, open the Google Home app, tap your Chromecast device, tap Settings, then Remove Device. On the next page, tap Factory Reset, then Factory Reset once more to confirm the reset. That’s all there is to it.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from…
Best streaming devices for 2023: Apple TV, Roku, and more
An Apple TV 4K sits on a media stand.

There now are so many ways for you to get all the shows and movies you want on all your favorite streaming services, be it Netflix, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+. For many, using whatever is built into to your TV is just fine. That could be one of the more popular streaming platforms, like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Google TV. But there are plenty of reasons to use an external streaming device, too.

The major players in the streaming device game — Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Roku — are all fighting for your money, so we're here to make sure you throw it at the right streaming device for you and your budget, which typically ranges from as low as $30 to as high as $200.

Read more
Google ends support for the original Chromecast
Google's first-gen Chromecast dongle.

Ten years is not a bad run in the world of smart devices. That's how long it's been since Google released the very first Chromecast, a tiny $35 HDMI dongle that let you wirelessly stream audio and video to your TV, with your phone serving as the remote. We liked it so much when it debuted, we named it the best product of 2013.

Unfortunately, all good things must pass, and 9to5Google recently noticed that Google quietly ended support for the original Chromecast on April 27, 2023, which means it will no longer get any feature or security updates.

Read more
Google TV slims down and speeds up with recent software updates
The Google TV remote in front of Apple TV Fitness.

If you've been tooling around on your favorite Google TV device and have noticed that it just ... seems faster — that's because it is. Google in a post today in its support community noted some recent updates to its streaming platform that address onboard storage, as well as overall performance.

And you already should have the update.

Read more