How to Tell if Your Chromecast is Charged

Coming up with a smooth, user-friendly casting platform that supports many different apps is not an easy task. However, after three successive generations, Google’s Chromecast has become a market leader.

If you’re new to Chromecast or wondering if you should get one, we’re here to help you understand how Chromecast works.

How to Tell If Your Chromecast Is Charged

The LED indicators can sometimes be confusing for first-time Chromecast users. Sometimes they might confuse them with battery life indicators, which they aren’t. On the Chromecast, the light indicator indicates a change in the device’s status, connectivity, idle state, errors, or updates.

In fact, Chromecast is always charged since it doesn’t run on batteries.

If you’re interested in knowing more about what the light signs, here’s what they mean:

1. Solid white – the device is connected and ready.
2. Pulsing white – the device is disconnected and needs to be set up.
3. Pulsing orange – the device is receiving an update and is not active.
4. Pulsating orange – if your TV is not working or receiving a signal, you might need to plug it in and out to try to resolve the problem.
5. Solid orange (or solid red for the 1^st generation Chromecast) – there’s an error with your device.

Connecting Chromecast to Your TV

Chromecast’s connectivity is very straightforward, and it comes down to a few simple steps:

1. Plug the Chromecast into your TV and the power cable to a power outlet.
2. Install the Google Home app on your mobile phone or tablet.
3. Set up Chromecast.
4. Start watching your favorite programs.

Cast an Android Screen with Chromecast

One of the perks of using Chromecast is that you can easily mirror your phone’s screen on the TV. There’s a list of requirements you need to pay attention to, but if your phone is not more than a few years old, you won’t have any problem managing it. Before connecting your phone to Chromecast, you have to turn off “Power Saving Mode” and turn on “Microphone” permission in the Google Play Store for everything to work.

Once you have everything set up, you can open your Google Home app, find the device that you want to cast the screen, and that’s it.

Cast Music with Chromecast

As music is a big part of our everyday lives, Chromecast and Google Play allow you to cast music from your devices to your TV or speakers. After setting up the Chromecast, here’s how you can play your favorite music album or the latest podcast episode:

1. Connect your device to the same wireless network that the Chromecast is using.
2. Open the Google Play app.
3. Tap the “Cast” button.
4. Select your Chromecast from available devices.
5. Select what you want to play.
6. Tap “Play” and enjoy it on your big TV and big speakers.

How to Do a Factory Rest on Your Chromecast

If you’re to come across some problems while using your Chromecast, especially if the LED indicator is stuck in orange, you should perform a factory reset. It’s a straightforward process that requires a few simple steps in the Home app:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Click on your Chromecast and open “Settings.”
3. At the top right, find the three dots and tap.
4. Go to “Factory Reset” and tap on it.

Sometimes, users find it easier to do a factory reset right on the Chromecast device. If you have the 1^st generation Chromecast, you’ll need to leave the device plugged into a TV and hold the power button down for as long as 25 seconds.

On a 2^nd generation device, you’ll just have to hold the button until it changes the color. When the LED indicator changes from red/orange to blinking white, the reboot sequence will start. Afterward, your device will be fully restored and ready to cast great content.

Updating the Chromecast

If you like to enjoy the latest and newest features on your Chromecast device, you need to make sure that it’s always updated. Usually, updating is an automatic process that happens from time to time. Nonetheless, keep in mind that Chromecast won’t be working during the update. If you’re not sure what will happen with Chromecast during the update, here’s a quick overview:

1. Check the status of LED lights to see whether the installation process started.
2. Open the Google Home app to follow the setup’s progress.
3. You can also turn on your TV and see how the update is progressing.
4. If the update is taking more than ten minutes, you might have to reboot the device.

Keep on Streaming

Chromecast’s minimalist hardware doesn’t attract a lot of attention and doesn’t take up too much space. Although small, the device is powerful enough to connect different Google supported devices and appliances around the house. And with a Google Home app, your phone can become a control center for all of them.

Now that you know how to tell if your Chromecast is charged, you’ll be able to use one of the best casting devices to its fullest.

Do you often cast your tablet or phone with Chromecast? Or do you prefer to cast music?

Let us know in the comments section below.