The basic steps to cast from your phone or computer to your TV

Google Cast works by sending video, audio, or your entire screen from your phone, tablet, or computer to a TV that has a Chromecast device plugged in. Your casting device and your TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Once they are, you open an app that supports casting, tap the cast icon, and select your TV from the list that appears.

The whole process takes about five seconds once everything is set up. Your phone or computer stays in your hand — it acts as a remote control, not a display cable. You can keep using your device for other things while something plays on the TV, or you can cast your entire screen if you want to show photos, documents, or anything else.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone, tablet, or computer and your Chromecast device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before casting will work.
  • The cast icon appears inside apps that support casting — it looks like a rectangle with a curved line in the corner — and you tap it to see available TVs.
  • Casting your entire screen works on Android phones and Windows computers, but screen mirroring on iPhones and iPads requires AirPlay, not Google Cast.
  • If your TV does not appear in the cast list, restart your Chromecast device by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plug it back in.

Connecting your phone or tablet to the same Wi-Fi network

Your casting device — the phone, tablet, or computer you are casting from — must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast. This is the single most common reason casting does not work. Check the Wi-Fi network name on your device and compare it to the network name your Chromecast is connected to.

On an Android phone, go to Settings, then Wi-Fi, and look at the network you are currently connected to. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then Wi-Fi, and check the network with the checkmark next to it. On a Windows computer, click the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray at the bottom right of the screen. On a Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top right.

If your Chromecast is on a different network — for example, if your home has a 2.4 GHz network and a 5 GHz network, and your Chromecast is on one while your phone is on the other — switch your phone to the same network. Most Chromecast devices work on 2.4 GHz networks, though newer models support 5 GHz as well. Check your Chromecast's setup instructions to confirm which networks it can use.

Finding and tapping the cast icon in apps

Not every app supports casting. YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, and most major streaming services do. Many smaller apps do not. Open an app where you want to cast content, and look for the cast icon — it looks like a small rectangle with a curved line coming from the bottom left corner, like a Wi-Fi symbol turned sideways.

On phones and tablets, the cast icon usually appears in the top right corner of the app, sometimes inside a menu. On computers, it often appears in the video player itself or in a menu bar. Tap or click the cast icon. A list of available devices will appear, showing the name of your TV or the Chromecast device connected to it.

Select your TV from the list. The content will start playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone or tablet becomes a remote — you can pause, rewind, adjust volume, or skip to the next song without touching the TV. You can also lock your phone or put it to sleep; casting will continue.

Casting your entire screen from Android or Windows

If you want to show everything on your screen — not just video from one app — you can cast your entire screen on Android phones and Windows computers. This is different from casting a single app, and it uses the same Google Cast technology.

On an Android phone, pull down the notification shade from the top of the screen twice to open the full quick settings menu. Look for a button called "Cast" or "Screen cast" and tap it. Select your TV from the list. Your entire screen will now appear on the TV, and anything you do on your phone will show up there too.

On a Windows computer, press the Windows key and the K key at the same time. A "Connect" panel will open on the right side of the screen. Click "Connect to a wireless display" and select your Chromecast device. Your screen will appear on the TV. To stop, press Windows + K again and click "Disconnect."

Screen casting uses more battery on phones and can slow down your device slightly, so it is best for short periods. If you are casting video for a long time, use the cast feature inside the app instead.

What to do if your TV does not appear in the cast list

If you do not see your TV in the list of available devices, the most common fix is to restart your Chromecast. Unplug the Chromecast device from the power outlet for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait about 30 seconds for it to restart fully. Then try casting again.

If that does not work, check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open the Google Home app on your phone — this is the app you used to set up your Chromecast originally. Go to the Devices tab at the bottom, find your Chromecast, and tap it. The app will show you which Wi-Fi network it is connected to. If it is different from your phone's network, you will need to reconnect your Chromecast to the correct network using the Google Home app.

If your Chromecast is still not showing up, restart your phone or computer as well. Sometimes the Wi-Fi connection between devices gets stuck, and restarting clears it. If you have restarted both devices and they are on the same network, the issue may be with your Wi-Fi router — try restarting that too by unplugging it for 10 seconds.

Casting from iPhones and iPads

iPhones and iPads do not use Google Cast for screen mirroring. Instead, they use a technology called AirPlay, which only works with Apple TV devices or certain smart TVs that have AirPlay built in. If you have a Chromecast, you cannot mirror your entire iPhone or iPad screen to it.

However, many apps on iPhone and iPad do support casting to Chromecast — including YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and others. Look for the cast icon inside the app, just as you would on Android. The cast icon works the same way: tap it, select your TV, and the content plays on your TV while you control it from your phone.

If you want to show your entire iPhone or iPad screen on a TV with a Chromecast, you will need to use a different method, such as an HDMI cable or a different device. This is a limitation of Apple's software, not a problem with Chromecast.

Controlling volume and playback while casting

Once content is casting to your TV, your phone or tablet becomes the remote control. The volume buttons on your device will control the TV's volume, not your phone's speaker volume. Pause, play, rewind, and skip buttons appear on your screen in the app you are using.

You can also control volume using your TV remote if you prefer. Some apps show a volume slider on your phone's screen as well. If you want to stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Stop casting" or "Disconnect." The content will stop playing on the TV, and your phone will go back to normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast to a TV that is not on the same Wi-Fi network?

No. Google Cast requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your Chromecast is on your home network and you are on a guest network or a different network, casting will not work. Switch to the same network as your Chromecast.

What happens to my phone while something is casting?

Your phone acts as a remote control. You can lock it, use other apps, or put it to sleep, and casting will continue. The content plays on the TV, not on your phone. If you close the app you were casting from, playback usually stops.

Why does casting sometimes stop or lag?

Casting stops if your phone loses connection to the Wi-Fi network or if the app crashes. Lag usually means your Wi-Fi signal is weak. Move closer to your router, or check that no other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. Restarting your router can also help.

Can I cast from multiple phones to the same TV at the same time?

Most Chromecast devices only play content from one source at a time. If a second person tries to cast, it will interrupt what is already playing. Some newer Chromecast models support a queue feature that lets multiple people add content to a list, but only one stream plays at a time.

Do I need a subscription to use Google Cast?

No. Google Cast itself is free. However, the apps and services you cast from — like Netflix, Spotify, or YouTube Premium — may require their own subscriptions. Free versions of these apps work with casting too.