“Hide” Button DISAPPEARED

[tvwatcher]

Google removed the “Hide” button from my continue watching list options. I long press on a title I want to remove from continue watching and the only option that now appears is “Open.” There is no longer any hide. This renders my device near completely UNUSABLE as I share streaming accounts and it’s always clogged with other people’s nonsense. 

I did a whole factory reset on my chromecast device and it STILL is missing the “hide” button so I assume Google took it away intentionally. Anyone else dealing with this utter BS? It’s enough to make me switch back to Roku, tbh. All the convenience of Chromecast has been lost by taking away this COMPLETELY NECESSARY feature. Shame on you, Google.

[formerfuture]

I've had the same issue for a while now. The weird thing is I bought a Chomecast with Google TV for a friend this last Christmas and her hide button is still there. I'm seriously thinking about going back to Roku. So lame Google.

[formerfuture]

I just wanted to mention some other things. I've gone all in on Google. I have Google Fi. I have a Pixel 8 Pro and was considering getting a Google tablet and some smart home items but I just don't know anymore. I also have a Chromebook and use Google Docs, Keep and Sheets. The ecosytem is very important to me and the only other ecosytem that's compariable is Apple. I know this because I also have a new Macbook Pro and Ipad. So it wouldn't be much of a strech to go all in on Apple next time around.

[FlatRider13]

I'm having the exact same problem. I restarted the system from the settings menu and the 'hide' button was still nowhere to be seen, just 'open'. 

[ovidioj]

Hello @tvwatcher,

Thanks for reaching out! I understand how frustrating it must be to not have the "Hide" button on your Chromecast's "Continue Watching" list.

Let's see if we can figure this out together.

To help me investigate further, could you tell me:

• Which specific app are you seeing this issue with (e.g., Netflix, Hulu)?
• While screenshots aren't always necessary, if you're comfortable, capturing a picture of your screen showing the missing "Hide" button could be helpful.

The more information you can provide, the better I can understand the situation and offer tailored solutions.

In the meantime, here are a couple of things to try:

• Check the app settings: Some streaming services allow you to manage your watch history within their individual apps. Look for options like "Remove from History" or "Mark as Not Watched" within the app settings.
• Create Separate Profiles (if applicable): If the streaming service allows it, consider creating separate profiles for each user. This way, everyone has their own "Continue Watching" list.

I'll be here to assist you further once I have more details about the specific app and the issue you're encountering.

All the best,

Jorge. 

[tvwatcher]

It is happening on the main Chromecast home screen. Even with the ability to remove from watchlist on the individual apps, we were always able to hide from the main home screen continue watching list. Now that feature has been removed and it only shows “open” with no “hide” option. Please see the attached screenshots.

Also, even if I do individually go into the app and remove a title from the continue watching list there, it often times remains on the continue watching list on the home screen even after removal. This is a problem with every app: Netflix, Hulu, Max, Apple TV+, YouTube, Paramount Plus.

A Max title example (this is what most all look like, the second button is mysteriously missing): 

 

A Netflix title example (curiously the hide button is still there but missing the word “hide” and also does nothing when you click it, the title remains): 

 

The lack of the hide button that used to be there and is a very basic feature that everyone uses is RUINING the chromecast experience. I’m about to switch back to Roku if this doesn’t resolve. Please have your developers fix it ASAP! This is ridiculous to even experiment with removing this feature.

Also, sometimes a series will show twice in the continue watching list (one being the episode I just watched and the other being the next up episode—both showing as unwatched in the continue watching list). Not to mention sometimes I open an app and it just starts playing in the middle of an episode I watched ages ago—despite having watched other content on that app after AND clearing the cache on that app. It still picks a random episode with a random start point and begins playing it from there when I haven’t even selected a title yet.

I’ve cleared all the caches and reset the device fully (factory reset and reinstalled every app individually) before to no avail. Would love if you had a fix for this because as is, the chromecast is basically unusable—makes it wayyy too much work to keep track of shows which defeats the whole purpose of this device. 

[ovidioj]

Hello @tvwatcher,

Thanks for reaching out to the community and sharing your detailed feedback about the recent changes to the Chromecast "Continue Watching" list. I understand your frustration, especially regarding the missing "hide" option and the duplicate entries.

Missing Hide Option:

• I acknowledge your feedback about the missing "hide" option for the "Continue Watching" list on the main Chromecast screen. Your experience is valuable input for our development team. I encourage you to submit your feedback directly through the Google Home app.
  • Open the Google Home app.
  • Tap on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner.
  • Go to "Help & Feedback" and then "Send Feedback."

Here is a troubleshooting step you can try in the meantime:

• Individual App Management: While the "hide" option is missing from the main screen, you can still manage your "Continue Watching" list within individual apps. Go into each app and remove titles you no longer want to see.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I value your feedback and will continue to work on improving the Chromecast experience.

Best regards,

Jorge.

[tvwatcher]

Jorge, thanks for trying to help but as I mentioned in my last post, removing them from their respective apps’ continue watching lists is no longer removing them from the home screen continue watching list reliably.

[ovidioj]

Hi @tvwatcher,

Thanks for clarifying. I understand that removing titles from individual app "Continue Watching" lists isn't always reflected on the Chromecast home screen. That must be very frustrating!

While a permanent fix might still be under development, You can try sending feedback through the Google Home App or by clicking on the link below.

Report the issue: I appreciate you submitting feedback through the Google Home app. However, you can also report the specific issue with the "Continue Watching" list directly to our development team: link to the Chromecast support page

By reporting the issue directly, you can provide detailed information and screenshots (if possible) to help them diagnose and fix the problem.

In the meantime, I appreciate your patience and understanding as we work on improvements.

Best regards,

Jorge.