Does Chromecast work with standard USB-A sockets

[GrannyButtons]

The latest Chromecast HD seems to have a USB-C plug, but my TV has a USB-A socket. Does Chromecast come with an adaptor, or does it only work with a USB-C socket? I can't find this info in the product information. Thanks. 

[Kimy · Accepted solution]

Hi folks,

Thanks for helping out here, @Anonymous.

@GrannyButtons, thanks for posting here in the Google Nest Community. When you purchase a Chromecast with Google TV (4K or HD), this is what you get in the box:

• Chromecast with Google TV (4K or HD)
• Chromecast Voice Remote
• 1.50 m. USB-C to USB-A power cable
• USB-A power adapter
• Two AAA batteries (for the remote)

Some users directly connect the USB-A end of the cord to the USB-A port on the TV (which we don’t suggest) instead of using the power adapter. The decrease in power that the TV receives due to the Chromecast device taking its share might cause a problem on both devices in the long run.

I hope this answers your question. Let us know if you still have other concerns.

Thanks,

Kimy

[Anonymous]

It is recommended to use the plug that comes with the Chromecast.

You can try to plug it into the TV in the worst case scenario you'll see a not enough power screen on the TV. 

[GrannyButtons]

I think maybe you misunderstand me. The Chromecast HD clearly shows a new USB-C plug, but my TV does not have such a socket, only a conventional USB-A socket.

[Anonymous]

The Chromecast comes with a USB A to USB C cable... Not a C to C cable as phones do nowadays, the port on your TV may be used to power the Chromecast if it gives enough output current. 

[GrannyButtons]

Thanks. The product description doesn't mention this. My Amazon Fire uses a hdmi connector + a USB-a connector for power, but chromecast only mentions a single USB-C, which is deceptive. 

[Anonymous]

I did some tests... The Chromecast turns on from my TV's USB port but shows this for a couple of seconds: (but still boots to UI after it's just a bit slower, it depends on the TV maybe yours gives enough power)  

[GrannyButtons]

Thank you. But I STILL don’t understand - the Chromecast only shows a USB C plug, not a HDMI or USB A plug. Will it work on a TV that only has the latter? 

[Anonymous]

In short, you need at least an HDMI port, and a optional USB a to plug it in to get power, just as Fire TV sticks do. You can use a USB port on your TV for power but you still need HDMI for the picture. 

[GrannyButtons]

Many thanks. Really annoying that it only shows a USB-C plug. We have been sold the idea that the C plug/socket is on its way to being able to do everything. The fact that you need a HDMI plug (and that not all TVs, indeed perhaps not many, have a USB-C port) might be obvious to techies who live technology, but not to everyone. 

[Kimy · Accepted solution]

Hi folks,

Thanks for helping out here, @Anonymous.

@GrannyButtons, thanks for posting here in the Google Nest Community. When you purchase a Chromecast with Google TV (4K or HD), this is what you get in the box:

• Chromecast with Google TV (4K or HD)
• Chromecast Voice Remote
• 1.50 m. USB-C to USB-A power cable
• USB-A power adapter
• Two AAA batteries (for the remote)

Some users directly connect the USB-A end of the cord to the USB-A port on the TV (which we don’t suggest) instead of using the power adapter. The decrease in power that the TV receives due to the Chromecast device taking its share might cause a problem on both devices in the long run.

I hope this answers your question. Let us know if you still have other concerns.

Thanks,

Kimy

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Oh boy the irony... 

Hello, 

The user misunderstood the use of the type c port, they thought that the type c port is used to both for power and picture like in some thunderbolt display because he didn't notice the HDMI cable on the top of the device, the question in fact was not about the way to power on the device. 

For more clarification you could also mention that the device uses a HDMI port as a image output.

Sincerely,

AKGamerTech 

[Kimy]

Hi AKGamerTech,

Thanks for the reply. I’m not sure if that’s the case since @GrannyButtons did not directly mention any of it. But I hope what I shared helped.

Feel free to create a new thread if you have questions or other concerns.

Cheers,

Kimy

[GrannyButtons]

Thanks, AKGamerTech. As I explained to Kimy, the pictured HDMI plug actually looked to me like a USB-C, partly because there's no sense of scale in the picture, partly because it shows the flat side of the HDMI plug (which from above looks similar, albeit larger), and partly because the Google product info doesn't show what else is in the box. We (the ordinary public) are being weaned to believe that USB-C is a future universal plug/socket standard - it's not unreasonable to think this. My TV, although having an HDMI socket, is several years old, predating the general switchover in consumer products to USB-C, and I haven't seen more modern TVs, so it wasn't unreasonable for me to think that Google had 'led the charge' in changing everything to USB-C (even if in reality they haven't).  

[Kimy]

Hello GrannyButtons,

Thanks for the reply. I’m glad that this has been sorted out. You can find complete details if you look forward to purchasing directly via the Google Store. Try this link: Chromecast with Google TV from the Google Store.

Regards,

Kimy

[GrannyButtons]

Thanks, Kimy. I got the device last night, and I can see my confusion. The connector shown in the online product information is actually one side of an HDMI connector, but it looked to me like a USB-C. This is perhaps because it shows the wider (flat) side of the HDMI connector, and there's no sense of scale in the picture. I already had an Amazon Fire TV stick, which is much narrower, so I subconsciously thought the  Chromecast would be similarly small. It's actually much bigger than the Fire, making the HDMI plug look 'C-sized/shaped'. It would help if the Google product info page included more information - or at least shown the other side of the HDMI (as shown in this pic). We are being told that all products now come with USB-C as a universal standard, adding to my misunderstanding.