You cannot cast directly from iPhone to a Windows PC with Chromecast
Chromecast works with iPhones, but only to send video and audio to Chromecast-enabled devices like TVs, speakers, and displays — not to a Windows computer. If you want to see your iPhone screen on your PC, Chromecast is not the tool for that job. Windows PCs do not have built-in Chromecast receiver capability the way a Chromecast device does.
What you can do instead: cast specific apps and content from your iPhone to a Chromecast device connected to your TV, or use a different method entirely to mirror your iPhone to your PC. The route you choose depends on what you actually need to do — share a video, show your screen to others, or access your phone's content on a larger display.
Key Takeaways
- Chromecast on iPhone sends content to Chromecast devices (TVs, speakers, displays), not to Windows PCs.
- You can cast apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Google Photos from iPhone to any Chromecast device in your home.
- To mirror your iPhone screen to a Windows PC, use built-in tools like Quick Link or third-party apps designed for that purpose.
- Casting specific content (video, music, photos) works better than screen mirroring and uses less battery on your iPhone.
What you can actually cast from iPhone with Chromecast
Your iPhone can send content to Chromecast devices through apps that have built-in casting support. Open any of these apps, tap the cast icon (usually a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), and select your Chromecast device. The content plays on the Chromecast device while your iPhone controls it.
Apps with Chromecast support include YouTube, YouTube Music, Google Photos, Google Play Music, Spotify, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and many others. You do not need to mirror your entire screen — you are just sending that one app's content. This method is faster, uses less iPhone battery, and works reliably because the app and Chromecast talk directly to each other over your home network.
The Chromecast device must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. If you are on a guest network or a different band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz), the cast icon may not appear or the connection may fail. Check that both devices are connected to the same network name in your Wi-Fi settings.
How to mirror your iPhone screen to a Windows PC instead
If you need to show your entire iPhone screen on your PC — not just one app — you have two main options. The first is Quick Link, a feature built into Windows 11 that lets you connect your iPhone wirelessly. Open the Quick Link app on your PC (search for "Quick Link" in the Start menu), then on your iPhone go to Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your PC's name. Your iPhone screen appears in a window on your PC.
Quick Link works over Wi-Fi and does not require any extra software, but it only works on Windows 11 and newer iPhones (iPhone XS and later). The connection is stable and the lag is minimal. You can resize the window, take screenshots, and record video of your iPhone screen directly from Windows.
If you have Windows 10 or an older iPhone, or if Quick Link does not work for you, third-party apps like Reflector, LonelyScreen, or ApowerMirror can mirror your iPhone to your PC. These apps cost money (usually $15 to $30 one-time or a subscription) and require you to install software on both your iPhone and PC. They work over Wi-Fi or USB cable and generally have more features than Quick Link, like recording, annotation, and multi-device support.
Setting up Chromecast on your iPhone for the first time
Before you can cast anything from your iPhone, your Chromecast device must be set up and connected to Wi-Fi. Plug the Chromecast into your TV or display, then read the Google Home app on your iPhone from the App Store. Open the app, tap the plus icon to add a device, and follow the on-screen steps to connect your Chromecast to your home Wi-Fi network.
Once the Chromecast is set up and online, any app on your iPhone that supports casting will show a cast icon. You do not need to do anything else — the iPhone and Chromecast find each other automatically as long as they are on the same network. If the cast icon does not appear, restart both devices and check that your Wi-Fi connection is stable.
Why casting works better than screen mirroring for most tasks
Casting a specific app is faster and more reliable than mirroring your entire screen. When you cast, the app streams directly from the internet to your Chromecast device — your iPhone is just the remote control. This means the video quality is not limited by your iPhone's processing power, the connection is more stable, and your battery lasts longer.
Screen mirroring, by contrast, sends everything your iPhone displays, which uses more battery, can introduce lag, and sometimes drops the connection if your Wi-Fi signal is weak. If you are just trying to watch a video or listen to music on a bigger screen, casting is the better choice. Screen mirroring is useful when you need to show something that does not have a cast button — like a web browser, a document, or a game.
Troubleshooting when the cast icon does not appear
If you open an app that should support casting and do not see the cast icon, check these things in order. First, make sure your iPhone and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi network — not on different bands or a guest network. Second, restart the app and your Chromecast device (unplug it for 10 seconds, then plug it back in). Third, make sure the app is up to date by checking the App Store for updates.
If the cast icon still does not appear, the app may not support Chromecast, or your Chromecast device may not be fully set up. Open the Google Home app and confirm that your Chromecast shows as "Connected" and online. If it shows as offline, reconnect it to Wi-Fi using the Google Home app. Some apps (like Apple TV+) do not support Chromecast at all and require a different method to cast.
Casting from Safari and web browsers on iPhone
Safari and Chrome on iPhone do not have a built-in cast button like YouTube does. If you want to cast a video from a website, the video player itself must support Chromecast — you will see the cast icon inside the video player, not in the browser. Many news sites, streaming services, and video platforms have this built in.
If the website does not have a cast button, you have two options: cast the entire screen using Quick Link or a third-party mirroring app, or open the video in an app that supports casting (like YouTube or Netflix) if the content is available there. Some websites let you copy a video link and paste it into a casting-enabled app instead of playing it in the browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cast from iPhone to a Chromecast device that is not on my home network?
No. Your iPhone and Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network to communicate. If you are away from home, you cannot cast to a Chromecast at home. Some Chromecast devices support remote casting through the Google Home app if you set it up beforehand, but this is not the same as direct casting and has limitations.
Does casting from iPhone to Chromecast use a lot of data?
Casting uses your home Wi-Fi, not your cellular data, so it does not count against your phone plan. The video or audio streams from the internet directly to your Chromecast device. Your iPhone only sends control commands, which use very little data.
Can I cast audio only from my iPhone to a Chromecast speaker?
Yes. Chromecast Audio devices and Chromecast-enabled speakers work the same way as Chromecast video devices. Open a music app like Spotify or YouTube Music, tap the cast icon, select your speaker, and the audio plays there while your iPhone controls playback. You can lock your iPhone or switch to another app without interrupting the music.
What is the difference between casting and AirPlay?
AirPlay is Apple's system for sending content from iPhones to Apple devices like Apple TV and HomePod. Chromecast is Google's system for sending content to Chromecast devices and other Android-based devices. They do not work with each other — you use AirPlay for Apple devices and Chromecast for Google devices.
Can I cast to multiple Chromecast devices at the same time from my iPhone?
Most apps do not support casting to multiple devices simultaneously. Some music apps like Spotify let you cast to one device at a time and switch between them, but not play the same content on multiple devices at once. Google Home can group Chromecast speakers together so they play in sync, but you set that up in the Google Home app, not from the casting app itself.