Easily Hack Your Google Chromecast With FlashCast

Chromecast is a great little gadget that brings support for streaming content from Google’s services to your TV. Just like Google TV, Chromcast runs Android-based firmware, which was rooted soon after the release of the device. However, the method wasn’t really too straightforward, and wasn’t really meant for casual users. Google later issued a software update that patched the exploit used to root the device. If you still haven’t applied that update, there is now an easier method to hack your Chromecast, thanks to FlashCast by XDA-Developers Member tchebb. The tool uses a flash drive and an OTG Micro-USB cable for the purpose, which acts as something like a custom recovery for the device. Read on for the detailed instructions on getting everything prepared for using FlashCast with your Chromecast.

Chromecast-root-guide

Disclaimer: Please follow this guide at your own risk. AddictiveTips will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.

Requirements

Chromecast with the vulnerable bootloader (without any updates from Google applied yet)
USB flash drive of 128MB or more capacity (all data on it will be wiped)
Powered Micro-USB OTG (On The Go) cable
The latest version of FlashCast
Low-level disk image writing tool:
- Linux and OS X users have the dd tool built-in.
- For Windows users, there is Win32DiskImager.

Instructions

Unzip the downloaded flashcast-1.0.zip file to extract its contents.
Use dd or Win32DiskImager to write the .bin file (extracted in step 1) to the USB flash drive.
Connect the male plug of your USB OTG cable to your Chromecast.
Plug the Flash drive into the UB OTG cable’s USB-A female connector.
With the button on your Chromecast pressed and held, plug the Micro-USB power connector into the OTG cable’s female Micro-USB port. Keep the button held throughout.
A red light will show up on your Chromecast for about 9 seconds, then turn white and the FlashCast logo will appear on your screen. When you see this logo, release the button on your Chromecast. The device will reboot after a few seconds. (Unplug power when it starts to boot so that it doesn’t update.)

FlashCast is now installed on the USB drive, and is ready to use. For more information on how to use FlashCast for modding your device, visit its official forum thread at XDA.