Do you have a Google Chromecast box, even a first generation model? You will then be happy to learn that Google does not let go of its old products and has just rolled out a small update.
The Chromecast is a simple and cheap way to turn an old television into a connected TV. This small box connected to an HDMI socket and connected to the Wi-Fi network makes it possible to broadcast content from the Web on the television. Several Chromecast models have succeeded since the first version released in 2013 to lead to the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) which arrived in September 2021 after a 4K version launched in 2020. With the floor prices of these products – the first model was trading at 35 € – one would have thought that Google was not going to monitor its devices very carefully. Think again ! At the start of December 2022, the American giant has just rolled out an update for all of its Chromecasts, including the first generation, now nine years old. The last update was three years ago. We can only welcome this after-sales policy, which is too rare in the world of tech!
Don’t get too carried away though. Even though Google isn’t very forthcoming about the content of the update, it looks like it’s only about bug fixes and some improvements. The version number on the 2013 Chromecast, which goes from 1.36.157768 to 1.36.159268, is indeed evidence of simple maintenance. Similarly, second- and third-generation Chromecasts are now running firmware version 1.56.275994 with “bug fixes and improvements” on the agenda for them too, according to Google. Remember that the Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K) had for its part benefited from a new version of the system going from Android 10 to Android 12 last September.
How to update a Google Chromecast?
To apply Google patches, you don’t have to do anything. The Chromecast updates on its own as soon as it’s plugged into the TV, turned on, and connected to the internet. However, you can verify that it has the latest firmware version.
► Turn on your TV to which the Chromecast is connected and activate the correct video channel to display the Chromecast image on the screen. On your smartphone or tablet, open the Google Home app and then tap the name of your Chromecast device.
► In the window that appears, tap the toothed wheel top right.
► Now press the option Device Information.
► By default, the option Automatic firmware update is activated. Check in the section Technical informations at the bottom of the screen if you have the latest version as referenced by Google on his support page. If not, leave the Chromecast on for a few moments. The update should apply automatically and be visible the next time the device is restarted.
