Yes, you can cast YouTube TV to Chromecast, and it works on most devices
YouTube TV works with Chromecast on phones, tablets, and computers. You open the YouTube TV app or website, find the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), tap it, and select your Chromecast device. The video then plays on your TV through the Chromecast, while your phone or computer becomes a remote control.
The process takes about 10 seconds once you have everything set up. You do not need to buy anything extra or change your YouTube TV account. If your Chromecast is already connected to your home WiFi and your phone or computer is on the same network, you are ready to start.
Key Takeaways
- The cast icon appears in the YouTube TV app on Android and iOS phones, and on the YouTube TV website in Chrome, Safari, and Edge browsers.
- Your phone, tablet, or computer and your Chromecast must be connected to the same WiFi network for casting to work.
- Once you tap cast and select your device, YouTube TV plays on your TV and you control playback from your phone or computer.
- If the cast icon does not appear, restart your Chromecast, restart your phone or computer, and check that both are on the same WiFi network.
Casting YouTube TV from your phone or tablet
Open the YouTube TV app on your Android or iOS device. Find the video you want to watch and start playing it. Look for the cast icon in the top right corner of the screen — it looks like a small rectangle with three curved lines. Tap it.
A menu will pop up showing all the Chromecast devices on your WiFi network. Tap the name of the Chromecast connected to your TV. YouTube TV will begin playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone or tablet screen will show a smaller version of the video and playback controls so you can pause, rewind, or skip forward without touching the TV remote.
To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Stop casting" or straightforward close the YouTube TV app. The video will stop playing on your TV.
Casting YouTube TV from a computer
Go to tv.youtube.com in Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. Sign in with the same Google account you use for YouTube TV. Find and start playing the video you want to watch.
Look for the cast icon in the top right corner of the browser window. Click it. A list of available Chromecast devices will appear. Click the name of your Chromecast. The video will start playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your computer screen will show playback controls so you can pause or adjust the volume without using the TV remote.
To stop casting, click the cast icon again and select "Stop casting." The video will stop on your TV, but you can keep browsing YouTube TV on your computer.
What to check if casting is not working
The most common reason casting fails is that your phone, tablet, or computer is not on the same WiFi network as your Chromecast. Check your device's WiFi settings and make sure it is connected to the same network name as your Chromecast. Your Chromecast should show which network it is on in the Google Home app.
If both devices are on the same network and the cast icon still does not appear, restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in. Then restart your phone, tablet, or computer. Open YouTube TV again and look for the cast icon. It should appear within a minute.
If you are using a computer, make sure you are using Chrome, Safari, or Edge. YouTube TV casting does not work in Firefox or other browsers. Close any other browser windows and try again.
Casting from YouTube TV's live guide
You can also cast directly from the live TV guide without opening a specific video. Open YouTube TV on your phone, tablet, or computer and browse the live channels. When you find a show you want to watch, tap or click it to start playback. Then tap or click the cast icon and select your Chromecast device. The live channel will play on your TV.
This works the same way as casting a recorded show or on-demand video. You can change channels, pause live TV, or rewind using your phone or computer as a remote control. Some features like rewinding live TV may be limited depending on your YouTube TV plan.
Using your phone as a remote while casting
Once YouTube TV is casting to your Chromecast, your phone or tablet becomes a full remote control. You can pause, play, skip forward or backward, adjust the volume, and change channels without picking up the TV remote. The playback controls appear at the bottom of your screen.
You can also browse other shows or channels on your phone while the current video plays on your TV. Tap a different show and it will start playing on your TV instead. This is useful if you want to look up what else is on without interrupting what is currently playing.
If your phone screen locks or you switch to another app, casting continues on your TV. You can unlock your phone and open YouTube TV again to control playback whenever you need to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a YouTube TV subscription to cast?
Yes, you need an active YouTube TV subscription to watch any content through casting or any other method. Casting itself is a free feature included with your subscription — you do not pay extra to use Chromecast.
Can I cast YouTube TV to multiple Chromecast devices at the same time?
No, you can only cast to one Chromecast device at a time from a single phone or computer. If you want to watch on a different TV, stop casting on the first device and start casting to the second one.
What if my Chromecast is on a different WiFi network than my phone?
Casting will not work if your devices are on different networks. Connect your phone or computer to the same WiFi network as your Chromecast. Check the Google Home app to see which network your Chromecast is using, then connect your phone to that same network.
Can I cast YouTube TV if I am using a VPN?
Casting may not work reliably with a VPN because your phone and Chromecast need to communicate on the same local network. Turn off your VPN, make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network, and try casting again.
Does casting use a lot of data?
Casting streams video over your home WiFi network, so it uses your home internet but not your phone's cellular data. The amount of data depends on the video quality — higher quality uses more data, just like watching on any device.