As Google works to fix Chromecast casting issue, here's a workaround to try out in the meantime

Google is scrambling to fix a frustrating problem hitting Chromecast 2nd Gen and Chromecast Audio users worldwide. For almost two days now, people have been unable to cast their favorite shows or music, greeted instead by an “Untrusted device” error. Reports have poured in from around the world showing just how widespread this outage is. Many users, desperate to get things working, have tried factory resetting their devices, only to find they can’t even complete the setup process afterward.

The company has stepped up, confirming they know about the issue and are working hard on a solution. Their big piece of advice? Don’t factory reset your device. Doing so could make things trickier when the fix finally arrives. If you’ve already hit that reset button, Google says they’ll share instructions soon to help you set things back up. For now, patience is key.

But if you’re not the waiting type, there’s a temporary workaround floating around that might save the day. Some clever users have figured out a way to bypass the authentication snag using an app called Activity Manager. It’s open-source and available to download, often through platforms like F-Droid.

Once installed, you open the app, pick “Intent Launcher” from a dropdown menu, and paste in a specific line of code — either "com.google.android.gms.cast.settings.CastSettingsCollapsingDebugAction" or "CastSettingsDebugAction" if you’re on Android 11 or older. Hit the checkmark, scroll to “Connection” in the settings that pop up, and toggle on “Bypass Device Auth.” That’s it. Several users say this trick got their casting back on track, though it’s a bit technical and not everyone’s ready to dive in.

The issue seems tied to an expired certificate, which is why the workaround skips the authentication step. That could mean Google’s fix might come quietly through a server update, no action needed from you. Until then, hold off on that factory reset and maybe give the Activity Manager trick a shot if you’re feeling adventurous. Either way, Google’s on it, and relief should be coming soon.