The basic steps to cast from your phone

To cast your phone to a TV with Chromecast, you need three things: your phone on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device, the Chromecast plugged into your TV's HDMI port, and the Google Home app or a compatible casting app on your phone. The process takes about 30 seconds once everything is connected.

Open the app you want to cast from — YouTube, Netflix, Google Photos, or any app with a cast button. Look for the cast icon, which looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner. Tap it, select your Chromecast device from the list, and the content appears on your TV. Your phone becomes the remote.

If you don't see the cast icon in an app, the app may not support casting. You can still mirror your entire phone screen instead, which works with any app but uses more battery and can be slower.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone and Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and Chromecast must be plugged into your TV's HDMI port and powered on.
  • Apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Google Photos have a built-in cast button that sends video directly to your TV without mirroring your whole screen.
  • If an app doesn't have a cast button, you can mirror your entire phone screen, though this drains battery faster and may have slight lag.
  • The Google Home app lets you manage your Chromecast, rename it, and adjust settings like volume and brightness.

Casting from Android phones

Android phones have the easiest casting experience because Google built Chromecast into the Android system. When you open an app that supports casting, the cast icon appears in the top-right corner of the screen. Tap it and your Chromecast device shows up in a list — select it and casting starts when ready.

If you want to cast your entire screen instead of just an app, go to Settings, then Display, then Cast (the name varies slightly by phone maker). Tap Cast and select your Chromecast. Your whole phone screen now mirrors to the TV, including notifications and anything you open. This drains your battery faster and may lag by a second or two, but it works with any app.

To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select Disconnect, or just turn off your Chromecast. Your phone stays on the same Wi-Fi network.

Casting from iPhones and iPads

iPhones and iPads don't have native Chromecast support built into iOS the way Android does, so you need to use individual apps that support casting. YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, and Google Photos all have cast buttons. Open the app, tap the cast icon, and select your Chromecast.

If you want to mirror your entire iPhone or iPad screen, you'll need to use AirPlay to an Apple TV instead — Chromecast doesn't support full screen mirroring from iOS devices. However, you can cast specific content from most major streaming apps, which is what most people do anyway.

Some third-party apps claim to mirror iOS to Chromecast, but they often require workarounds or don't work reliably. For full screen mirroring on an iPhone, an Apple TV is the standard solution.

Making sure your phone and Chromecast are on the same network

Chromecast and your phone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you're on your phone's mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, casting won't work. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure you're connected to the same network name (SSID) as your Chromecast.

When you first set up Chromecast, the Google Home app walks you through connecting it to your Wi-Fi. If your Chromecast is on a different network — for example, a guest network — your phone won't see it in the cast list. Switch your phone to the same network as your Chromecast and try again.

If you have a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network with the same name, Chromecast works best on 2.4GHz. Some newer Chromecast models support 5GHz, but if casting is unreliable, try switching your phone to 2.4GHz.

Troubleshooting when the cast button doesn't appear

If you don't see the cast icon in an app, the app may not support casting, or your phone and Chromecast aren't on the same network. Check your Wi-Fi connection first. If you're connected to the right network and the cast button still doesn't show, the app itself may not have casting built in.

Try closing and reopening the app. If the cast button appears in some apps but not others, those apps straightforward don't support Chromecast casting — you can still mirror your whole screen instead. Update the app to the latest version, as older versions sometimes lack casting support.

If your Chromecast isn't showing up in the cast list at all, restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in. Restart your phone's Wi-Fi by turning Wi-Fi off and back on. If it still doesn't appear, open the Google Home app and check that your Chromecast is listed there and shows as connected.

Controlling playback and volume while casting

Once you're casting, your phone acts as the remote. You can pause, play, skip, and adjust volume from your phone's screen. The controls appear in the app you're casting from — for YouTube, the pause button and progress bar show on your phone while the video plays on your TV.

Volume control depends on the app. Some apps let you adjust volume from your phone's screen, while others require you to use your TV remote or Chromecast remote. If you have a Chromecast with Google TV, it comes with a physical remote that also controls volume.

You can also use the Google Home app to adjust volume and brightness for your Chromecast device itself. Open Google Home, select your Chromecast, and tap the settings icon to find volume and display controls.

Casting when you're away from home

Chromecast only works on the same Wi-Fi network, so you can't cast from your phone to your TV when you're at work or traveling unless you're on the same network. If you want to watch something on your TV remotely, you'll need to use a different method like Google TV's remote app or a streaming service's own remote feature.

Some newer Chromecast models with Google TV support remote casting through your Google account, but this requires setup in the Google Home app. Check your Chromecast model in the Google Home app to see if remote casting is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does casting use a lot of data?

Casting streams directly from the internet to your Chromecast, not through your phone, so it uses your home Wi-Fi data, not your phone's data plan. Your phone just sends the command to play. This is different from mirroring, where your phone sends the video to your TV and uses more battery.

Can I use my phone while casting?

Yes. When you're casting an app like YouTube or Netflix, your phone is just the remote — you can use other apps, check email, or even lock your phone and the video keeps playing on your TV. If you're mirroring your whole screen, anything you do on your phone appears on the TV.

Why does casting sometimes stop or lag?

Lag or disconnections usually mean your Wi-Fi signal is weak or your phone and Chromecast are far apart. Move your phone closer to your router or Chromecast, or check if other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. Restart your Chromecast and router if casting keeps dropping.

What if my TV doesn't have an HDMI port?

Older TVs without HDMI can't use Chromecast. You would need a different device like a Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV that connects to your TV's available ports. Check your TV's inputs to see what's available.

Can I cast from multiple phones to the same TV?

Only one device can cast to a Chromecast at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you're casting, they'll see a prompt asking if they want to take over. You can hand off control by accepting their request, or they can wait until you disconnect.