The Basic Steps to Cast From Your Phone

To cast from your phone to a TV with Chromecast, open the app or web page you want to watch, 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 will appear on your TV. Your phone and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. The whole process takes about 10 seconds once you've set up your Chromecast device.

The Cast icon appears in most streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and Google Play Movies. Not every app has it — some older or smaller apps don't support casting yet. If you don't see the Cast icon, the app probably doesn't support it, and you'll need to use screen mirroring instead (a different method that copies everything on your phone's screen).

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone and Chromecast device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you can cast anything.
  • The Cast icon appears inside most streaming apps — tap it, choose your device, and your content plays on the TV while your phone acts as a remote.
  • Casting uses less battery and data than screen mirroring because only the video stream goes to the TV, not your entire phone display.
  • If the Cast icon doesn't appear in an app, that app doesn't support casting, and you'll need to use screen mirroring or connect a different way.
  • You can control playback from your phone, lock your phone, or switch to another app while casting continues on the TV.

Check Your Wi-Fi Connection First

Before you try to cast, make sure your phone and your Chromecast device are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings and note which network you're on. Then check your Chromecast device — during setup, you chose a network for it to use. If your phone is on "Home-5G" and your Chromecast is on "Home-2.4G," they won't see each other even if both networks have the same name.

Many homes have two Wi-Fi bands (5GHz and 2.4GHz) with the same network name. Your phone might automatically pick the faster 5GHz band, but your Chromecast might be on 2.4GHz. If casting doesn't work, manually switch your phone to the same band your Chromecast is using. You can check which band your Chromecast is on by opening the Google Home app, tapping your device, and looking at the Wi-Fi details.

Find and Tap the Cast Icon in Your App

Open the app with the content you want to watch — YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, or another streaming service. Look for the Cast icon, which appears as a small rectangle with three curved lines in the bottom right or top right corner. In some apps it's in the menu (three dots), but most put it where you can see it easily.

Tap the Cast icon once. A list of available devices appears. Your Chromecast device will show up by the name you gave it during setup — something like "Living Room" or "Bedroom TV." Tap that name. The app will connect to your Chromecast in a few seconds, and the content will start playing on your TV. Your phone screen will show a small notification that casting is active, usually with a blue bar at the top.

Control Playback From Your Phone

Once casting starts, your phone becomes a remote control. You can pause, play, skip forward or backward, and adjust the volume — all from your phone screen. The controls appear in the app you're using, just like they normally would. You don't need to point your phone at the TV or keep it facing the screen.

You can also lock your phone or switch to another app while casting continues. The video keeps playing on your TV without interruption. If you want to stop casting, tap the Cast icon again and select "Stop Casting," or just close the app. The TV will go back to whatever it was showing before.

What to Do If the Cast Icon Doesn't Appear

If you don't see a Cast icon in the app you're using, that app doesn't support the casting feature. This is common with older apps, small streaming services, or apps that weren't designed to work with Chromecast. You have two options: use a different app that does support casting, or use screen mirroring instead.

Screen mirroring copies your entire phone screen to the TV, including everything you tap and every notification that pops up. It uses more battery and data than casting, but it works with any app. To screen mirror on Android, go to Settings, find "Cast" or "Screen Mirroring," select your Chromecast device, and your whole phone display appears on the TV. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner, tap "Screen Mirroring," and select your device. Note that iPhones can only screen mirror to Chromecast devices that support AirPlay, which not all of them do.

Troubleshooting Common Casting Problems

If casting starts but then stops or buffers constantly, your Wi-Fi signal might be weak. Move your phone or Chromecast closer to your router, or restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If the Cast icon doesn't appear even though you're on the same network, restart the app completely — close it and open it again. Sometimes the app needs a moment to recognize the Chromecast device.

If your Chromecast device doesn't show up in the list at all, restart both your phone and your Chromecast. Unplug the Chromecast for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot up (the light will stop blinking). Then try casting again. If you still don't see it, check that both devices are truly on the same Wi-Fi network by opening the Google Home app and looking at your device's network details.

Casting From Different Types of Apps

Casting works slightly differently depending on what you're watching. In YouTube, tap the Cast icon and your video plays on the TV while you browse other videos on your phone. In Netflix, you cast the show you're currently watching. In Spotify, you cast the song or playlist that's playing. In Google Chrome (the web browser), you can cast an entire web page or just a single tab.

Some apps let you cast to multiple devices at once — for example, you might cast music to your living room speaker and your bedroom speaker simultaneously. Look for an option like "Cast to Multiple Devices" or "Group" in the app's settings. This feature varies by app, so check the app's help section if you're not sure whether it supports multi-device casting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast if my phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks?

No. Your phone and Chromecast device must be on the same Wi-Fi network to communicate. If you're on a guest network and your Chromecast is on the main network, casting won't work. Switch your phone to the same network your Chromecast is using.

Does casting drain my phone battery faster?

Casting uses less battery than screen mirroring because only the video stream goes to the TV, not your entire phone display. You can also lock your phone while casting continues, which saves even more battery. Expect normal battery drain, similar to using your phone normally.

What's the difference between casting and screen mirroring?

Casting sends just the video or audio from an app to your TV, while screen mirroring copies your entire phone screen. Casting is faster, uses less battery, and lets you use your phone for other things. Screen mirroring works with any app but drains more battery and shows everything on your phone, including notifications.

Can I cast from an iPhone to Chromecast?

Most iPhones can't cast to standard Chromecast devices because Apple uses a different technology called AirPlay. You can screen mirror from iPhone to Chromecast devices that support AirPlay, but not all Chromecast models do. Check your device's specs to see if it supports AirPlay. Some apps like YouTube and Spotify do work with Chromecast on iPhone.

What happens if I close the app while casting?

The video stops playing on your TV, and the TV returns to whatever it was showing before. Casting stops when ready when you close the app or tap "Stop Casting" in the Cast menu.