Chromecast Google TV "Loading error. Unable to load For You"

[JWilly]

In the "For you" section, it gives the message, "Loading error. Unable to load For you" 

I have:

• Ensured that all apps and the system are up to date.
• Restarted (multiple times).
• Turned off the Chromecast, and then powered it down at the electric socket for a full day (twice).
• Cleared apps cache in System Storage

Everything else works correctly, including streaming. The only problem is this "For you" section.

[Soonerfan]

I have been getting responses from google support incident asking for serial number, and firmware status, etc.     At least they are showing some response.    I have emailed them this community post as well.

[BigTex]

Hi everyone.  I got a response back on my ticket and the suggested fix was something @Sava333 mentioned previously- turn off web and app activity.  It's worked for a day so far.  I don't know what the downside is to having it turned off vs on. 

I also wish Google would just admit "We screwed something up and here's the temporary fix," and not play like it's the first time they've encountered this issue every time someone else asks for help.

I did it on my phone because I happened to be checking my email on it, but any app where you're logged into Google (chrome, messages, files...) should let you get to these user settings I believe. 

Good luck y'all.

This was their response and corrective steps: 

I advise you to Turn web and app activity on or off.

Here are the steps:

1. On your Android device, open your Settings app Google > Manage your Google Account. & App Activity.

2. Tap Data & privacy.

3. Under "History settings," tap Web

4. Turn Web & App Activity on or off.

[Jodath79]

I tried those steps you shared and it didn't work for me.  😞

I agree, I wish Google would acknowledge the problem, but as far as I can tell, they haven't.

It's so maddening!!!!!  

The hoops that I've had to jump through since last week to try and get this resolved is crazy.  

It's extremely hard to find a live or real person from Google to help with this issue and when I do, they are unhelpful and they tell me that they can't help me and try to pass me off to someone else.  

I even ordered the new Google TV Streamer last week.  I'm seriously thinking about ditching my Chromecast with Google TV devices and cancelling my Google TV Streamer order and switching over to Roku.

[BigTex]

Really?  I'm sorry Friend.  Even after a restart? 

No joke about getting a hold of someone real.  Then, the person that I've been dealing with kept saying stuff like, "Tap the icon...," "Double press...," "Long press..." 

I told him at least a dozen times, "I don't have a touch screen TV, why do you want me to tap my TV screen?" 

Obviously reading through a guide and not listening to my situation.  That was during an hour and a half call, before he had to pass it along to someone else. 

[Sava333]

That's interesting, did they suggest that as a permanent or temporary fix? As a permanent fix that would be unacceptable obviously. Hopefully they're still working on it

[BigTex]

Didn't say either way.  Below is the full email reply.  And number 5 is not a copy paste error on my end, it literally ends as an unfinished sentence.  I'm not certain what having that feature on or off does and why'd I'd want it either way.  You you?  I know that it is defaulted on, so when Google pushes an update that breaks something and the solution is to turn it off, that something didn't go right.

I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long; I sincerely appreciate your time.

I have an update for you from my specialist team.

I understand that the "For You" or the Recommendation is not working on Google TV app.

I advise you to Turn web and app activity on or off.

Here are the steps:

1. On your Android device, open your Settings app  Google  Manage your Google Account.
2. Tap Data & privacy.
3. Under "History settings," tap Web & App Activity.
4. Turn Web & App Activity on or off.
5. When Web & App Activity is on

You may submit feedback as well. 

Here you go:

1. From the app home screen, tap the Support tab.
2. Tap Send Feedback.
3. Describe your feedback and include system logs, if desired.
4. Tap the Send icon.

If your issue still persists, please reply to this same email and let us know.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. Thanks for your cooperation and patience.

[Sava333]

I know some apps and services may not work properly with it off but not sure about specifics, step 5 seems like it might have had more info if complete 

[joelnagy]

Whenever I turn it Off it works and if I turn it back on, it seems to still work, but really it's just not updating For You with new content. And eventually it will become so stale it just doesn't load anymore, then you have to do the same thing all over again. The only solution I've found that works is to Sign In with a different account, in this case I added my wife's account to all TVs. But that isn't the solution I want. 

[scottwsx96]

Turning off web & app activity has negative impacts to Google Assistant that I’ve noticed. For me turning off web & app activity, pressing Retry on the error message, and then turning web & app activity fixed the issue for about 48-hours but it came back after that.

[scottwsx96]

I will submit feedback via the method recently posted, but I wanted to chime in here to publicly report another user affected by this as well as troubleshooting steps that “work” (none are true fixes nor ideal) and those that do nothing to solve the issue.

Symptom:

• Issue: Error message on For You screen at all times once the issue started. Error message: “Loading error: Unable to load For you.”
• Affected devices: two 4K Google TV with Chromecast dongles and one 1080p Google TV with Chromecast dongle, representing 100% of Google TV with Chromecast devices I own.
• All three devices are signed into the same Google account, my main one that I have used extensively for anything Google since Gmail was still invite-only.
• All three devices were purchased approximately one year apart from each other, two from Amazon and one from Target.
• The issue appeared on all three devices within a day or two of each other about one month ago (mid July 2024)

Troubleshooting steps that do not work:

• Pressing Retry under the error message.
• Rebooting.
• Cutting power for 60+ seconds and powering back on.
• Rebooting my home networking equipment (modem, firewall, access point, etc.).
• Clearing the Google TV system app cache.
• Clearing the system storage cache.
• Reinstalling the Google Home app on my iPhone, factory resetting the Google TV with Chromecast devices, and setting them up again.
• Uninstalling updates to the Google TV system app, rebooting, updating it again, and rebooting.

Troubleshooting steps that resolve the issue, but are not ideal:

• Signing into the devices with a different  and very lightly used Google account (only used for a secondary Gmail account).
• Disabling Web & App Activity in my primary Google account and pressing Retry under the error message (or rebooting).
• Uninstalling updates to the Google TV system app and disabling auto updates.

Troubleshooting steps that resolve the issue completely and without sacrifice:

• None discovered.

[kelanfromgoogle · Accepted solution]

Hey folks,

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit feedback. The team let me know that a fix has been identified and will begin to roll out to users tomorrow (8/16). Please note, that this update might take some time before it reaches everyone - we appreciate your patience!

Thank you,
Kelan

[joelnagy]

All 3 of my TVs are now showing the For You screen on my account. 😁

Thanks!

[Sava333]

Yes this does appear to be fixed, appreciate it. We still seem to have the other issue with recommendations not appearing in the mobile app and Chromecasts, account issue just like this was. There's a whole thread of people with this issue on the Google TV support forums but haven't been able to get anyone from Google to help our, anything we can do about that? Please let me know thanks

[Ladyhawke]

Thanks, it got fixed for me, but now my husband's profile is messed up! 😠

[RandyMan76]

Thank you, greatly appreciated. 

[CFG9000]

This "fix" CREATED the problem for me! Now what?

[JoeG420]

My device just updated today August 17 and immediately started giving me this issue! So this new update was NOT a fix! What am I supposed to do to fix it now?

[nadeauam]

Same on my side. I saw the issue, found there was a firmware update (sttl.240508.005.12011027), updated, still had the issue, cleared some cache and reboot, almost the same. I do see Youtune recommendations in Foy You.

I do see other loading errors in Account & Profiles. 

[qzd57d]

Mine was working fine until today and now I am getting the error.  Did your fix mess mine up?

Thank you,

[Jasonbd0]

Same here. Working perfectly until today.

[DrewF]

I did system update today and it didn't fix this error

[DarthPaul]

Fixed for me now as well.  Thank you.

[Auggy24]

Is this the android Security update? If so, I just installed it and I still get the loading error.

[Navymac62]

I received the update. It did not fix the issue. This after a reboot. Cache clesr etc. I created a new account to fix the issue weeks ago. Now that is also affected.

[netcaretx]

After the update or whatever you guys are doing. Now none of my 3 google tv 4k (new) devices work or the android app. Just FYI! It No live TV. recommendation or account access is iffy, like it can't communicate.

[MicJ]

Is this still being rolled out? It’s 8/19 and I still have the loading error message. 

[Lftdt]

whatever they did to fix yours broke a bunch of other users 😂

[mDLO]

Has the fix been rolled out? It is 8/18 and all my Chromecasts in the house are showing the same loading error when searching. 

[JoshyCC]

I came here with the same thing on a google tv, Philips model 55PUL7552/F7.

Mine started a few days ago and I'm still waiting for an update or a fix.

[KusMoG]

Your fix messed up my TCL TV's Google TV, you imbecile! Clearing the data for the Google TV app, restarting the TV, then hitting "Retry" on the loading error partially restores it, but Live is no longer showing (I'm sure your streaming partners are gonna love that!) and "Continue watching" no longer syncs with apps to its current watch status.

Clearing the data also forced me to rearrange my apps, this wasting my time for something that didn't even fix the issue entirely. All it did was restore the "For You" tab.

[MrCoop3r]

I got the an update today 8/17 but I'm still having this issue it's preventing my kids profile from loading anything I can access apps on the adult side but the "for you"  section still does not load

[BigTex]

Why is this marked as the answer when it's obviously still a problem for so many people?

[Rchalise]

I have loading error on all TV. Did everything but not working. What is the fix and when to expect

[wat_tnb]

Thanks for addressing this horrible bug; I can confirmed that it fixed both my devices!

You have regained my trust and my ad eyeballs. Looking forward to future updates for my existing devices and excited again for new ones. 

[RandyMan76]

Mine is fixed... YAY!!!

[bellis975]

Had to restart the Google TV device but after that, it's fixed!

[CFG9000]

I didn't have this problem, now I do after the update!

[Lftdt]

Same here

[TomG1]

I'm in the same boat as many others. I updated mine 20 minutes ago and now nothing works. Not only is the "For You" section down, but none of my apps will work (Netflix, Sling, etc.).

[Artan]

have the same problem, it only shows Google TV loading error Error loading the homepage. Try again Device was restarted several times.