Google fixes older Chromecast setup issue, adds phone companion for YouTube on TV

The Chromecast fix resolves weeks of problems in which older Chromecast dongles stopped working with some apps and, after a separate update to Google Home, became impossible for some owners to add. Google confirmed the fix in an update to a Reddit thread and recommended that affected users install version 4.26 or newer of the Google Home app, then try setting up their device again. If the device still will not set up, Google says to contact support.

Before the fix, users had reported workarounds such as installing older versions of Google Home or creating a new Home to get a device working again. Some said Chromecast Audio devices were also affected. Google had already updated its support pages to show most older Chromecast devices as no longer supported, which left owners uncertain whether failed setups meant their hardware had reached the end of its life. The latest update indicates the setup failure was a software glitch rather than a deliberate removal of setup support.

The YouTube update tightens the connection between Google's TV and mobile apps. When a phone and television are signed in to the same YouTube account, the phone automatically recognizes what is playing on the TV and opens a companion panel. Users can then comment, subscribe, browse, search, or scroll through Shorts on the phone without interrupting the TV playback. They can also send videos from the phone to the TV. The two devices do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network; signing in to the same account is enough.