First-generation Chromecast owners experienced a stressful few days this week when their devices suddenly stopped working. Users reported that popular apps including Chrome, YouTube, and Paramount+ could no longer cast to the $35 streaming sticks that Google officially ended support for in 2023. A Reddit thread filled with worried owners speculated that Google had deliberately disabled their devices to push upgrades.

The original Chromecast was a massive hit when released, selling 10 million units in 2014. The device offered a unique simplicity—foregoing a traditional UI or ads, users simply pressed "Cast" in an app and content appeared on their TV. Despite being discontinued, these units remained functional in many households until this week's sudden failure.

Sahana Mysore, senior product manager for Google Home, told Ars Technica that Google didn't kill the devices. "Earlier this week, a technical issue temporarily disrupted casting for some Gen 1 Google Chromecast users," she said. "Our team quickly identified the root cause and resolved the issue." The company confirmed all devices should now be working.

This incident coincided with reports that Google has ended support for every Chromecast except the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) from 2022, leaving earlier generations without critical security updates.