What casting to Google TV means and how to start

Casting sends video, audio, or your entire screen from your phone, tablet, or computer to your Google TV device. The content plays on your TV instead of on your smaller device, and you keep control from where you are sitting. To cast, your device and your Google TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and you need to use the cast button built into most apps or your device's settings.

Google TV devices include the Google TV Streamer, Chromecast with Google TV, and some smart TVs that come with Google TV built in. The cast button looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner — you will see it in Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, and hundreds of other apps. If the button does not appear, your app may not support casting, or your devices are not on the same network.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone or computer and your Google TV device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before casting will work.
  • The cast button appears in most streaming apps and looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner.
  • Casting from your phone's screen or computer's screen lets you share anything, even if the app does not have a built-in cast button.
  • If casting fails, restart both devices, check your Wi-Fi connection, and make sure your Google TV is powered on and not in sleep mode.

Casting from Android phones and tablets

Open the app you want to cast from — Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, or any other app with a cast button. Look for the cast icon (rectangle with curved lines) in the top right or bottom right corner of the screen. Tap it once. A list of nearby devices will appear; tap the name of your Google TV device.

The content will start playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone screen will show a cast card at the bottom, telling you what is playing and on which device. You can pause, rewind, or change the volume from your phone, or use your TV remote. To stop casting, tap the cast button again and select "Stop casting."

If the cast button does not appear in your app, the app may not support casting. In that case, you can cast your entire phone screen instead — swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings, tap "Cast," select your Google TV device, and your whole screen will mirror to the TV.

Casting from iPhones and iPads

Open the app you want to cast from and look for the cast button. On Apple devices, the cast button is the same rectangle with curved lines. Tap it and select your Google TV device from the list. The content will begin playing on your TV.

Not all apps on iPhone and iPad support casting to Google TV — some apps only cast to AirPlay devices. If you do not see a cast button, check the app's settings or help section to confirm it supports Google Cast. If it does not, you can cast your entire screen by opening Control Center, tapping "Screen Mirroring," and selecting your Google TV device, though this uses AirPlay rather than Google Cast.

Casting from Windows and Mac computers

On a Windows computer, open Chrome and go to the website or app you want to cast from. Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome, then click "Cast." A window will open showing nearby devices; click your Google TV device. Your browser tab will now stream to your TV.

On a Mac, the process is the same: open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, select "Cast," and choose your Google TV device. You can cast a single tab (so other tabs stay private on your computer) or your entire screen. To cast your whole screen instead of just one tab, click "Cast" and select "Cast entire screen" before choosing your device.

If you want to cast from a different browser like Firefox or Safari, you will need to use screen mirroring instead. On Windows 10 or later, press Windows key + K to open the Quick Settings panel, then select your Google TV device. On Mac, open Control Center, click "Screen Mirroring," and select your Google TV device.

What to do if casting is not working

The most common reason casting fails is that your phone or computer is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your Google TV. Check that both devices are connected to the same network name (SSID). If you have a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network with the same name, try connecting both devices to the same band.

Restart both devices: unplug your Google TV for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Restart your phone or computer. Open the app again and look for the cast button. If it still does not appear, check that your app is up to date by opening your device's app store and updating the app if a newer version is available.

If your Google TV is in sleep mode or the screen is off, casting may not work. Press a button on your Google TV remote or use your phone to wake it. Make sure your Google TV is not already casting from another device — only one cast session can run at a time, so if someone else is casting, you will need to wait for them to stop.

Casting your entire screen or specific apps

Screen mirroring sends everything on your device's screen to your TV, including notifications and private information. Use this only when you trust everyone watching. On Android, swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings, tap "Cast," and select your Google TV device. Your entire screen will appear on the TV, and you can control it normally from your phone.

On Windows, press Windows key + K, select your Google TV device, and your screen will mirror. On Mac, open Control Center, click "Screen Mirroring," and select your Google TV device. You can stop screen mirroring by opening the same menu and clicking "Stop Mirroring."

Some apps let you cast just that app instead of your whole screen. Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify all have built-in cast buttons that send only that app's content, leaving the rest of your screen private. This is more find and uses less battery than full screen mirroring.

Controlling what plays on your TV while casting

When you are casting from an app, your device becomes a remote control. Pause and play buttons appear on your phone or computer, and you can skip forward or backward, adjust volume, and change settings without touching your TV remote. Some apps let you queue up videos or songs while casting — add them to a playlist on your phone, and they will play in order on your TV.

You can also use your TV remote while casting. If you are casting Netflix, you can use either your phone or your remote to pause, play, or change shows. The TV remote will not work if you are casting your entire screen — in that case, only your phone or computer can control what happens.

If you want to stop casting and go back to using your phone normally, tap the cast button again and select "Stop casting." The video will stop playing on your TV, and your phone will return to normal. Your TV will go back to showing whatever was on before you started casting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Google account to cast to Google TV?

You need a Google account to set up your Google TV device initially, but once it is set up, anyone on the same Wi-Fi network can cast to it without signing in. Your phone or computer does not need to be signed into the same Google account as your TV.

Can I cast if I am not on the same Wi-Fi as my Google TV?

No, casting requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If you are away from home, you cannot cast to your Google TV unless you use a VPN to connect to your home network, which is complicated and not recommended for most users.

Why does the cast button not show up in my app?

Not all apps support casting. Check that your app is fully updated by opening your device's app store. If the app still does not have a cast button after updating, it may not support Google Cast. You can cast your entire screen instead, though this is less convenient.

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

No, only one person can cast at a time. If someone else is already casting, you will need to wait for them to stop before you can start. Your Google TV will show who is casting and from which device.

Does casting use a lot of data or battery?

Casting uses Wi-Fi data but not much — the video streams directly from the internet to your TV, not through your phone. Battery drain on your phone is minimal because your phone is just sending commands, not processing the video. Casting uses less battery than playing video on your phone screen.