The basic steps to cast from your phone

Casting from your phone to a Chromecast device works the same way on both Android and iPhone: you open an app that supports casting, tap the cast icon (usually a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), select your Chromecast device from the list, and the content plays on your TV instead of your phone screen. Your phone and the Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network. The phone acts as a remote control once casting starts — you can pause, rewind, or adjust volume from the phone, and the video or audio continues on the TV.

The cast icon appears in apps that have built-in casting support. Common apps include YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, and most streaming services. If you don't see a cast icon in an app you're using, that app doesn't support Chromecast casting. Some apps let you cast video, others audio only, and a few let you cast your entire phone screen (called screen mirroring), though screen mirroring drains your phone battery faster than app-based casting.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone and Chromecast must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you can cast.
  • The cast icon appears only in apps that support Chromecast — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and most major streaming services have it built in.
  • Once you tap the cast icon and select your device, the content plays on the TV and your phone becomes a remote control.
  • Screen mirroring (casting your entire phone screen) works on all phones but uses more battery and may lag with video.

Setting up your phone and Chromecast on the same network

Before you can cast, both devices must connect to the same Wi-Fi network. On your phone, go to Settings and select your Wi-Fi network — the same one your Chromecast is connected to. Your Chromecast connects to Wi-Fi during its initial setup; if you haven't set it up yet, plug it into power and an HDMI port on your TV, then follow the on-screen prompts to choose your network.

If your Chromecast is already set up but you're not sure which network it's on, check your router's connected devices list or look at the Chromecast's settings in the Google Home app. Open Google Home on your phone, tap the Chromecast device, then tap the settings gear icon to see its network name. Make sure your phone is connected to that same network.

Finding and tapping the cast icon in apps

Once both devices are on the same network, open an app that supports casting — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Hulu, or Google Photos are reliable starting points. Look for the cast icon, which looks like a small rectangle with three curved lines in the bottom-right corner. On some apps it's in the top-right corner instead. The icon is usually white or gray and stands out from the rest of the interface.

Tap the cast icon. A menu appears showing available Chromecast devices on your network. Select the device you want to cast to — it's usually named something like "Living Room" or "Bedroom" unless you renamed it. Once you select it, the app connects to the Chromecast and content begins playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone screen may go dark or show a "casting" indicator, depending on the app.

Controlling playback from your phone while casting

While content is casting, your phone acts as a remote. You can pause, play, rewind, or skip forward using the controls that appear on your phone screen. Volume controls on your phone adjust the TV's volume. Some apps let you adjust playback speed, turn subtitles on or off, or access a queue of upcoming videos — all from your phone while the content plays on the TV.

To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Stop casting" or "Disconnect." The content stops playing on the TV and returns to your phone if you were watching something. You can also disconnect by turning off the Chromecast device itself, though stopping from your phone is cleaner and doesn't interrupt the device's other functions.

Screen mirroring when an app doesn't support casting

If an app doesn't have a built-in cast icon, you can mirror your entire phone screen to the TV instead. On Android, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings, then tap "Cast" or "Screen cast." Select your Chromecast device. Your phone screen now appears on the TV, and anything you do on your phone shows up there — opening apps, scrolling, typing, everything.

On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap "Screen Mirroring," and select your Chromecast device. The same mirroring happens: your phone screen appears on the TV. Screen mirroring works with any app, but it uses more battery power than app-based casting and can feel sluggish with video or fast-moving content. Use it when you need to show something that doesn't have native casting support, then switch back to app-based casting when you can.

Troubleshooting when casting won't start

If you tap the cast icon and don't see your Chromecast device in the list, the most common cause is that your phone and Chromecast are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check that both are connected to the same network name. Restart your phone's Wi-Fi by turning it off and back on in Settings. If that doesn't work, restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in.

If the cast icon doesn't appear in an app at all, that app straightforward doesn't support Chromecast casting. Try a different app to confirm your setup is working. If casting works in one app but not another, the problem is with that specific app, not your devices. Check the app's settings to see if casting is disabled, or try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. If nothing works, restart both your phone and Chromecast, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my phone while something is casting?

Yes. Once casting starts, your phone is just a remote control. You can check email, browse the web, or use other apps while the video or audio plays on the TV. The content continues on the TV even if your phone screen goes to sleep.

What happens if I lose Wi-Fi while casting?

Casting stops when ready. Your Chromecast needs a constant Wi-Fi connection to receive the stream from your phone. If your Wi-Fi drops, reconnect your phone and Chromecast to the network, then start casting again.

Can I cast from multiple phones to the same Chromecast?

Only one phone can cast to a Chromecast at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you're already casting, they'll see a prompt asking if they want to take over. Tapping yes stops your cast and starts theirs.

Does casting work on a guest Wi-Fi network?

Usually not. Most guest networks isolate devices from each other for security reasons, so your phone and Chromecast can't communicate. Connect both to your main Wi-Fi network instead, or ask your router's administrator to enable device-to-device communication on the guest network.

Why is the video lagging or freezing while I cast?

Lag usually means your Wi-Fi signal is weak. Move your phone or Chromecast closer to the router, or check if other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If you're screen mirroring (not app-based casting), lag is normal — app-based casting is smoother because it sends less data.