topic Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast in Streaming

Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

nickglp — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 13:45:26 GMT

Hello,

I have factory reset an old chromecast gen 2 that I own and when i attempt to set it up using the google home app it prompts me with,

"Chromecast found. It needs to be activated before setup."

Then the next page sends me to the Help Center to download the Device Utility App to re-activate the chromecast.

The device utility app finds the chromecast but then shows up with an error message stating it cannot connect to the chromecast.

Has anyone had any success "activating" a chromecast or using the device utility app?

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

HCM402 — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 13:52:28 GMT

I have this exact same issue, it's so annoying!!

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

knightkid — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 17:34:46 GMT

Same issue here, on the Google Home Mini (1st Gen)

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

Lyons — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 20:55:16 GMT

Someone Help us!

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

chromecastlame — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:17:00 GMT

ME TOO THIS IS SO WACK

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

qwertydanny — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:38:58 GMT

Same here!

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

KRP — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 16:15:09 GMT

Same issue with brand new Chromecast Gen 3. Trying to set up using a Pixel phone

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

KRP — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:07:04 GMT

Update: It still seems to work using iOS. I was able to set up properly using an iPad. For those of you that have an iOS device, that may be a work around for you.

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

elmolda — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:05:42 GMT

Hey Google, we paid for these stuff!!! Solve it!

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

Simmmerl — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:35:02 GMT

For me resetting the chromecast solved it. Hold down the reset button until the LED light stops blinking orange and turns white.

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

Lyons — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:29:04 GMT

i tried so many things: resetting using button, reinstalling apps, restarting everything (phone, tv, wifi, chromecast, apps)... and many other things. i returned the chromecast to the store in exchange for another and also bought the google tv.

i tried the new chromecast and noticed similar issues so immediately stopped and tried the google tv -_-... the installation was seamless. it's $50

4hrs of my life + gas, the time of my S/O, and health were all wasted... i still have to return the second chromecast 😕

Godspeed —

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

Lyons — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:30:29 GMT

Same. i have a vizio tv I bought in 2017

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

gpries — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 02:13:30 GMT

I was able to figure out how to work around this garbage app:

1) Open Device Utility, and then turn wifi off as it says to

2) Let it find your device, tap on the name if you have multiple devices that need activation

3) Go back over to your phone's wifi and turn it back on (wifi is required for setup, even though they force you to turn it off. At this point in the app, we should be passed the blocking wifi check)

4) Go back to the Device Utility app and tell it to connect to the device

It should connect now and display the code on the screen.

Steps with screenshots

1) Let Device Utility tell you to turn off wifi

2) Let it find your devices with wifi off

3) It will either find 1 device, or multiple. If it finds multiple, tap on the device on the list. If it finds just one device, move on to the next step

4) Go into your phones settings a turn wifi back on, we've bypassed the wifi check and we need wifi to complete activation

5) Go back to the Device Utility app now that wifi is re-enabled, and continue with setup. It should now actually be able to connect to your device and set it up.

I must say that Google's Chromecast support was _very bad_ in my experience with them. I am a software developer and had to figure this out for myself, I can only hope that it works for others too.

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

SamInPgh — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 03:40:43 GMT

@gpries Thanks for taking the time to help your fellow prisoners of the Google Home infrastructure. If only Google itself would give such detailed and helpful instructions to its customers, it would be a better world. Ahhh, but I can only dream...

#PaySonos

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

gpries — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:16:11 GMT

Adding error text so other prisoners can find this:

Could not connect to your Chromecast. Make sure that it is nearby and that you connect to it when prompted.

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

rudy667 — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:59:45 GMT

Trick is to confirm the connection to the CC wifi, otherwise your phone wil auto disconnect and reconnect to your "normal" wifi. CC hotspot has no internet, therefore phone looks for other network.

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

rikeit — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:22:00 GMT

You can download "device utility" apk from Google store and follow steps

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

nervbert — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 06:57:12 GMT

what helped me was disabling the mobile Internet Connection. suddenly worked

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

RosePetals — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:57:11 GMT

Same for me! Thank you for this tip.

Re: Device Utility App to Re-activate Chromecast

gkoeka — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 03:51:46 GMT

When I used the Device Utility app, I disabled my wifi on my phone to find the device, then when it said Chromecast found, I re-enabled my wifi on my phone and it connected to the Chromecast. Somehow this is not in the instructions anywhere in Google's support.