Yes, you can use Chromecast with an iPhone, but not all apps support it

Chromecast works with iPhones, but the setup and what you can cast depend on which apps you're using. Google's own apps—YouTube, Google Photos, Google Maps, and Chrome—cast directly from an iPhone to a Chromecast device. Many third-party apps like Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, and Disney+ also support casting. However, you cannot mirror your entire iPhone screen to a Chromecast the way you can with an Android phone. You're limited to casting from apps that have built-in Chromecast support.

The reason for this limitation is technical: Apple's AirPlay system and Google's Chromecast use different underlying technologies. Apple does not allow third-party apps to mirror the full iPhone screen to non-Apple devices. You can use AirPlay to send video to an Apple TV, but Chromecast requires a different approach.

Key Takeaways

  • Chromecast works with iPhones through individual apps that have Chromecast built in, not through full-screen mirroring.
  • Google's apps (YouTube, Photos, Maps, Chrome) and major streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Disney+) support casting from iPhone.
  • Your iPhone and Chromecast device must be on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • You cannot cast your entire iPhone screen to Chromecast; you can only cast from apps that offer the feature.

Which apps work with Chromecast on iPhone

Google's own services cast natively from iPhone. YouTube, Google Photos, Google Maps, and the Chrome browser all have a cast button built into their interfaces. Tap the cast icon, select your Chromecast device, and the content plays on your TV.

Major streaming platforms support Chromecast on iPhone as well. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube Music all include cast buttons in their iPhone apps. The process is the same: open the app, find the content you want, tap the cast icon, and choose your device.

Some lesser-known apps also support casting—Plex, Twitch, Vimeo, and Podcasts Addict are examples—but not every app does. If you don't see a cast icon in an app, that app does not support Chromecast on iPhone. There is no workaround to force it.

Setting up your iPhone and Chromecast on the same network

Before you can cast anything, your iPhone and Chromecast device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This is the single most common reason casting fails. Check your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and confirm it is connected to your home network. Then check your Chromecast device—during setup, you chose a Wi-Fi network for it to join. If your iPhone is on a different network (or on a guest network), casting will not work.

If you have a dual-band router that broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks with the same name, your iPhone may connect to the 5 GHz band while your Chromecast is on 2.4 GHz. Some older Chromecast models only support 2.4 GHz. If casting is not working and both devices show as connected to Wi-Fi, try connecting your iPhone to the 2.4 GHz band specifically, or check your router settings to see which band your Chromecast is using.

How to cast from an iPhone app to Chromecast

The process is consistent across apps that support Chromecast. Open the app and find the content you want to cast—a video in YouTube, a song in Spotify, a show in Netflix. Look for a cast icon, which typically looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the bottom corner (the official Chromecast symbol). Tap it.

A menu will appear showing available Chromecast devices on your network. Select the device you want to cast to. The content will begin playing on your TV through that Chromecast device. Your iPhone screen will show a "casting" indicator, and you can use your iPhone to pause, skip, or adjust volume while the content plays on the TV.

If you do not see any devices in the menu, your iPhone and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Go back and check your network settings. If the device appears but casting fails, try restarting both your iPhone and your Chromecast device (unplug the Chromecast for 10 seconds, then plug it back in).

Why you cannot mirror your iPhone screen to Chromecast

Android phones can mirror their entire screen to a Chromecast device, showing everything on the phone's display on your TV. iPhones cannot do this. Apple restricts screen mirroring to AirPlay, which works only with Apple TV devices and some third-party devices that license Apple's technology. Chromecast does not support AirPlay.

This is a deliberate design choice by Apple, not a technical limitation of Chromecast. If you need to mirror your iPhone screen to a TV, you would need an Apple TV or an AirPlay-compatible device. For Chromecast, you are limited to casting from apps that have Chromecast support built in.

Casting from Chrome browser on iPhone

The Chrome app on iPhone includes a cast button. Open Chrome, navigate to a website, tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right, and select "Cast". Choose your Chromecast device. The webpage will then display on your TV through the Chromecast.

This is useful for casting video content from websites that do not have their own apps, or for showing a webpage to a group. However, this is not the same as mirroring your entire phone screen—only the webpage content is sent to the TV. If you navigate away from the webpage or close Chrome, the casting stops.

Troubleshooting casting problems

If casting is not working, start by confirming both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart your iPhone and your Chromecast device (unplug the Chromecast for 10 seconds). Close the app you are trying to cast from and reopen it. These steps resolve most casting issues.

If the cast button does not appear in an app, that app does not support Chromecast on iPhone. Check the app's settings or help section to confirm. Some apps only support casting on Android, not iOS. If you need to cast that content, you may need to use a different app or device.

If your Chromecast device is not appearing in the cast menu at all, check that it is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. The Chromecast status light should be solid white or blue. If it is red or blinking, the device may not be connected properly. Restart it and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast to Chromecast while using other apps on my iPhone?

Yes. Once casting starts, you can switch to other apps on your iPhone, and the content will continue playing on your TV. You can even lock your iPhone screen. The only exception is if you close the app that is casting—for example, if you close Netflix while a show is playing, the casting stops.

Do I need a special cable or adapter to use Chromecast with an iPhone?

No. Chromecast connects directly to your TV via HDMI and to Wi-Fi. Your iPhone communicates with it over Wi-Fi only. You do not need any cables or adapters between your iPhone and the Chromecast device.

What if my app has a cast button but it is grayed out?

A grayed-out cast button usually means your iPhone and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your Wi-Fi settings and make sure both devices are connected to the same network. If they are, restart both devices and try again.

Can I cast audio only to Chromecast from my iPhone?

Yes. Apps like Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube Music support audio-only casting. Open the app, select a song or playlist, tap the cast icon, and choose your Chromecast device. The audio will play through your TV's speakers.

Is there a way to mirror my iPhone screen to a non-Apple TV?

Not with Chromecast. Apple restricts screen mirroring to AirPlay-compatible devices. If you need to mirror your iPhone to a TV that only supports Chromecast, you would need to use an Apple TV instead, or cast individual apps that support Chromecast.