As an owner of a Google Chromecast, I have been frustrated trying to figure out if the device actually needs to be charged. After hours of research and trying different solutions, I’m here to share my findings and other potential solutions I discovered while trying to answer this question.
The short answer to this question is no. Chromecast devices don’t use batteries and they draw their power directly from the USB cable that comes with the device.
This cable is either plugged directly into the TV or to a power adapter connected to the wall, but that may vary depending on the model of Chromecast in question.
| Chromecast Model | USB Port Type | Power Connection | Remote Control Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st and 2nd generation | Micro USB | TV or power adapter | N/A |
| Chromecast Ultra | USB-C | Power adapter | N/A |
| Chromecast with Google TV | USB-C | Power adapter | 2 AAA batteries |
Table of Contents
How Is Google Chromecast Powered?
Chromecast doesn’t use any kinds of batteries to work. Instead, it draws the electric power needed to operate from its USB cable.
In other words, if you connect the Chromecast to the TV using only the HDMI port, the Chromecast is not going to work.
Although all Google Chromecast devices are powered through a USB cable, the type of USB as well as where it is connected varies from one device to another.
In the following section, we’ll walk you through different models of Chromecast and how they’re powered:
Older Generations of Chromecast
Older generations of Chromecast include the original Chromecast that came out in 2013 and the 2nd generation that was released in 2015 as well as two other models, which are the Chromecast Ultra and the Chromecast Audio.
Both the 1st and 2nd generations of Chromecast, as well as Chromecast audio, had a Micro USB port.
The devices came with dedicated cables that you can use to connect the device directly to the USB slot on the TV.
However, if you don’t have a USB slot available in the TV, you could simply connect the USB cable to a power adapter (a USB charger brick) that also comes in the box.
As for the Chromecast Ultra, it also uses a Micro USB connection but you can’t connect it to the TV, as it requires more power, and therefore, you can only connect it to the power adapter.
The New Generation of Chromecast
The new generation of Chromecast devices includes the 3rd Generation Chromecast and the Chromecast with Google TV.
Similar to the 1st and 2nd generation of Chromecast, The 3rd generation also uses a micro USB that you can plug directly into the TV USB slot or into a power adapter.
On the other hand, the new Chromecast with Google TV model uses USB-C cables and can only be connected using the power adapter that comes with the device.
The reason why this one is different is that it offers a lot more features and functions that weren’t available in any of the previous models of Chromecast, such as direct operation without needing a phone or a tablet.
In other words, the Chromecast with Google TV is a small streaming device, similar to Roku and Amazon Fire TV stick.
Read more: Can I plug Chromecast into a laptop?
What Happens if You Connect the Chromecast USB Port to the TV?
As previously mentioned, all Google Chromecast devices can be powered directly using a power adapter that comes with the device, and most of them can be powered by connecting the USB cable directly to the TV.
However, a few models, such as the Chromecast Ultra and the Chromecast with Google TV can only be connected to the power adapter, and won’t work when they’re connected to the TV
For example, if you connect the USB port of the Chromecast with Google TV directly to the TV, the Chromecast will display a “Low Power” error message and will ask you to connect the cable to the power adapter it comes with.
Read more: Chromecast keeps disconnecting from Youtube
Can You Use Rechargeable Batteries in the Chromecast Remote?
The Chromecast with Google TV is the first model of Chromecast to come with a remote control. This remote is powered by 2 AAA batteries that come with the package.
Although these batteries last for some time, they’ll run out of power eventually. You can then replace them with any suitable AAA Alkaline batteries, even rechargeable ones.
Wrap Up
In the end, we hope that this guide has cleared the confusion about Google Chromecast power requirements. To sum things up, Google Chromecast doesn’t need to be charged because it doesn’t use any batteries to work in the first place.
Instead, the device gets its power either from the USB cable that is connected to the TV USB slot or by direct connection to a power adapter (USB brick) connected to the wall.
While older generations could be powered by either method, some models, such as Chromecast Ultra and Chromecast with Google TV are only powered by a USB power adapter and can’t be connected to the TV for power.