Cast your Chrome browser window to any Chromecast-compatible device in three steps

To cast your Chrome browser, open Chrome on your computer, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Cast, choose your Chromecast device from the list, and then pick whether you want to cast a single tab or your entire screen. The content appears on your TV or monitor within seconds. Your computer stays connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device — if they are on different networks, casting will not work.

Casting is useful when you want to show a website, video, or document to a group, or when you straightforward prefer to watch something on a larger screen. The browser tab or screen stays under your control on your computer while the audience sees it on the bigger display.

Key Takeaways

  • Your computer and Chromecast device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you can cast.
  • You can cast a single Chrome tab (leaving other tabs private) or your entire screen (showing everything on your desktop).
  • The three-dot menu in Chrome's top right corner is where you find the Cast option — it is not in Settings.
  • Once casting starts, you control what plays from your computer while the TV displays the content in real time.

Check your Wi-Fi connection before you start

Both your computer and your Chromecast device need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your computer is on your home network and your Chromecast is on a guest network, or if one is wired and one is wireless, casting will not work. Check your computer's Wi-Fi icon in the system tray (bottom right on Windows, top right on Mac) and confirm it shows the name of your home network.

On your Chromecast device, look at the light on the front. A solid white light means it is ready. If the light is off or red, unplug it for 10 seconds and plug it back in. Wait about a minute for it to fully restart before you try to cast.

Open the Cast menu in Chrome

Launch Chrome on your computer and navigate to the page, video, or document you want to cast. In the top right corner of the browser window, click the three vertical dots (the menu button). Scroll down until you see the word Cast — it usually appears near the bottom of the menu. Click it.

A small window will pop up showing a list of available Chromecast devices on your network. If you do not see your device listed, make sure both your computer and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi network, then close the Cast window and try again. Sometimes it takes a few seconds for the device to appear.

Choose what to cast: tab or entire screen

When the Cast window opens, you will see your Chromecast device listed. Just below the device name, you will see two options: Cast tab and Cast entire screen. Click the one you want. Most people choose Cast tab when they want to show a specific website or video while keeping other browser tabs hidden. Choose Cast entire screen if you need to show your desktop, multiple windows, or anything outside of Chrome.

After you click your choice, the content will appear on your TV or monitor within a few seconds. Your computer screen remains your control panel — you can scroll, click links, pause videos, and adjust volume from your keyboard and trackpad, and the TV will show those changes in real time.

Stop casting and disconnect

To stop casting, click the three-dot menu in Chrome again and select Cast. The Cast window will reappear, and you will see your device name with a blue Stop casting button below it. Click that button. The content will disappear from your TV, and your computer will no longer send anything to the Chromecast device.

If you close the Cast window without clicking Stop casting, the content will keep playing on your TV until you manually stop it. You can also unplug the Chromecast device to stop casting when ready, though this is rougher on the hardware than using the stop button.

Troubleshooting when casting does not work

If the Cast option does not appear in the Chrome menu, make sure you are using a recent version of Chrome. Open the three-dot menu, click Help, then About Google Chrome. Chrome will check for updates and install them automatically. Restart the browser after the update finishes.

If your Chromecast device does not show up in the Cast list, restart both your computer and your Chromecast device. Unplug the Chromecast for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait a full minute before trying to cast again. If the problem continues, check that both devices are truly on the same Wi-Fi network by looking at your router's connected devices list or asking your network administrator.

If casting starts but the picture is choppy or freezes, move your computer closer to the router or Chromecast device. Walls, microwaves, and other wireless devices can interfere with the signal. You can also try casting your entire screen instead of a single tab, or closing other programs on your computer to free up processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast from my phone or tablet instead of a computer?

Yes. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, and select Cast. On iPhone or iPad, the process is the same. The steps are identical to casting from a computer — both your phone and your Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

What if I want to cast audio only, not video?

Chrome casting always sends both audio and video together. If you want to cast only audio from a music service like Spotify or YouTube Music, use that app's built-in Cast button instead of Chrome's Cast feature. Most music and podcast apps have their own Cast option in the player.

Does casting use a lot of internet bandwidth?

Casting sends data over your local Wi-Fi network, not through the internet, so it does not use your internet plan's bandwidth. However, if you are casting a video from a website that streams over the internet, that video data does count toward your internet usage — the same as if you were watching it on your computer screen.

Can I use my computer while something is casting?

Yes. When you cast a single tab, you can use other tabs and programs on your computer freely — only that one tab's content appears on the TV. When you cast your entire screen, everything you do on your computer shows on the TV, so you have less privacy. You can also mute your computer's speakers while casting plays audio on the TV.

Why does the picture sometimes lag behind what I am doing on my computer?

A slight delay of one to two seconds is normal and happens because the data has to travel from your computer to the Chromecast device over Wi-Fi. If the lag is longer than that, your Wi-Fi signal may be weak. Move closer to your router, reduce interference from other devices, or restart your Chromecast device.