As an owner of a Chromecast, I was recently frustrated when I found that my device was connected to the internet, but I couldn’t access it. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved the issue and other solutions I discovered. If you’ve been having the same trouble, this blog post is for you!
Some reasons why your Chromecast is connected but cannot access the internet include: having a weak WiFi signal, not having an active internet connection, experiencing internal networking devices issues, and connecting to the wrong frequency band.
| Tips for Troubleshooting Chromecast Connection Issues |
|---|
| Check for an active internet connection |
| Connect to the correct frequency band |
| Clear the cache of your Chromecast |
| Reboot or Reset Your Networking Devices |
| Make sure Chrome browser is updated |
Why Is Chromecast Connected but Doesn’t Access the Internet?
There are multiple reasons why Chromecast appears connected but doesn’t access the internet. We’ll take a look at the possible causes and why they happen.
Not Having an Active Internet Connection
Checking for an active internet connection is probably the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind. However, sometimes because the solution appears to be so simple, it’s easy to overlook it and instead focus on other issues while attempting to get Chromecast to work.
This step should always be the first one you take whenever your Chromecast is unable to connect to the internet. Try testing your internet connection with a YouTube video to see if you have an active connection.
Connected to the Wrong Frequency Band
The most common reason a Chromecast that’s connected to the internet won’t access the internet is that it’s connected to the wrong frequency band.
First-generation Chromecast models can only connect to 2.4 GHz networks. If your Chromecast is connected to a 5 GHz network, it won’t be able to connect to the internet. It’ll accept the WiFi signal, but it won’t know how to use it to connect to the internet.
However, this issue doesn’t apply to all Chromecast generations. Second-generation and third-generation Chromecast models can connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Weak WiFi Signal
Another reason your Chromecast device can’t connect to the internet is a weak WiFi signal. If you have multiple devices connected to the same signal, check to see if you can access the internet.
If only the devices near the router are working and connecting to the internet, they’re most likely the ones that have a stronger signal. This means that the greater the distance between the Chromecast and your router, the weaker the WiFi signal.
Internal Networking Devices Issues
Your networking devices, which include the router, modem, and Chromecast, may have some easy-to-handle internal issues. These include freeze-ups, crashes, and so on. Luckily, you can solve these issues by simply rebooting or resetting those devices.
Effective Solutions for Chromecast to Access the Internet
If you’re now certain that you have an active internet connection, let’s see how to fix the other possible issues.
Connect to the Correct Frequency Band
If your Chromecast is a first-generation model, make sure that it’s connected to 2.4 GHz.
You can also give the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands each a unique name to avoid connecting your device to the incorrect frequency band.
That way, connecting your Chromecast to the correct frequency will be less stressful.
Clear the cache of your Chromecast
On Google TV, go to your profile icon and select Settings, then System, then Storage, then Internal shared, storage then Cached data. Select “Clear cached data for all apps,” then click Ok.
Reboot or Reset Your Networking Devices
Rebooting and resetting your networking devices is the easiest way to resolve all internal issues. Disconnect all of these devices and wait for about two minutes before reconnecting them.
To reboot your Chromecast, simply unplug it for 60 seconds.
You can also try to reset your Chromecast by holding down the button for 10 seconds; it should reset as if you’ve unplugged and replugged it. This completely resets the Chromecast to its factory defaults.
Your network connection will be back and working when all of the lights on your modem stop blinking. It may take a few seconds for the Chromecast to completely reboot.
Once everything is back up and running, check to see if your Chromecast is now connected to the internet.
Make Sure Chrome Browser is Updated
Read more: Can you Chromecast without a phone?
Sometimes the browser lags or doesn’t work properly with Chromecast if it’s not up-to-date. If that’s the case, update your Chrome browser first, and then see if Chromecast can access the internet.
Contact Google Customer Support
If you’ve exhausted all of the above options and your Chromecast is still not connecting to the internet, you should contact Google customer service.
They’d be able to tell you if the Chromecast isn’t connecting to the internet due to a hidden issue.
Final Thoughts
Read more: Chromecast remote has a white light and not working
There are several reasons why Chromecast is connected but cannot access the internet. These reasons could range from a weak signal to connecting to the wrong frequency band.
Thankfully, fixing these issues can be as simple as moving your router closer to your Chromecast or changing the frequency band to which you’re connected.
After reading our article, you should be able to solve and repair it without the need for outside assistance.
