How to Factory Reset Chromecast (A Quick Guide)

Knowing how to factory reset Chromecast may come in handy when the device fails to pair with your television.

Google Chromecast is a screen casting service that projects tablet or mobile-based content onto a television or computer screen. These devices, while usually simple to operate, sometimes run into technical issues. When that happens, you can reset the device to its factory settings to get it working normally, and we’ll show you how.

What Is Chromecast?

Chromecast, an abbreviation for Google Chromecast, is a media casting/streaming device. A streaming/casting device allows you to stream content from a smaller device to your television or computer. More specifically, the source of the content may be a tablet, mobile phone, or even laptop.

The device itself is small and lightweight. It’s essentially a dongle with an adapter cable attached to it. The adapter cable attaches directly to an HDMI port on your television. Meanwhile, it connects to your laptop, tablet, or phone via wireless internet. You can control the content using a dedicated mobile app.

Chromecast also supports Chromecast built-in. Like the original Chromecast, this feature lets you stream content from a smaller device to your TV. It also makes use of the cloud to stream content, so you get high-quality visuals and audio. However, it must be noted that the feature is only available on select television models and displays. You can even play TV-based games created specifically for Chromecast.

Chromecast is known largely for pioneering the device-to-TV streaming idea a few years back. However, similar products have since emerged from the market, and this causes direct competition with Chromecast. Two of the more popular alternatives to Chromecast with very similar functions are Amazon Fire TV and Roku. Check out this comparative review of Roku vs. Amazon Fire Stick vs. Chromecast.

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How to Factory Reset Chromecast

You may want to reset Chromecast for a variety of reasons. The first is when your Chromecast fails to pair with your television or source device. If you want to sell or gift the device to someone else, you will also want to reset it beforehand. A reset is also a good idea for when you have recently replaced your wireless internet connection.

Initiating a reset of your Chromecast will return the device to its original factory state. By “factory state,” we simply mean that all data saved on the device will be lost. This includes your user profile, preferences under settings, and passwords. Before you can use the device again, you would have to start from scratch and set it up.

How to Factory Reset Chromecast on the Device

1. Like most screen-casting devices, Google Chromecast comes with an easy-reset button on the side. It’s located right next to the indicator light, near the hard-wired HDMI cable.
2. After you’ve located the reset button, press and hold on to the button for approximately twenty-five seconds. Wait for the lights to flash and only lift your finger once the flashing stops.
3. Afterward, you will need to disconnect the USB power cable from the device and wait for a few seconds.
4. Finally, reconnect the USB power cable to your device to complete the factory rest. At this point, the entirety of the data that you saved on the device will be deleted.

How to Factory Reset Chromecast from the Google Chrome App

1. Look for and select the Google Home application on the homepage of your mobile phone or tablet.
2. Take note of the Account option from the bottom-right corner of the screen and select it. The button is a small stick figure’s head and shoulders around a circle. Select it.
3. Look for the option indicating how many devices you have currently connected to your wireless internet.
4. Wait for the list of local devices to appear and select Google Chromecast from the list of options.
5. From the screen’s upper-right corner, select the Settings option. After clicking on settings, click on Device Settings.
6. From the upper-right-hand corner of the screen, click on the “More” option (depicted as three horizontal dots). A separate menu should open with the “Reset” option, and you need to select this option to reset your device.
7. The “Reset” button will appear more than once in the process. Tap on the device as often as required to restore it to its factory settings.

How to Factory Reset Chromecast to Connect to a New Wi-Fi

Alternatively, you may have recently switched to a new internet service provider. Or you may have replaced your modem or router. Either way, you will want to reset your Google Chromecast back to factory settings to clear the details of your old network to make way for your new network. Here are the steps:

1. Look for the reset button beside the micro-USB port on Google Chromecast.
2. Press the button for at least fifteen seconds and wait for the light to stop blinking before releasing it.
3. Once you have released the button, the device should reset itself to factory settings. It should delete the details of the old Wi-Fi network as well as the current settings of your connection.
4. Next, reconnect your Chromecast to the new Wi-Fi network by entering your new username and password. Save the details to facilitate automatic detection moving forward.

How to Set Up Chromecast on Android or iPhone After a Factory Reset

As mentioned, several reasons you may choose to reset Google Chromecast. A rest will remove all saved settings and data about devices connected to Chromecast. That being said, you will have to start afresh and set up the device before you can use it again. Take note of the following steps to get the device to revert to its original settings:

1. Locate your television’s HDMI port and plug in the Chromecast through the dongle. Using the remote, set the same input as for your previous settings for Chromecast.
2. This next step assumes that you already have the Google Home app installed on your mobile device. Once you have ensured that it’s installed, select the “+” sign from the top-left corner of the Home screen.
3. Select the “Setup device” option. Note that you may get a prompt at the bottom of the screen to set up the device, and this should have the same effect.
4. Select the option “New Devices” from the list of available options.
5. Afterward, you will need to select a home to install it in (i.e., My place, office, cousin’s house).
6. Google Home will now set up the Chromecast.

Additional Steps for Setting Up Google Chromecast After a Factory Reset

1. Setting up Google Chromecast is not the end since you need additional settings to attend to. Click on the “Continue” when prompted.
2. Select “Chromecast” and tap on the “Next” option from the bottom-right corner of the page.
3. A four-digit code will appear on-screen, and you will need to click “Yes” to confirm the code.
4. Click “Next” on the bottom-right corner of the page, followed by the “I Agree” option.
5. Follow the automated prompts until you reach the optional tutorial. Note that this includes approval for things like data sharing as well as pinpointing your device’s location. It will also prompt you to pair your Chromecast to the new Wi-Fi network.

Final Thoughts on How to Factory Reset Chromecast

This concludes our steps on how to factory reset Chromecast to factory settings. This process is useful when your casting device experiences a variety of technical problems. It’s also useful when you want to connect your Chromecast to a new wireless internet system.

Of course, it must be noted that there may be slight variations in the steps with different models of Chromecast. But generally speaking, the steps outlined above should work for the latest models. These include Chromecast (3rd Generation), Chromecast Ultra, and Chromecast Google TV.

If you would like more options, the Roku streaming line comes with more variety. Here is a complete guide on the Roku screen-casting experience and how to choose the best Roku devices.