The Basic Steps to Cast to Your TV

Casting to your TV with Chromecast means sending video, audio, or your entire screen from your phone, tablet, or computer to the TV where your Chromecast device is plugged in. The process is the same whether you're casting a YouTube video, a photo album, or your browser tab: you open the app or browser on your device, tap or click the Cast button (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), select your TV from the list, and the content appears on the screen.

Your phone, tablet, or computer and your Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network. If they're not connected to the same network, you won't see your TV's name in the Cast menu. Once you've cast something, you control playback from your device—pause, rewind, skip, or adjust volume all work from the phone or computer you cast from, not from the TV remote.

Key Takeaways

  • Your casting device (phone, tablet, or computer) and your Chromecast must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you can cast.
  • The Cast button appears in most video apps, music apps, and web browsers, but not all apps support casting—check the app menu if you don't see it.
  • Once you select your TV from the Cast menu, content streams directly from the internet to your Chromecast, not through your phone.
  • You control playback from your phone or computer, and you can use your device for other tasks while casting continues in the background.
  • If casting fails, restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Finding and Tapping the Cast Button

The Cast button is built into most apps that play video or music—YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, and many others. In video apps, the Cast button usually appears in the top or bottom right corner of the screen. In music apps, it's often in the now-playing bar at the bottom. In web browsers like Chrome, the Cast button is in the three-dot menu (on Android) or in the address bar (on iPhone).

Not every app supports casting. If you open an app and don't see the Cast button, that app may not have the feature. Some apps require you to be signed in before the Cast button appears. If you're signed out of YouTube or Netflix, for example, the button won't show up until you log in.

Once you tap the Cast button, a menu appears showing all the Chromecast devices on your network. Select the name of your TV. Within a few seconds, the video or audio starts playing on your TV instead of on your phone's speaker or screen.

Casting Your Entire Screen or Browser Tab

If the app you want to use doesn't have a Cast button, you can cast your entire phone or computer screen to the TV. On Android, open the Quick Settings menu (swipe down twice from the top), look for Cast or Screen Cast, tap it, and select your TV. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your TV.

On a computer running Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Cast, and choose whether to cast your entire screen or just the current browser tab. Casting a tab uses less bandwidth and battery than casting your whole screen, so if you only need to share one website or video, tab casting is the better choice.

Screen mirroring shows everything on your device's screen on the TV, including notifications, messages, and anything else that pops up. If you need privacy, close notifications or switch to a different app before you start mirroring.

Troubleshooting When Casting Won't Start

The most common reason casting fails is that your phone and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it's connected to the same network name (SSID) as your Chromecast. If your router broadcasts both a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network, your phone might be on one and your Chromecast on the other—try switching your phone to the 2.4 GHz network, since older Chromecast models work better on that band.

If both devices are on the same network and casting still doesn't work, restart your Chromecast by unplugging it from power for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait for the light on the device to stop blinking and turn solid, which means it's ready. Then try casting again.

If the Cast button doesn't appear in an app, make sure you're signed in to that app and that the app is up to date. Check your phone's app store for updates. Some older apps or less common apps don't support casting at all—in that case, use screen mirroring instead.

Controlling Playback While Casting

Once you've cast a video or song, your phone or computer becomes the remote. The app on your device shows playback controls—play, pause, skip forward, skip back, and volume. Use these controls to manage what's playing on the TV. You can also lock your phone's screen or open other apps while casting continues, and the video or music keeps playing on your TV.

If you want to stop casting, tap the Cast button again and select Stop Casting or Disconnect. The video stops on the TV, and playback returns to your device if you want to continue watching there.

Some apps let you adjust video quality or subtitles from the playback controls on your phone. If you're casting a movie and want to turn on captions, look for a settings or subtitle icon in the app's playback menu.

Casting from Different Devices

Casting works the same way on Android phones, iPhones, iPads, and computers, but the location of the Cast button varies slightly. On Android, it's usually in the app menu or top corner. On iPhone and iPad, it's often in the Control Center or in the app's playback menu. On a computer, the Cast option is in your browser's menu or in the app itself if you're using a desktop app like Spotify.

You can cast from multiple devices to the same TV, but only one can be casting at a time. If someone else starts casting while you're already casting, their content takes over and yours stops. You'll see a notification on your phone saying the cast connection was interrupted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be connected to the internet to cast?

Yes, both your device and your Chromecast need to be connected to Wi-Fi. The content streams from the internet directly to your Chromecast, so if your Wi-Fi goes down, casting stops. Your phone or computer doesn't need cellular data, just Wi-Fi.

Can I use my phone for other things while casting?

Yes. Once you've started casting, your phone or computer is just sending commands to the Chromecast. You can open other apps, check email, or even lock your screen, and the video or music keeps playing on your TV. This is different from screen mirroring, where your entire screen is being shown on the TV.

Why does the Cast button not appear in my app?

The app may not support casting, you may not be signed in, or the app may need an update. Check your app store for updates first. If the button still doesn't appear after updating, try using screen mirroring instead, which works with any app.

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

Your phone won't see the Chromecast in the Cast menu if they're not on the same network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and connect to the same network your Chromecast is using. If your router has both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, try connecting your phone to the 2.4 GHz band.

Can multiple people cast to the same TV at the same time?

No, only one person can be actively casting at a time. If a second person tries to cast, their content takes over and the first person's cast stops. However, multiple people can take turns casting by disconnecting and reconnecting.