What casting a tab means and how it works
Casting a tab means sending what you see on your computer screen to your TV through a Chromecast device. Unlike casting an entire screen, which mirrors everything, tab casting sends only one browser window—so you can keep working on other things on your computer while the TV shows just that one tab.
When you cast a tab, your computer stays in control. You can pause, rewind, adjust volume, or close the tab from your keyboard. The TV is essentially a display; the content streams from your computer, not directly from the internet to the Chromecast.
Tab casting works best for video, photos, or web pages you want to show on a larger screen. It requires your computer and Chromecast to be on the same Wi-Fi network, and you need to be using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Opera browser.
Key Takeaways
- Tab casting sends only one browser window to your TV, leaving your computer free to do other things.
- Your computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device.
- You can only cast a tab from Chrome, Edge, or Opera—not Safari or Firefox.
- Casting a tab uses your computer's internet connection, so closing the browser or putting your computer to sleep will stop the cast.
- You control playback from your keyboard or trackpad, not from a remote.
How to cast a tab on Windows or Mac
Open the browser tab you want to cast. Make sure your Chromecast is turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. Then look for the three-dot menu button in the top right corner of your browser window and click it.
In the menu that opens, find and click "Cast" (in Chrome) or "Cast media to device" (in Edge). A small window will pop up showing available Chromecast devices on your network. Click the name of the TV or device you want to cast to. Your tab will appear on the TV within a few seconds.
Once casting starts, you will see a blue cast icon in the address bar of your browser. This icon shows that the tab is actively casting. You can now control what plays using your keyboard, trackpad, or mouse—just as if you were watching on your computer screen.
Stopping a cast and troubleshooting common problems
To stop casting, click the blue cast icon in the address bar and select "Stop casting" from the menu that appears. The tab will no longer show on your TV, though it will stay open in your browser.
If your Chromecast device does not appear in the cast menu, first check that both your computer and Chromecast are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Then refresh your browser and try opening the cast menu again.
If the cast starts but freezes or lags, move your computer closer to the Wi-Fi router or Chromecast device. Casting uses your computer's internet connection, so a weak signal will cause stuttering. If other devices are using a lot of bandwidth, pause them or move them to a different network if possible.
If the cast drops unexpectedly, your computer may have gone to sleep or your browser may have crashed. Wake your computer and reopen the tab, then cast again. Some computers have power settings that put Wi-Fi to sleep after a period of inactivity—check your system settings if this happens repeatedly.
What happens when you cast a tab versus casting your entire screen
Tab casting and full-screen casting are two different things. When you cast a tab, only that one browser window appears on the TV. You can open other browser tabs, switch to different programs, or even close your browser without affecting the cast—as long as the specific tab you are casting stays open.
Full-screen casting (sometimes called "Cast screen" or "Mirror") sends everything on your computer display to the TV, including your desktop, notifications, and any open windows. This is useful when you want to show your entire screen, but it means the TV shows whatever you do on your computer.
For watching videos, showing photos, or displaying a single website, tab casting is usually better because it keeps your work private and lets you multitask. For presentations or when you want the TV to show exactly what you see, full-screen casting works better.
Why your cast might stop or not work
Casting stops if your computer goes to sleep, even if you set it to keep the screen on. Check your power settings and disable sleep mode while you are casting. Some computers also put Wi-Fi to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity—look in your network settings for an option to keep Wi-Fi awake.
If you close the browser tab you are casting, the cast will stop when ready. The Chromecast will show a blank screen or return to its home screen. Keep the tab open as long as you want the content on your TV.
Casting also stops if you disconnect from Wi-Fi or if your computer loses connection to the network. If this happens repeatedly, your Wi-Fi may be unstable. Try moving closer to the router, or contact your internet provider if the connection keeps dropping.
Casting audio and video from websites
Most websites that play video or audio can be cast as a tab. YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, podcasts, and streaming services all work. When you cast the tab, the audio comes through your TV speakers and the video fills the screen.
Some websites detect that you are casting and may offer a dedicated cast button within the video player itself. If you see a cast icon inside the video player, you can click it to cast directly from the website—this sometimes gives you better controls than tab casting. But tab casting will work even if the website does not have its own cast button.
If the audio is very quiet or very loud, adjust the volume using your computer's volume controls or the keyboard volume buttons. The TV's remote will not control the volume of a cast tab—only your computer can.
Using your computer while casting
One of the main advantages of tab casting is that you can keep working while the TV plays. Open other browser tabs, switch to email or documents, or use a completely different program. Only the tab you cast will show on the TV.
If you need to pause the video or skip ahead, click back into the casting tab on your computer and use the video player controls. You can also use keyboard shortcuts—spacebar to pause, arrow keys to skip, or the player's own buttons.
Keep in mind that if your computer is running slowly or using a lot of processing power, the cast may lag or stutter. Close unnecessary programs or browser tabs to free up resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cast a tab from my phone to a TV?
Yes, but the method is different from casting on a computer. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Cast". On iPhone, you cannot cast tabs directly from Safari, but you can use the Chrome app if you have it installed. Some streaming apps like YouTube and Netflix have their own cast buttons built in.
Why does my cast lag or freeze?
Lag usually means your Wi-Fi signal is weak or your computer does not have enough processing power. Move your computer closer to the router, close other programs, and make sure no one else is using a lot of bandwidth. If the problem continues, restart your Chromecast and your router.
Can I cast a tab if my computer is locked?
No. Your computer must be awake and unlocked for the cast to continue. If your computer locks or goes to sleep, the cast will stop. Disable your screensaver and sleep settings before casting something long.
What if I want to cast but my Chromecast is on a different Wi-Fi network?
Your computer and Chromecast must be on the same network to cast. Connect your computer to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast, then try casting again. If you have a guest network, make sure both devices are on the main network, not the guest one.
Can I cast a tab from Firefox or Safari?
Firefox does not support tab casting to Chromecast. Safari on Mac does not either. You must use Chrome, Edge, or Opera. If you need to cast from a different browser, you can open the same page in Chrome and cast from there instead.