UPDATE: Google is now rolling out the fix via a Google Play Services update. Users can wait for it to hit their devices or by downloading the APK now.
Original article below…
Google has announced a fix for an issue with Cast and Home devices that has been crashing users’ Wi-Fi networks.
Earlier this week it emerged a number of Google devices were causing routers from multiple manufacturers to temporarily go offline.
Google has now revealed the issue isn’t related to the Home and Cast devices themselves, but with the Cast software on Android phones.
It says the software “may incorrectly send a large amount of network traffic which can slow down or temporarily impact Wi-Fi networks.”
Related: Google Home Mini review
The Mountain View firm has promised the fix will begin rolling out on Thursday.
In a post on its support site Google says: “People with an Android phone and a Chromecast built-in device (such as a Chromecast or Google Home device) on the same Wi-Fi network may experience this issue.
“The team has identified the issue and is actively releasing a fix, which will start rolling out via a Google Play services update this Thursday, January 18.”
In the meantime, Google has advised affected users to reboot their Android devices and ensure the router’s firmware is up to date.
An explanation?
When the problem emerged, it centred on the TP-Link Archer C7 router and the Google Home Max speaker.
However, in the ensuing days, it had emerged additional Google devices were being affected, as well as routers from Asus, Netgear, Linksys and Synology were also suffering.
A TP-Link engineer speculated on the cause of the problem, which appears to be backed up somewhat by Google’s latest comments.
He wrote: “We have discovered that the devices will sometimes broadcast a large amount of these packets at a very high speed in a short amount of time.
“This occurs when the device is awakened from the “sleep mode”, and could exceed more than 100,000 packets in a short amount of time. The longer your device is in “sleep”, the larger this packet burst will be. This issue may eventually cause some of a router’s primary features to shut down – including wireless connectivity.”
Have you been struggling to maintain your Wi-Fi connection while using a Cast or Home device? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
