The fastest way to cast Spotify to Chromecast

Open Spotify on your phone or tablet, find the song or playlist you want to play, and tap the Devices Available icon (it looks like a speaker with radio waves). Select your Chromecast device from the list. The audio will play through your TV's speakers or connected sound system instead of your phone's speaker. Your phone becomes the remote — you can pause, skip, or adjust volume from the Spotify app while the music plays on your TV.

This method works on both Android and iOS. The Chromecast device must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone, and you need an active Spotify account (free or paid). The casting stops if you close the Spotify app, but you can lock your phone's screen and the music will keep playing.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the Devices Available icon in Spotify and select your Chromecast to send audio to your TV's speakers.
  • Your phone stays connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the Chromecast during playback.
  • You control playback from your phone's Spotify app — pause, skip, and volume all work from there.
  • Closing the Spotify app stops the cast, but locking your phone screen does not.
  • Both free and paid Spotify accounts can cast to Chromecast.

Where to find the Devices Available button

The Devices Available icon appears in different places depending on what you are doing in Spotify. If you are playing a song, look at the bottom of the screen — you will see a small speaker icon with curved lines next to the song name and artist. Tap it. If you are browsing and have not started playing anything yet, open any song or playlist, start playback, and then look for that same icon.

On Android, the icon sits in the lower right corner of the now-playing screen. On iOS, it is also at the bottom but slightly to the right of center. If you do not see it, make sure your Chromecast is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. The icon only appears when at least one compatible device is on your network.

What happens after you select your Chromecast

Once you tap your Chromecast device, Spotify connects to it within a few seconds. The now-playing screen on your phone will show a green bar at the bottom indicating the cast is active. Your TV will not display the Spotify app or album art — the audio straightforward plays through your TV's speakers. Some Chromecast devices show a small notification or light indicating they are receiving audio.

Your phone screen can go dark, or you can use other apps while the music plays. The Spotify app stays open in the background and maintains the connection. If you want to stop casting, tap the Devices Available icon again and select your phone from the list, or just close the Spotify app entirely.

Casting from a computer to Chromecast

You can also cast Spotify from a Windows or Mac computer using the Spotify desktop app. Open Spotify on your computer, start playing a song, and look for the Devices Available icon in the bottom right corner of the player. Click it and select your Chromecast. The same rules explore — your computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and the audio plays through your TV's speakers.

Casting from a computer works the same way as casting from a phone. You can minimize Spotify or use other programs while the music plays. The connection stays active until you manually switch devices or close the app.

Troubleshooting when your Chromecast does not appear

If the Devices Available icon is missing or your Chromecast is not showing up in the list, check these things first. Make sure your Chromecast is plugged in and powered on — look for a light on the device itself. Restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Restart your phone or computer as well.

Confirm that your phone and Chromecast are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you are on a guest network or a different band (2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz), they may not see each other. Check your router settings or ask your network administrator. If you have recently updated Spotify, restart the app completely — close it and open it again from scratch. If none of these steps work, try casting a different type of content (like a podcast) to see if the issue is specific to music or a broader connection problem.

Casting Spotify playlists and albums

You can cast any Spotify content the same way: a single song, an entire album, a playlist you created, or a playlist someone shared with you. Start playing the content, tap Devices Available, and select your Chromecast. The entire queue plays through your TV's speakers. If you are listening to a playlist with 50 songs, all 50 will play in order unless you skip ahead or stop playback.

You can also queue up songs while casting. If a song is currently playing on your Chromecast, you can add more songs to the queue from your phone's Spotify app, and they will play after the current song finishes. This is useful if you want to build a longer listening session without interrupting what is already playing.

Switching back to your phone's speaker

To stop casting and play audio through your phone again, tap the Devices Available icon while a song is playing and select your phone or device name from the list. The music will when ready switch from your TV's speakers to your phone's speaker. You can also just close the Spotify app, which stops the cast and ends playback.

If you want to pause the music on your Chromecast without switching devices, use the pause button in the Spotify app on your phone. The cast connection stays active, so you can resume playback on your TV whenever you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a paid Spotify account to cast to Chromecast?

No. Both free and paid Spotify accounts can cast to Chromecast. The casting feature works the same way regardless of your account type.

Can I cast Spotify to multiple Chromecast devices at the same time?

No. Spotify can only cast to one Chromecast device at a time. If you select a different device, the music stops on the first one and starts on the second.

What if my Chromecast is on a different Wi-Fi network than my phone?

Your phone and Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network to cast. If they are on different networks, the Devices Available icon will not show your Chromecast in the list. Connect both devices to the same network and try again.

Does casting Spotify use a lot of data?

Casting uses Wi-Fi data, not mobile data, because both your phone and Chromecast communicate over your home network. The amount of data depends on your Spotify audio quality setting, but it is typically similar to streaming music on your phone.

Can I use my phone for other things while Spotify is casting?

Yes. Once the cast is active, you can use other apps, take calls, or lock your phone screen. The music will keep playing on your Chromecast. The Spotify app stays connected in the background.