How to Setup Chromecast to New WiFi?

How to Setup Chromecast to New WiFi

Only a handful of gadgets allow you to cast your music and videos from your smartphone or tablet to your PC or Smart TV. But, perhaps amongst all these gadgets, the Google Chromecast is the smallest and most portable.

However, there is a catch; Google Chromecast can only recall one Wi-Fi link at a time. So if you move around with your Chromecast a lot or you have more than one Wi-Fi link in your house, you’ll need to change the Wi-Fi constantly.

Changing the Wi-Fi link on your Chromecast is pretty much straightforward if you had already set up Chromecast with a Wi-Fi network and the Chromecast is still connected to that network. However, this start getting tricky when you change your Wi-Fi router.

This means that the Google Home app on your Android or iOS smartphone won’t recognize your Chromecast and you have to reset the device. Let’s look at the step-by-step prompts you should follow to set up a new Wi-Fi connection on your Chromecast and how to reset it as well.

Switching Chromecast from One Active Wi-Fi to Another Active Wi-Fi

Ensure your Chromecast is linked to the same Wi-Fi as your smartphone and smart TV
Turn on your TV and make sure that Chromecast is powered on and well connected to the back of your TV

Proceed to launch the Google Home App on your Android or iOS smartphone
On the home screen, click the 3-line menu icon on the top-left corner

A new menu will appear, then click on “Devices”
From the drop-down menu, click on “Settings”

On the settings menu, you will see the Wi-Fi option; click on it
A pop-up will appear with all your Wi-Fi network names; click on it

You’ll see all your Wi-Fi networks and click on the new network you want to use
Enter your Wi-Fi passcode in the text box provided
Click Ok to complete the setup

Resetting Chromecast from Non- Active Wi-Fi connection

If your Chromecast is still linked to an old Wi-Fi network, but the Wi-Fi is currently non-active, then there is no option but to reset the device and set it up with a new Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the Google Home App will not verify your Chromecast if the old network is not detected.

But your Chromecast doesn’t know this, and it will keep on trying to connect to the old network. Since your old Wi-Fi network doesn’t exist, then you cannot prompt your Chromecast to forget an unavailable network.

There are reset steps for the 1^st Gen device and the 2^nd and 3^rd Gen devices combined.

1^st Gen Chromecast

Ensure that your Chromecast is plugged into the TV and the power supply (no need to turn on Chromecast it’s automatic)
Proceed to hold down the reset button, which is next to the Micro USB port, for about 15 seconds
As you’re holding down the reset button, you’ll see a static white light turn red and start flashing
Wait for the flashing red light to turn to a flashing white light, and then you can release the reset button
The Chromecast will reset itself to default factory settings and then restart

2^nd and 3^rd Gen Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra

Ensure that your Chromecast is plugged into the TV and power supply (Check that the Chromecast is turned on)
Proceed to hold down the reset button, which is on the side of the device, for about 15 seconds
As you’re holding down the reset button, you’ll see the LED flashing an orange light
Wait for the flashing orange light to turn to a white light, and then you can release the reset button
The Chromecast will reset itself to default factory settings and then restart

Setting Up Another Network On Chromecast

Launch Google Home App
On the top left corner, you will see a plus (+) sign
Click on the first option that says “Set up device”

Click on “Set up new devices”
The App will search for your device

You’ll be asked whether you want to connect to Chromecast click “Yes”
After connecting the app will ask if the code on the TV and phone are the same
Check to see the codes are identical and click “Yes”
Follow the instructions until you get to the Wi-Fi page

Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter the password
Allow the device to connect to the internet and finish the process

Troubleshooting WiFi Connection Problems

When connecting to Chromecast to a new WiFi there are several things you need to check for:

Chromecast and smartphone are on the same WiFi network
Bluetooth on smartphone is on
The home app on your smartphone is up to date
LED on Chromecast remains white all the time. If this isn’t happening it means your Chromecast isn’t getting enough power which might be an issue with the power cable.

Final Thought

To sum it all up, setting up a new Wi-Fi on your Google Chromecast is pretty much straightforward, as illustrated above. The only limitation with the Chromecast is that it can connect to one Wi-Fi network at a go.