The basic steps to send video, music, or your screen to Chromecast

Casting to Chromecast means sending audio, video, or your entire screen from your phone, tablet, or computer to your TV. The process is straightforward: you open an app that supports casting, tap or click the cast icon (usually three curved lines with a dot), select your Chromecast device from the list, and the content plays on your TV instead of your device's screen.

The cast icon appears in apps like YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, and Chrome itself. Not every app has it — only those built to work with Chromecast. If you don't see the icon, the app doesn't support casting, and you'll need to use a different method to get content to your TV.

Key Takeaways

  • The cast icon (three curved lines with a dot) appears in compatible apps on your phone, tablet, or computer, and tapping it shows all Chromecast devices on your network.
  • Your phone, tablet, or computer and your Chromecast must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • Casting from your phone or tablet sends the content to your TV while freeing up your device to do other things — the TV controls playback, not your phone.
  • Casting your entire screen (called screen mirroring) works on Android phones and Windows computers but has limits on iPhones and Macs.
  • If the cast icon doesn't appear in an app, that app doesn't support Chromecast, and you'll need to use a different app or method.

Casting from your phone or tablet

Open any app that supports casting — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, or Google Play Music are common examples. Look for the cast icon, which looks like a rectangle with three curved lines and a dot in the bottom left corner. On most phones, it appears in the top right or bottom right of the screen, depending on the app.

Tap the cast icon. A list of available Chromecast devices appears. Select the Chromecast you want to use. The app will connect to your TV, and the content will start playing there. Your phone or tablet now acts as a remote — you can pause, skip, adjust volume, or even lock your screen without stopping playback on the TV.

If no devices appear in the list, check that your phone and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi network. They must be connected to the same network to find each other. Restart your Chromecast or your phone's Wi-Fi if they're not showing up.

Casting from a computer using Chrome

Open Google Chrome on your computer and navigate to the video or content you want to watch. Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome, then select "Cast." A window appears showing all Chromecast devices on your network.

Click the device you want to use. Chrome will ask whether you want to cast a tab (just the current browser tab) or your entire screen. For most video sites, cast the tab — this sends only what's in that tab to your TV. Your computer stays free to browse, check email, or do other work while the video plays on your TV.

If you want to show your entire desktop on the TV, select "Cast entire screen" instead. This is useful for presentations or showing photos from your computer, but it means everything on your screen appears on the TV, including notifications and private windows.

Screen mirroring on Android and Windows

Screen mirroring sends your entire device screen to the TV, not just one app. On Android phones, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the full quick settings menu. Look for "Cast," "Screen cast," or "Smart View" — the name varies by phone maker. Tap it and select your Chromecast device.

On Windows computers, press the Windows key and P together to open the projection menu. Select "Connect to a wireless display," then choose your Chromecast from the list. Your entire screen now appears on the TV.

Screen mirroring uses more of your device's battery and Wi-Fi bandwidth than casting a single app, so it's best for presentations or when you need to show multiple apps. For watching video or listening to music, casting from the app itself is more efficient.

Why the cast icon isn't showing up

The cast icon only appears in apps that have been built to support Chromecast. If you don't see it in an app you're using, that app doesn't have casting built in. YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, and most Google apps support it. Many other apps do as well, but not all.

If you see the cast icon but no devices appear when you tap it, your phone or computer and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check that both are connected to the same network name. If your home has a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network with the same name, try connecting both devices to the same band.

Restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Restart your phone or computer's Wi-Fi as well. After both restart, try casting again.

Controlling playback while casting

Once content is casting to your TV, your phone or tablet becomes a remote control. You can pause, play, skip forward or backward, adjust volume, and seek to any point in the video — all from your device. The TV shows the content, but your device controls it.

You can lock your phone's screen, open other apps, or even put your phone in another room while the content continues playing on the TV. The casting connection stays active as long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and the app is still running.

To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Stop casting," or straightforward close the app. The content stops playing on the TV, and your device returns to normal.

Casting limitations and what to know

Some apps require you to be signed in to cast. If you're trying to cast from Netflix or Spotify, make sure you're logged into your account on that app. Casting sends the content from the app's servers to your Chromecast, not from your device, so your login matters.

Casting from iPhones and iPads works differently than Android. Apple devices can use AirPlay to cast to Apple TV, but Chromecast support on iOS is limited to specific apps like YouTube and Netflix. Screen mirroring from an iPhone to Chromecast is not supported — you'll need to use AirPlay and an Apple TV instead.

Macs can cast the Chrome browser to Chromecast, but full screen mirroring to Chromecast is not supported. If you need to mirror your Mac's screen to a TV, you'll need an Apple TV or a different device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to cast?

Yes. Your phone, tablet, computer, and Chromecast must all be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you're on a guest network and your Chromecast is on your main network, they won't see each other. Check your router settings to make sure both devices are on the same network name.

Can I cast while using my phone for something else?

Yes. Once casting starts, your phone acts as a remote. You can open other apps, check email, or even lock your screen. The content continues playing on the TV. The casting connection stays active as long as your phone stays on the same Wi-Fi network.

What's the difference between casting and screen mirroring?

Casting sends content from a specific app to your TV — the app controls what plays. Screen mirroring sends your entire device screen to the TV, including all apps and notifications. Casting is more efficient for video or music; screen mirroring is better for presentations or showing multiple apps.

Why does casting stop when I close the app?

Casting relies on the app to send the content to your Chromecast. When you close the app, the connection ends and playback stops. Keep the app open in the background if you want casting to continue, even if you're using other apps on your device.

Can I cast from an iPhone to Chromecast?

Some apps on iPhone support casting to Chromecast, including YouTube and Netflix. However, iPhone screen mirroring to Chromecast is not supported — Apple devices use AirPlay instead, which requires an Apple TV. Check whether your app has a cast icon before assuming it supports Chromecast.