The fastest way to get TV on Chromecast

To stream TV to your Chromecast, open a streaming app on your phone or tablet—Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, or any app that has a Chromecast icon—tap that icon, select your Chromecast device by name, and the show starts playing on your TV instead of your phone screen. The app does the work; your phone just sends the signal. You don't need to plug anything in beyond the Chromecast itself, and you don't need a cable subscription or special setup beyond having the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast.

If you're using a computer instead of a phone, you can cast from Chrome browser or from apps like Netflix and YouTube the same way—look for the cast icon and select your device. Some apps also let you cast your entire screen, which works for anything on your computer, though it uses more bandwidth and drains your battery faster.

Key Takeaways

  • Most streaming apps have a built-in cast button that sends video directly to your Chromecast without mirroring your whole screen.
  • Your phone, tablet, or computer and your Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • You can cast from Android phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, Windows computers, and Mac computers using the Chrome browser.
  • Screen mirroring (casting your entire screen) works but uses more data and battery than casting from within an app.
  • If casting doesn't appear as an option in an app, that app may not support Chromecast, or you may need to update it.

Casting from streaming apps on your phone or tablet

Open the streaming app you want to use—Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, Paramount+, or any other app that supports Chromecast. Look for the cast icon, which looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the bottom left corner. It's usually in the top right or bottom right of the screen, sometimes inside a menu marked with three dots.

Tap the cast icon. A list of available devices appears, showing your Chromecast by the name you gave it during setup (often something like "Living Room" or "Bedroom"). Tap your device name. The app confirms the connection, and the show or movie starts playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone screen now shows playback controls—pause, play, volume, and a progress bar—but the actual video plays on the TV, not on your phone.

While the show is playing on your TV, you can lock your phone, switch to another app, or set it down. The video keeps playing. Your phone is just the remote control at that point. To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Disconnect" or "Stop Casting."

Casting from your computer using Chrome browser

If you're watching on a computer, open Google Chrome and go to the website of the streaming service you want to use—Netflix.com, YouTube.com, or another site. Play the video you want to watch. Look for the cast icon (the same rectangle with curved lines) in the top right corner of the Chrome address bar, or click the three-dot menu and select "Cast."

A small window appears showing your available Chromecast devices. Click the name of the device you want to use. The video moves to your TV, and you'll see playback controls in a small panel on your computer screen. You can minimize Chrome, switch to another window, or lock your computer—the video keeps playing on the TV.

Some apps installed on Windows or Mac computers also have their own cast buttons built in. YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify all have native apps for computers that include cast icons. Using the app's cast button instead of Chrome's browser casting sometimes gives you better performance and more control options.

Screen mirroring when an app doesn't have a cast button

If an app doesn't have a cast icon, you can mirror your entire phone or computer screen to your Chromecast instead. This sends everything on your screen to the TV—not just the video, but your home screen, notifications, and anything else you do on the device. Screen mirroring uses more Wi-Fi bandwidth and drains your phone battery faster than casting from within an app.

On Android phones and tablets, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings, look for "Cast" or "Screen Cast," tap it, and select your Chromecast device. On iPhones and iPads, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, tap "Screen Mirroring," and select your device. On Windows computers, press Windows key + K to open the Quick Settings panel, click "Connect," and select your Chromecast. On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top right, select "Screen Mirroring," and choose your device.

Once your screen is mirrored, open the app or website with the video you want to watch. It will play on your TV. To stop mirroring, open the same menu you used to start it and select "Disconnect" or "Stop Mirroring."

Making sure your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network

Casting only works when your phone, tablet, computer, and Chromecast are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If your Chromecast is on your home Wi-Fi but your phone is on a mobile hotspot or a different network, casting won't appear as an option.

Check your phone or computer's Wi-Fi settings and confirm it's connected to the same network name (SSID) as your Chromecast. During Chromecast setup, you chose which network to connect it to—use that same network on your casting device. If you're not sure which network your Chromecast is on, unplug it, set it up again, and write down the network name you select.

If you have a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network with the same name, either one works, but some older phones only support 2.4 GHz. If casting isn't working, try connecting your phone to the 2.4 GHz band specifically and see if that fixes it.

Troubleshooting when casting doesn't work

If the cast icon doesn't appear in an app, the app may not support Chromecast. Check the app's settings or help section to confirm. If it should support casting, try updating the app from your phone's app store—older versions sometimes don't have the cast feature enabled. Restart the app after updating.

If the cast icon appears but your Chromecast doesn't show up in the device list, restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Then restart your phone or computer. Wait 30 seconds for both devices to reconnect to Wi-Fi, then try casting again. If your Chromecast still doesn't appear, check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network by looking at your network settings.

If casting starts but the video keeps stopping or buffering, your Wi-Fi signal may be weak. Move your Chromecast closer to your router, or move your phone closer to the router while you're casting. If the problem continues, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Weak Wi-Fi is the most common reason casting fails or plays poorly.

If you're trying to cast from a website in Chrome and it's not working, make sure you're using the latest version of Chrome. Open Chrome's menu, click "About Google Chrome," and let it update if a new version is available. Restart Chrome after updating and try casting again.

What you need to stream TV to Chromecast

You need a Chromecast device plugged into your TV's HDMI port and powered by USB (either from the TV or a wall outlet). You need a phone, tablet, or computer with the streaming app or web browser installed. You need a Wi-Fi network that both your Chromecast and your casting device can reach. You do not need a cable TV subscription, a Chromecast account, or any paid service beyond whatever streaming subscriptions you already have.

If you want to cast from an iPhone or iPad, you need iOS 12.1 or later. If you're casting from an Android phone or tablet, you need Android 5.0 or later. If you're casting from a computer, you need Chrome version 72 or later, or a native app that supports Chromecast. Most devices made in the last five years meet these requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast to Chromecast if I'm not home?

No, casting requires your phone or computer and your Chromecast to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If you're away from home, your phone is on a different network than your Chromecast. Some streaming apps like YouTube and Netflix let you remotely control a Chromecast through their apps if you're signed into the same account, but this is different from casting and only works with certain apps.

Do I need a Chromecast account to cast?

No. You need to be signed into the streaming app or service you're using (Netflix, YouTube, etc.), but you don't need a separate Chromecast account. Your Chromecast connects to your Wi-Fi during setup, and after that it works with any device on that network.

Can I use my phone while something is casting to Chromecast?

Yes. Once casting starts, your phone is just sending a signal to the TV. You can lock your phone, switch to another app, or set it down, and the video keeps playing on your TV. The only exception is if you close the streaming app completely—some apps pause the video when you close them.

Why does casting sometimes stop working after I update my phone?

Updates to your phone's operating system can occasionally change how Wi-Fi or casting works. Restart your Chromecast and your phone, make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network, and update any streaming apps you use. If casting still doesn't work, restart your router as well.

Can I cast from multiple devices to the same Chromecast at the same time?

No. Only one device can cast to a Chromecast at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you're already casting, their device will ask if they want to take over. Taking over stops your video and starts theirs.