Although Google announced that it would stop manufacturing its Chromecasts very soon, the company assured that it would maintain support for Google TV devices. It has proven this with the latest update that they are rolling out to these devices.
Google is finalizing the details for the launch of its new streaming video player, Google TV Streamer. With its arrival, the company will no longer produce Chromecasts and will only sell those in stock. However, its developers have clarified that they have support for these devices for a while, and proof of this is their recent update.
This is version STTE.240615.007 (from STTL.240508.005) for Chrome with Google TV. This update includes the security patch that was already introduced to Android in July 2024, and is now appearing on this other operating system for Google TVs.
The company also adds that with the update, they have also added “other bug fixes and performance improvements.” Although they don’t explain what the changes are specifically, it’s worth updating your Chromecast to enjoy all the optimizations that Google has made.
It should be noted that version STTL.240508.005 is larger than the previous update. From 71.94 megabytes just over a month ago, the operating system has grown to 143 MB. However, it still falls within the framework of Android 12. Chromecast devices with Google TV have received several updates so far this year. This latest one in September is the sixth, but there were also others in February, March, April, May and August.
However, a bigger one is expected later this year, which will finally bring Android 14 to streaming video players with Google TV. With future changes, they will equip these devices with a “home runtime” so that they can act as a hub for Matter products. Thus, the brand is showing that it will not abandon its Chromecasts, even if they are no longer going to continue manufacturing them.
Which Chromecast devices are supported by the update?
Until recently, Google had not included the update in its changelog. However, it was already rolling it out to Chromecast devices that turn a conventional television into a Smart TV. Now, it can be seen as the latest version of the operating system, available for the following models:
- Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
- Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
Download the latest update for Chromecast with Google TV
If you use a Chromecast device to give your regular TV the functions of a Smart TV, it’s a good idea to install the latest version. In this case, you’ll notice improvements in performance and mitigate certain security issues. But since Google isn’t going to stop updating, you might be interested in the new features that will be coming soon.
Usually, the device downloads updates automatically when connected. However, it never hurts to check, as connection problems or changes in settings may not do so. From the Google support page, they explain the steps to follow to install the latest version from your television with Chromecast manually:
- Turn on the TV and make sure it is connected to a WiFi network
- Go to the Chromecast with Google TV home screen
- Enter the device settings
- Once inside, go to “System” and click on “About”
- We will be interested in the “System Update” option.
The latest version of Google TV currently has build number STTL.240508.005. However, this won’t be the last update the company releases for Chromecast devices, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for all the latest from Google in the future.
