I can't establish a Wi-Fi connection to my Chromecast

If you're able to find your Wi-Fi network listed in the Google Home app during setup, but you can't connect your Chromecast or Chromecast built-in device to the network and complete the setup process, try these steps.

Recommended: Troubleshooting tool

First, use our self-help flow to troubleshoot a Chromecast connection issue.

Troubleshoot a connection issue

Can other devices connect to your Wi-Fi network?

If other devices can't connect to your Wi-Fi network easily, it's most likely a router issue and not a Chromecast issue. It may be a weak connection, or the router may need a firmware update. Check and update the router firmware.

Are you at a place of business, hotel, school or hall of residence?

Chromecast does not support networks requiring connection through a captive portal, which is typical of hotels/schools/halls of residence/businesses. You won't be able to connect to these types of networks.

Are you using a Wi-Fi hotspot?

Set up your Chromecast device by following the usual setup process. If you can't set it up, remember that hotspots are not recommended and may cause connection issues in the future.

Check if your Chromecast is within 4.6–6.1 metres (15–20 feet) of both your setup device AND the Wi-Fi router.

Your Chromecast should be within 4.6 metres (15 feet) of both the device you are using for setup and the Wi-Fi router. If the devices aren't in close proximity, move them closer together for the best performance.

Note: Support for Chromecast (1st gen) has ended, which means that these devices no longer receive software or security updates, and Google does not provide technical support for them. Users may notice a degradation in performance.

You can also follow the manual steps below.

Step 1. Reboot the following devices:

Wi-Fi router
1. Unplug the power source for approximately one minute before plugging back in
2. Note: If you're unable to set up using the Netgear Nighthawk router, then you may need to:
  - Disable access control
  - Enable the option 'Allow guests to find each other and access my local network' in the 'Guest network setup'
Chromecast device
1. Unplug the power cable from the Chromecast device.
2. Leave it unplugged for one minute.
3. Plug the power cable back in.

Step 2. Turn Wi-Fi off and on from the mobile device you're using to set up the Chromecast device.

On your device, drag down on your screen.
Tap Wi-Fi.
Turn Wi-Fi off and then on again.

Step 3. If you have a dual- band router, try setting up Chromecast on either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands.

Dual-band routers may broadcast two networks with similar names but have 2, 2.4 G or 2.4 GHz as part of the 2.4 GHz band name and 5, 5 G or 5 GHz as part of the 5 GHz band name. For example, if your Wi-Fi network name is 'Home', you might find 'Home2' and 'Home5' in the list of available networks.

Note: Chromecast (1st generation) is only compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks, so it won't list 5 GHz networks during setup.

Step 4. Perform a factory reset.

Factory reset your Chromecast.

Other troubleshooting steps to try:

Turn Wi-Fi off and then on from the setup device, then reopen the Google Home app.
Force close, then reopen the Google Home app.
Uninstall, then reinstall the Google Home app.
Turn on Local network access for iOS devices
1. Go to your iOS device's Settings.
2. Tap Bluetooth turn Bluetooth on.
3. Scroll down, then tap Google Home .
4. Turn Local network on.
Use a different device (phone or tablet) for setup.
Connect manually to your Chromecast's service set identifier (SSID).
1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Wi-Fi connect to the Chromecast SSID.
3. Open Google Home .
4. Set up your device again.
Disable access point (AP) isolation.

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