The Basic Steps to Cast From Your Phone

To cast your phone to a TV with Chromecast, you need three things: a phone running Android or iOS, a Chromecast device plugged into your TV, and both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. Open the app you want to cast from — YouTube, Netflix, Google Photos, or any app with a cast icon — tap the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), select your Chromecast device from the list, and the content plays on your TV while you control it from your phone.

The cast icon appears in different places depending on the app. In YouTube it's in the top right corner. In Google Photos it's in the top toolbar. In Chrome browser it's in the three-dot menu. Not every app supports casting, but most major streaming and media apps do.

Once casting starts, your phone becomes a remote. You can pause, play, adjust volume, and skip forward or backward without interrupting what's on the TV. Your phone's screen goes dark or shows a smaller version of what's playing — you don't need to keep the full video on your phone screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone and Chromecast must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or casting will not appear as an option.
  • The cast icon location varies by app, but it usually sits in the top right corner or in a menu — look for a rectangle with curved lines.
  • Not every app supports casting; check whether your app has a cast icon before assuming it will work.
  • Once you cast, your phone acts as a remote control and can go to sleep without stopping playback on the TV.
  • If the cast icon does not appear, restart both your phone and Chromecast device, then check that both are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Setting Up Your Phone and Chromecast on the Same Network

Chromecast only works when your phone and the device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and note which network you are on. Then check your Chromecast: during setup, you chose a Wi-Fi network for it to join. If your phone is on a different network — for example, if your router broadcasts a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band separately and your phone is on one while Chromecast is on the other — casting will not work.

If you recently changed your Wi-Fi password or network name, your Chromecast may have lost the connection. Unplug the Chromecast for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for the light to stabilize. Then go to the Google Home app on your phone, tap the Chromecast device, tap the settings icon (three dots), and select "Wi-Fi" to reconnect it to your network with the new password.

Some phones and Chromecast devices support 5 GHz Wi-Fi, which is faster but has shorter range. If your Chromecast is far from your router or in a different room, it may drop the 5 GHz connection. Switching both devices to the 2.4 GHz band usually solves this, though it will be slower. Check your router settings to see if you can rename the bands separately so you can choose which one to use.

Finding and Tapping the Cast Icon in Different Apps

The cast icon is a small rectangle with three curved lines in the corner, and it appears in slightly different places depending on which app you are using. In YouTube, it is in the top right corner next to the search icon. In Netflix, it is in the top right corner as well. In Google Photos, it is in the top toolbar. In Spotify, it is in the "Now Playing" screen at the bottom. In Google Maps, it is in the top right corner.

If you do not see a cast icon in an app, that app does not support casting to Chromecast. Some apps support casting to other devices like AirPlay or Roku but not Chromecast. Check the app's help section or settings to see what casting options it offers. Alternatively, you can cast your entire phone screen to the TV using screen mirroring, which works with any app but uses more battery and may have slight lag.

Tapping the cast icon opens a list of all Chromecast devices on your network. If you have more than one Chromecast, they will all appear here with their names — for example, "Living Room" or "Bedroom TV". Select the one you want to cast to, and the content will start playing on that TV within a few seconds.

What to Do When the Cast Icon Does Not Appear

If you open an app that should support casting but the cast icon is missing, the most common reason is that your phone and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and your Chromecast's network status in the Google Home app. If they are on different networks, reconnect your Chromecast to the same network as your phone.

If both devices are on the same network and the cast icon still does not appear, restart both your phone and your Chromecast. Unplug the Chromecast for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait 30 seconds for it to fully boot. Then restart your phone by powering it off and back on. Open the app again and look for the cast icon.

If restarting does not work, check whether the app itself is up to date. Open your phone's app store (Google Play Store for Android, App Store for iPhone), search for the app, and install any pending updates. Older versions of apps sometimes have bugs that prevent casting from working. After updating, restart the app and try casting again.

Controlling Playback From Your Phone While Casting

Once you start casting, your phone becomes a remote control for the TV. You can pause and play by tapping the pause or play button on your phone screen. You can skip forward or backward by dragging the progress bar or tapping the skip buttons. You can adjust the volume using your phone's volume buttons or the volume slider in the app. All of these actions happen on the TV in real time.

Your phone screen can go dark or you can switch to a different app without stopping playback on the TV. The casting continues in the background. If you want to stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Stop Casting", or straightforward close the app. The content will stop playing on the TV.

Some apps show additional information on your phone while casting — for example, YouTube shows the video title, channel name, and a larger progress bar. Others show a smaller version of what is playing on the TV. The exact display depends on the app, but in all cases your phone is controlling the TV, not displaying the same thing.

Casting Your Entire Phone Screen Instead of Just an App

If an app does not support casting, you can cast your entire phone screen to the TV instead. This is called screen mirroring, and it works with any app. On Android, open the Quick Settings menu (swipe down from the top twice), look for "Cast" or "Screen Cast", tap it, and select your Chromecast device. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, tap "Screen Mirroring", and select your Chromecast.

Screen mirroring shows everything on your phone screen on the TV — apps, notifications, keyboard input, everything. This is useful for showing photos, browsing the web, or using an app that does not have a built-in cast feature. The downside is that screen mirroring uses more battery power and may have a slight delay (usually less than a second) between what you do on your phone and what appears on the TV.

To stop screen mirroring, open the Quick Settings or Control Center again and tap "Cast" or "Screen Mirroring", then select "Stop Mirroring". Your phone screen will no longer appear on the TV.

Troubleshooting Common Casting Problems

If casting starts but then stops or keeps disconnecting, the most likely cause is a weak Wi-Fi signal. Move your Chromecast closer to your router, or move your router closer to your TV. If that is not possible, check whether other devices on your network are using a lot of bandwidth — for example, someone downloading a large file or streaming video on another device. Ask them to pause their activity, then try casting again.

If the video plays on the TV but the audio does not, check your TV's volume and input settings. Make sure the TV is set to the correct input (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc., depending on which port your Chromecast is plugged into). Also check the volume in the app you are casting from — some apps have their own volume control separate from the TV's volume.

If your Chromecast is not showing up in the cast list at all, unplug it for 10 seconds and plug it back in. Wait for the light to stop blinking and stabilize. If it still does not appear, restart your phone and your router (unplug the router for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot). Then try casting again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast from my phone while someone else is using the TV?

No. Only one device can cast to a Chromecast at a time. If someone is already casting, you will see that device's name in the cast list but will not be able to select it. You can ask them to stop casting, or you can cast to a different Chromecast device if you have one.

Does my phone screen stay on while I am casting?

No. Your phone screen can go dark or you can lock your phone, and casting will continue. The TV is playing the content independently, not mirroring your phone. This saves battery power and lets you use your phone for other things while the video plays.

What if my phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks?

Casting will not work. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Connect your phone to the same network as your Chromecast, then try casting again. If your router broadcasts separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, make sure both your phone and Chromecast are on the same one.

Can I cast from an iPad or tablet?

Yes. Any device running Android or iOS can cast to Chromecast, including tablets. The steps are the same: tap the cast icon in the app, select your Chromecast device, and the content plays on your TV.

Why does the cast icon appear grayed out?

A grayed-out cast icon usually means your phone and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and reconnect your Chromecast to the same network. Once both devices are on the same network, the cast icon should become active and you can tap it to cast.