Connect Your LG TV to Chromecast in Three Steps

To cast to an LG TV with Chromecast, you need three things: a Chromecast device plugged into an HDMI port on your LG TV, both your phone or computer and the Chromecast on the same Wi-Fi network, and the Google Home app installed on your phone or computer. Once those are in place, open any app that supports casting — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, or Chrome itself — tap the cast icon, select your Chromecast device from the list, and the content plays on your TV.

The physical setup takes five minutes. Plug the Chromecast into an available HDMI port on the back or side of your LG TV, then plug its power cable into a nearby outlet or USB port. Turn on your TV and switch to the HDMI input where you plugged the Chromecast. You should see the Chromecast setup screen appear on your TV.

The software setup takes another five minutes. On your phone or computer, read the Google Home app if you do not have it. Open the app, tap the plus sign to add a device, select "Set up device", choose "Set up a new device", and follow the prompts to connect the Chromecast to your Wi-Fi network. The app will ask you to name the device — something like "Living Room TV" makes it straightforward to find later if you have multiple Chromecasts.

Key Takeaways

  • Your LG TV needs a Chromecast device plugged into an HDMI port; the TV itself does not need to be a "smart" TV or have Chromecast built in.
  • Both your phone or computer and the Chromecast must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • You cast from apps that support it — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, Chrome browser, and others — by tapping the cast icon and selecting your device.
  • The Google Home app is where you set up the Chromecast and manage it after that, including renaming it and adjusting Wi-Fi settings.

Which LG TVs Work With Chromecast

Any LG TV with an HDMI port works with Chromecast, regardless of age or model. Chromecast is a separate device you plug in, not a feature built into the TV itself. Even older LG TVs from ten or fifteen years ago will work as long as they have an available HDMI port and power nearby for the Chromecast device.

Some newer LG TVs have Chromecast built in as a software feature, which means you can cast without a separate device. To check if your LG TV has it built in, look in the TV's settings menu under "Network" or "Connections" for "Chromecast" or "Google Cast". If you see it there and it is turned on, you can cast directly to the TV without plugging in a device. If you do not see it, you will need to buy a Chromecast device.

What to Do If Your TV Does Not Appear in the Cast List

The most common reason a Chromecast does not show up in the cast list is that your phone or computer is on a different Wi-Fi network than the Chromecast. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it is connected to the same network name as the Chromecast. If you have a 5GHz and 2.4GHz network with the same name, try connecting your phone to the 2.4GHz band — Chromecast devices sometimes work better on that frequency.

If both devices are on the same network and the Chromecast still does not appear, restart the Chromecast by unplugging it for ten seconds, then plugging it back in. While it restarts, also restart your phone or computer. Once both have restarted, open the app you want to cast from and look for the cast icon again.

If the cast icon does not appear in your app at all, that app may not support casting. YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, and the Chrome browser all support it. Many other apps do as well, but not all. Check the app's settings or help section to confirm it has casting built in.

Casting From Your Phone Versus Your Computer

Casting from a phone is the most common route. Open any app that supports casting, tap the cast icon (usually three curved lines in the top or bottom corner), select your Chromecast device, and the content plays on your TV while your phone screen returns to normal. You can then use your phone for other things — the cast continues on the TV independently.

Casting from a computer works the same way in apps like YouTube and Netflix. In the Chrome browser itself, you can cast an entire tab or your whole screen. Right-click anywhere on the page, select "Cast", choose your Chromecast device, and everything on that tab appears on your TV. This is useful for showing photos, presentations, or websites to a group.

One difference: when you cast your entire Chrome tab or screen, your computer stays connected and controls what plays. If you close the browser or put your computer to sleep, the cast stops. When you cast from an app like YouTube, the Chromecast takes over and your phone can go to sleep without interrupting playback.

Controlling What Plays on Your TV

Once you have cast something to your TV, you control it from the device you cast from — your phone, tablet, or computer. If you cast a YouTube video, the play, pause, and volume controls on your phone control the video on the TV. If you cast Spotify, the same controls on your phone control the music on the TV.

You can also control the Chromecast itself through the Google Home app. Open the app, find your Chromecast device in the list, and you can adjust the volume, stop the cast, or restart the device. This is useful if you want to stop casting without touching the phone that started it.

If you want to cast something different, just open a new app on your phone, tap the cast icon, and select the same Chromecast device. The new content replaces what was playing. You do not need to stop the old cast first.

Troubleshooting Sound and Picture Problems

If the picture appears on your TV but there is no sound, check the volume on both your TV and your phone or computer. The TV's volume control works normally — use your remote to turn it up. Your phone or computer also has its own volume, which you control from the device itself. If both are turned up and you still hear nothing, restart the Chromecast and try casting again.

If the picture is choppy, freezing, or dropping out, the issue is usually your Wi-Fi connection. Move your phone or computer closer to your Wi-Fi router, or move the Chromecast closer to the router. If your Wi-Fi network is crowded or slow, the cast may not work smoothly. Restarting your router sometimes helps — unplug it for ten seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully restart before casting again.

If the picture appears stretched, squashed, or in the wrong aspect ratio, check your TV's picture settings. Some LG TVs have an "Aspect Ratio" or "Picture Size" setting that may be set to "Stretch" or "Zoom". Change it to "Just Scan" or "Original" to see the picture as it was meant to look.

Using Chromecast With Multiple Devices

You can cast from any phone, tablet, or computer to the same Chromecast device, as long as they are all on the same Wi-Fi network. If two people want to cast at the same time, the second cast will replace the first one — only one thing can play on the TV at a time. The person who casts second takes over.

If you have multiple Chromecast devices in your home — one in the living room, one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen — you can cast to any of them from any phone or computer. When you tap the cast icon, you will see a list of all your Chromecast devices. Select the one you want, and the content plays on that TV.

You can name each Chromecast device in the Google Home app to keep them straight. Tap the device, tap the settings icon, and change the name to something like "Living Room" or "Bedroom". That name will appear in the cast list on all your phones and computers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a smart TV to use Chromecast?

No. Any TV with an HDMI port works with a Chromecast device. The TV does not need to be smart, connected to Wi-Fi, or have any special features. Chromecast is a separate device that plugs into the HDMI port and handles all the casting itself.

Can I cast if my phone is not on Wi-Fi?

No. Your phone and the Chromecast must both be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your phone is using cellular data instead of Wi-Fi, it cannot see or connect to the Chromecast. Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as the Chromecast before casting.

What happens if I unplug the Chromecast while something is playing?

The picture and sound stop when ready. The next time you plug it back in and set it up again, it will work normally. You will need to set it up through the Google Home app again if you have not used it in a while, but the setup process is the same as the first time.

Can I cast to my LG TV if the TV is off?

No. The TV must be on and set to the HDMI input where the Chromecast is plugged in. Turn on your TV and switch to the correct HDMI input before casting. Once the cast starts, you can control the volume and other settings from your phone, but the TV itself must be powered on.

Is Chromecast the same as AirPlay?

No. Chromecast is Google's casting system and works with Android phones, iPhones, computers, and tablets. AirPlay is Apple's system and works with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Some TVs support both, but Chromecast and AirPlay are separate technologies. Check which one your TV supports before buying a device.