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Learn how to factory reset your Chromecast 1st gen, 2nd gen, 3rd gen, and Ultra using the reset button or from the apps.
The Google Chromecast is amazing. This tiny device allows you to stream your favorite shows and movies up to 4K HDR. With that quality of the video, not only will you get a great experience in watching movies, but also will it pleases your eyes.
However, the device sometimes freezes and needs to be reset. When it happens, you can do a factory reset to restore your Chromecast to its default setting and get rid of the problem. It’s quite easy to do and we will tell you how to do it in this post.
Including what you should do if you cannot find Chromecast in your Google Home app.
Let’s get started!
How to Factory Reset Your Chromecast
There are two simple ways to reset your Chromecast. Firstly, you can do it right from the app, while another method involves the dongle, which usually is known as a hard reset. The second method has a slight difference between the device models (1st gen, 2nd gen, and 3rd gen).
Make sure you know which model your Chromecast device is. We’ll provide the picture differences to help you recognize your device easily.
Take a look at the Chromecast models below:
1. Factory Reset Chromecast 1st Generation
The processes are quite easy to do, but you need to follow the steps carefully.
Step 1 via Chromecast Device
- Plug the Chromecast into your TV.
- Press down the button on your Chromecast dongle for around 25-30 seconds. The LED light will turn into a flashing red light.
- When the LED light turns white and the TV goes blank, let go of the button.
- The Chromecast will reboot.
Step 2 via Chromecast App
This method is possibly done either from your Android or iPhone. But, the process in Android and iPhone has a minor difference.
Before taking the action, you must make sure that you can still connect to the network where your Chromecast was originally set up.
Android
- Open the Google Home app.
- Find your Chromecast device.
- Tap on the gear icon on the top right corner to go to the Settings.
- Tap the three-dot or More > Factory reset > Factory reset.
iPhone
- Open the Google Home app.
- Find your Chromecast device.
- On the top right corner, tap on the gear icon to go to the Settings.
- Press Remove Device.
- Press Factory reset.
- Confirm to reset your Chromecast by pressing Factory reset.
2. Factory Reset Chromecast Dongle 2nd and 3rd Generations or Chromecast Ultra
Step 1 via Chromecast Dongle
- Press down the button at the side of the Chromecast dongle for 25-30 seconds or until the LED blinks orange.
- Wait the LED blinking turns white and let go the button.
- The device will reboot.
Step 2 via Google Home App
Android
- Launch the Google Home app.
- Tap your Chromecast device.
- Go to the Settings by pressing the gear icon on the top right corner.
- Press the three-dot or More > Factory reset > Factory reset.
iPhone
- Launch the Google Home app.
- Tap your Chromecast device.
- On the top right corner, tap on the gear icon to go to the Settings.
- Tap Remove Device.
- Tap Factory reset.
- Confirm to reset your Chromecast by tapping Factory reset.
3. Chromecast with Google TV
Step 1 via Chromecast device
- Connect Chromecast dongle to your TV and power it on.
- Hold down the button on the back of the device and the LED starts blinking yellow.
- Release the button when the LED blinking turns white.
- Chromecast will reset.
Step 2 via Chromecast Voice Remote
This method will require the Chromecast remote.
- Grab the Chromecast remote.
- Select profile > Settings on the top right corner of your TV screen.
- Go to System > About > Factory Reset.
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The Chromecast in my Google Home app is missing. What to do?
Though it’s a pretty rare case, it’s possible that you can’t find Chromecast in your Google Home app. Out of nowhere, your mobile phone cannot recognize the Chromecast. And when you open the Google Home app, the streaming device disappears.
If this case happens to you, you should stay calm because it is not a serious case to deal with. The main cause for the Chromecast to disappear from your Google Home app is probably your internet connection.
To resolve this problem, you can do one of the two methods below:
Method 1. Check your network
- Place the Chromecast near the computer, phone, or tablet used for setup. It should be within 15-20 feet (4-6 meters).
- Check the color of the LED light: Chromecast should show a white flashing LED light when it is powered. Read here to see more about the LED light status.
- You should see a notification on your TV screen saying, ‘Set me up.’ If the error persists, go to the next step.
- Check to see whether any other networks, including your home Wifi, are visible and in range. If this does not address the problem, proceed to the next step.
- Make sure that your phone or TV is connected to the Wifi. If the problem still shows up, continue to the next step.
- Android devices only: Make sure you enable the ‘Location Service’.
- iPhone devices only: Make sure you turn on your Bluetooth.
Step 2: Troubleshooting
If you still can’t find Chromecast in your Google Home app even after conducting all methods in the Step 1 above, you can try one of the following methods:
- Turn the Wifi off and on from the Settings.
- Close the Google Home app completely and relaunch it. If it still doesn’t fix the issue, try the next step.
- Try a different device to set up your Chromecast device. If it still doesn’t fix the issue, go to the next step.
- Uninstall the Google Home app and reinstall the app.
I cannot find ‘Factory Reset’ in my Google Home app. What should I do?
There are some reports saying that they cannot find the ‘Factory Reset’ option in their Google Home app. Are you having this problem as well? You don’t need to worry. Let’s fix it!
If the Factory Reset button is missing from the menu, you cannot perform the factory reset to your Chromecast device. It shows that your Google Home app and your streaming device is not connected properly. To fix this, you can do the following methods:
- Connect your phone where the Google Home app installed is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device. Once they are connected to the same network, check your app. You should see the ‘Factory Reset’ menu now.
- Unplug and re-plug the Chromecast dongle to your TV and turn it on. Then, check if your streaming device is being activated. After that, open your app and you will find the menu.
When do you need to reset your Google Chromecast?
It’s not necessary to reset your Google Chromecast dongle every time you have problems. As you know, performing a reset will erase all data and third-party apps installed on your device. And you have to set up once the device once you have done a factory reset. Though the setup is quite easy to do. Even so, this will be quite tiring if you do it pretty often, right?
Hence, only do reset when you face unresolved issues after you did troubleshooting. For example, a network issue or the device is being unresponsive.
Or, you can also reset your device if you are going to sell or give it to other people. Erasing your data is a must in order to protect your privacy.
Bottom Lines
It’s quite important to know how to factory reset your Chromecast dongle as it can fix almost all problem happens to the device. It only needs a few minutes to complete the processes and you can choose the easiest method that you can do.
Besides, you need to know that resetting the device will erase ALL data in the device, including the wifi setting. It means you will lose all the third-party apps or information that you have installed earlier.
But, no worries!
You can install the third-party apps again once your device is working normally.
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