Chromecast Tv has changed MAC address

[MikeSTJ]

I am setting up roughly 10 Chromecasts with TV on site to use as digital signage, in order for these to work on our network we have to add the device Mac addresses to a bypass group. Most of the devices have been set up and are working, however two of the devices have, somehow, changed their MAC addresses to 00:11:22:33:44:55. I have factory reset both devices and still they show the above address. 

[hilltech]

I've experienced the same issue.  Google said to submit feedback through the Google Home app.  This is a crucial issue that needs to be resolved as standard networking relies on unique mac addresses.

[MikeSTJ]

Thank you for this. I have submitted feedback on the home app. Were Google able to resolve the issue for you?  

[hilltech]

No.  I'll ask for a new device and see what they say.  They broke it with an update, so I feel like they should fix it somehow or give us a tool to fix it, be it software or whatever.  One issue that may come out of this is the MAC address could now be lost if it's not documented somewhere else by Google.  I couldn't find the MAC on the device or box.

[Gert-jan]

Hello all,

I have the same issue. I tried many 'routes' (warm reset, cold reset, taking out, plugging back in, etc.). Nothing helped to bring back the normal MAC address. I left the 'feedback' to google. But no response.

I'd be curious to know if/once you heard the solution.

Thanks,

Gert-jan

[David-G]

Hi there,

I have exactly the same problem with my 2 Chromecast HD.

The original MAC addresses suddenly became 00:11:22:33:44:55

So I have to use random Macs to be able to assign fixed IPs to my Chromecast HD.

I can live with this but I would like a fix.

Google, what a strange idea to set a random Mac as default when creating the WiFi connection 🙄

Google we need a fix !

[Kimy]

Hi folks,

Thanks for posting here in the Google Nest Community. If you’re checking the MAC address via Settings > Network and Internet > Wi-Fi, the information on the right panel, then I suggest you try to check it directly via Settings > System > About > Status > Device MAC address. The information here is what you’ll need for whitelisting. For older versions of Chromecast, you’ll find the MAC address in the Google Home App. Use this link: Locate your Chromecast MAC address as your reference. Let us know if you still have questions.

Thanks,

Kimy

[Gert-jan]

Hi Kimy,

And that's exactly where the problem is (Settings > System > About > Status > Device MAC address). There it says: 00:11:22:33:44:55 which is clearly a faulty MAC address.

Kind regards,

Gert-jan

[MikeSTJ]

MAC address showing as 00:11:22:33:44:55 no matter how it is searched for. 

[Kimy]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the details. Kindly send feedback and include this: CCT3 Incorrect device MAC address, and once you’re done, kindly send a photo or screenshot of the device MAC address via Settings > System > About > Status > Device MAC address, here so we can forward it to the senior support team. We look forward to your response.

Warmly,

Kimy

[MikeSTJ]

I do not have permission to upload a photo. 

[Kimy]

Hi MikeSTJ,

Try to reduce the file size. You can lower the resolution; what’s important is that it’s readable. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Kimy

[MikeSTJ]

Hi Kimy, 

No matter the file size, I get a red banner at the bottom of the text field "You do not have permission to upload images". Is there another way I can send this? to an email address perhaps?

[Kimy]

Hello MikeSTJ,

Could you try it using the same account but on a different device? For example, if you’re trying it on a Google Chrome browser from your laptop, try to share the photo using the Chrome browser on your smartphone instead. Let us know what happens.

Regards,

Kimy

[MikeSTJ]

Hi Kimy 

No there is no option to add a photo when on smartphone. i also copied the photo to the clipboard to paste it and that did not work either

[MikeSTJ]

Hi 

Is there an update on this please, This issue seems to be a common one. Is there an email address we can send photographic proof to? Will our devices be replaced? At the moment I am unable to complete a project due to these devices. It has now been 3 weeks with no reply or update. 

[qegsict]

 We have the same issue just purchased 10 new devices for school with moderator app and mac address has reverted overnight.  being a school we need specifc Ip address to allow devices to work through filtering so need to reserve mac address.  the default of random mac address is stupid as we have to use a usb-c hup with wired network now to set them up so they go through filtering then join to wifi. 

The plan was to use centipede but not usable this way.  much prefer the older basic chromecast devices.

Is there an email address I can send the screen shot too.  I have 9 unopend in a box currently as dont want them all to break

[tbh_data]

I work on a school and have the same isue.  I have 10 chromecasts connected to big monitors, and none of them are working. We have to mac-validate our devices before they work, so random mac-address makes them useless. 

Hope google has a fix very soon. 

[StanD2003]

Also have the same issue here, bought a chromecast to install at my university and can not use it now as it can not be whitelisted.

[qegsict]

@tbh_dataand @StanD2003 are you using the new moderator mode or just setting up as standard google tv devices.  I have not opened any of the other devices we have purchased  we have an older 4k device in moderator mode and that has not gone wrong yet.  

[MikeSTJ]

Hi All 

I have spent the latter part of this afternoon in contact with a Google Nest Advisor, after trying a new system update with no success, I was left with this message before the conversation was ended. Hopefully they actually took note of my contact details 🤞

At this point, since the MAC address remains unchanged and incorrect despite the firmware update and trying different networks, it suggests a more profound issue, possibly at the hardware level. The MAC address, being a unique identifier for network hardware, is typically immutable and any anomaly in its display indicates a significant malfunction. To best resolve your query, I am going to forward your request to the Google Customer Support Team who specializes in this area. They would be able to help you better with your query.

[cbeehler]

This just started happening to us. Two CCWGTV HD devices. Possibly more.   Has any guidance been posted on this yet?

[quintvd]

This just started happening to us to. One of my chromecast HD devices changed mac to. Is there any info yet on this issue?

[MikeSTJ]

This morning another 3 of my Chromecast with TV have suddenly changed their MAC address, these have been in place around site and working fine for a few months now and now are unusable. Still no assistance from Google. 

[cbeehler]

My working theory is that Google hosed up an update and let some test code that was never purged or disabled go live again.  Testing is the only plausible reason they would use this specific MAC anywhere. 

My guess is that it's self correcting on a network with only one ccwgt device since there are no conflicts and the update can download with no one the wiser. 

On a network with multiple devices... Uh oh. 

We've ordered a USB C charger and Ethernet combo adapter to try and force a firmware upgrade without using wifi. I'll be testing it out as soon as we pull the affected units out of their rooms. 

My guess is that Google caught a lot of guff by making the adapters default to random MAC and someone was testing a fix and messed up the revs in production. 

Since the SOCs in the hd's and 4k's are different hardware, and the random MAC issue was mainly in the HD'S I'm hoping that the 4k's aren't affected.  Reply to this message and I'll report back on outcomes. 

[MikeSTJ]

Certainly sounds plausible. Will be interested to see what your testing shows. 

[qegsict]

WE have 2 4k devices and they have not been affected its only the HD models as you say we have powerbrick with network in for testing and setup as that has its own mac it enabled us to use 1 of the hd casts. I have 9 sitting on a shelf waiting to get used as we want to use the new cast moderator.  I joined the beta program and fed back my issues and i have been asked to book a sesion to provide feedback so hopefully i can organise that and see if they can give me contact details of someone to help resolve issues 

[Thasaidon]

I have the same issue with all our HD chromecasts. They all started using random MAC addresses, and this cannot be changed back to the device default (hardware) MAC.

This is a serious issue, because all devices get their assigned IP through DHCP based on device MAC address.

Also, there are access-lists in place preventing non-registered devices access to the network.

And finally there are some firewall policies allowing the specific assigned IP's to have access to the internet.

Now every time a Chromecast starts up, it will not get an IP because the random MAC address isn't registered and doesn't have an assigned IP within the DHCP server.

Does anyone know if there is a workaround for this on the Chromecast itself?

[Thasaidon]

I just found this on another forum, and for me it seems to work.

1. On your Chromecast, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
2. Select the Wi-Fi network you want to change the MAC address for.
3. Scroll down and select Advanced.
4. Under "Privacy," select the "Use device MAC" option."
5. Select Save.

[MikeSTJ]

This is what I had to do on all devices in order to add them to the Wi-Fi. However once the Device MAC address changes ( not sure how it does) I have found no way to change it back.

On the affected devices you can check this by selecting:

Settings>System>About>Status and check the Device MAC address.

If this shows as a normal MAC address the above method from Thasaidon will work. However my issue is that this device MAC address changed to 00:11:22:33:44:55, and cannot be reverted. 

[Thasaidon]

My devices just started using random MAC addresses, but the device MAC address is still the original MAC. Not the weird 00:11:22:33:44:55.
So I can't help there, sorry.

[tbh_data]

Hi 

Thanks for the input.. 

Can't find the options you describe. 

This is in the Google home app, right? 

In there I can only choose info about the chromecasts network, and when I click it, it ask me if I want to delete the network, and start over installing the chromecast. 

Cheers Thomas 

[Thasaidon]

These settings are on the chromecast itself. Not in the home app.

Connect the chromecast to your tv and wait for it to have fully started. Then in the top right corner on the screen, you'll see the gear icon (Settings option), where you will find the other options mentioned before.

[tbh_data]

Aahhhh. 

I just realized you are talking about a Google Tv chromecast. We're using 'the old' chromecast HD

But still the same problem. 

Cheers Thomas 

[MikeSTJ]

Update

Hi All 

I have again spent the last few days being sent in Circles by Google "help" I did raise a case and was then told to follow a link for help, which was a link to this thread :(. Nobody at Google seems willing or able to assist with the issue. 

The only thing I was asked to try was to run an software update on affected devices but this did not (unsurprisingly) fix the issue. 

I have been asking for contact details that i can use to escalate the case, but have had no response so far. 

[marcroftfam]

I thought I was the only one going crazy with these! I have tried using a usb-c to ethernet adapter to go around the wifi and do a firmware update! I will keep following and post any updates. I am trying to use them at a school site as well in a classroom and need to have them whitelisted so I can't use the randomized MAC. 

[MikeJ2]

Has anyone resolved this issue or came up with a fix? Currently we are just sending devices back to google and asking for a replacement. 

[olly2]

I'm trying to connect the Chromecast to an hidden external Wi-Fi network which uses MAC filtering (I have to register the device's MAC address before I can connect to the network). However, due to the randomised MAC address I can't connect to the network. As the network is external I can't disable the whitelisting, connect and then disable randomised MAC address. 

Basically, I'm asking if there is any way to disable the randomised MAC address system-wide as opposed to for a specific network.

Thanks.