The basic steps to send video and apps from iPad to Chromecast

To cast from an iPad to Chromecast, open the app you want to watch (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, or another supported service), look for the Cast icon — it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner — tap it, and select your Chromecast device from the list. Your video will then play on the TV connected to your Chromecast, and you can control playback from your iPad.

The Cast icon appears in most video apps automatically. If you don't see it, the app may not support casting, or your iPad and Chromecast may not be on the same Wi-Fi network. Once you tap Cast and select your device, the connection happens in seconds. Your iPad becomes a remote control — you can pause, rewind, adjust volume, and even lock the screen without stopping playback.

Not every app has the Cast button built in. Streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ all include it. Smaller apps, local news sites, or older applications may not. If an app doesn't have a Cast button, you cannot cast from that specific app, though you may be able to cast your entire iPad screen instead (see the section below on screen mirroring).

Key Takeaways

  • The Cast icon appears inside most video apps — tap it, select your Chromecast device, and video plays on your TV.
  • Your iPad and Chromecast must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • Once casting starts, your iPad acts as a remote; you can lock the screen and the video keeps playing on the TV.
  • If an app doesn't have a Cast button, you can mirror your entire iPad screen to Chromecast using Control Center instead.
  • Casting uses very little battery on your iPad compared to screen mirroring, which drains the battery faster.

Making sure your iPad and Chromecast are on the same network

Casting only works when your iPad and Chromecast are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check your iPad's Wi-Fi settings by swiping down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then look at which network is connected. On your Chromecast, the light on the device shows its status — a solid white light means it is connected to Wi-Fi and ready to receive a cast.

If your Chromecast is not on the same network, open the Google Home app on your iPad, tap the Chromecast device, then tap Settings (the gear icon). Select "Wi-Fi" and follow the prompts to connect it to your network. This usually takes less than a minute. Once both devices are on the same network, the Cast icon in your video apps will show your Chromecast in the device list.

Some homes have two Wi-Fi networks — a regular one and a 5 GHz one. Chromecast works on both, but your iPad must be on the same one as your Chromecast. If you cannot see your device in the Cast list, switch your iPad to the other network and try again.

Finding and tapping the Cast icon in video apps

The Cast icon is a small rectangle with three curved lines in the bottom-right corner. In YouTube, it sits in the top-right corner of the video player. In Netflix, it appears in the top-right as well. In Disney+, Hulu, and most other services, it is usually in the player controls. The exact location varies by app, but it is always somewhere in or near the video player.

Tap the Cast icon once. A list of available devices appears — you will see your Chromecast by name (for example, "Living Room" or "Bedroom TV"). Tap the device you want to cast to. The app connects to your Chromecast, and within a few seconds, the video appears on your TV. Your iPad screen may show a smaller version of the video, or it may show the app's menu — either way, the full video is playing on the TV.

If you tap the Cast icon and no devices appear, your iPad and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Go back and check your network connection. If the Cast icon does not appear at all in an app, that app does not support casting — you will need to use screen mirroring instead.

Controlling playback from your iPad while casting

Once video is casting to your TV, your iPad becomes a remote. Tap the Cast icon again to see playback controls — pause, play, rewind, and fast-forward buttons appear. You can also adjust the volume using your iPad's volume buttons, and the TV volume will change. The progress bar shows where you are in the video, and you can tap anywhere on it to jump to a different time.

You can lock your iPad screen, put it to sleep, or even close the app and your video keeps playing on the TV. To stop casting, tap the Cast icon and select "Stop Casting," or straightforward close the app. The video stops on the TV when ready. If you want to cast a different video, open another app, tap Cast, select the same device, and the new video begins playing.

If your iPad's screen goes dark while casting, the video does not stop — this is one of the main advantages of casting over screen mirroring. You can set your iPad down and let it sleep without interrupting playback.

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

If an app does not have a built-in Cast button, you can mirror your entire iPad screen to Chromecast instead. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPad to open Control Center. Look for "Screen Mirroring" (on newer iPads) or "AirPlay" (on older models), tap it, and select your Chromecast device from the list. Your entire iPad screen now appears on the TV.

Screen mirroring is slower to start than casting and uses more battery power, but it works with any app. Once mirroring is active, everything you do on your iPad — scrolling, tapping, typing — appears on the TV in real time. To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring or AirPlay, and select "Stop Mirroring."

Screen mirroring is useful for showing photos, browsing websites, or using apps that do not support casting. However, if the app you want to use has a built-in Cast button, casting is the better choice because it drains your battery much more slowly.

Troubleshooting when casting does not work

If the Cast icon does not appear or your device does not show up in the list, start by checking that both your iPad and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in. Restart your iPad by holding the power button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on. These straightforward steps fix most connection problems.

If the Cast icon still does not appear, the app you are using may not support casting. Try opening a different app like YouTube or Netflix to test. If casting works in one app but not another, the problem is with that specific app, not your Chromecast or iPad. Close the app completely and reopen it, or update it from the App Store.

If your Chromecast is not appearing in the device list at all, open the Google Home app and check that your Chromecast is showing as "Connected." If it shows as offline, reconnect it to Wi-Fi using the Google Home app. If you see an error message, write down the exact text and search for it in the Google Chromecast help center — Google's support pages cover specific error codes and their fixes.

Using Chromecast with different video services

Most major streaming services work with Chromecast from iPad: YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Peacock all include the Cast button. Smaller services, local news apps, and some international streaming platforms may not. The Cast button works the same way in every app — tap it, select your device, and the video plays on your TV.

Some services require you to be signed in before you can cast. If you tap Cast and nothing happens, make sure you are logged into the app. A few services, like some live TV apps, may have restrictions on casting — if casting is blocked, the app will usually show a message explaining why.

If you want to cast from a web browser (like Safari), you cannot do it directly from the browser on iPad. Instead, use the Cast button in the app version of the service, or use screen mirroring to show the entire browser on your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my iPad while video is casting to the TV?

Yes. Once casting starts, your iPad is just a remote control. You can use other apps, check email, browse the web, or lock the screen — the video keeps playing on the TV. This is one of the main advantages of casting over screen mirroring.

What if my Chromecast is in a different room than my iPad?

As long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, distance does not matter. You can cast from your iPad in the bedroom to a Chromecast in the living room. The Wi-Fi signal must reach both devices, but they do not need to be close to each other.

Does casting use a lot of data or battery?

Casting uses very little battery — your iPad is just sending a signal to the Chromecast, not displaying the video itself. Data usage depends on the video quality and your internet speed, but it is the same as if you were watching on the TV directly. Screen mirroring, by contrast, drains your iPad battery much faster.

Can multiple people cast 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 are already casting, their video will replace yours. You must stop casting before another person can start.

Why does the Cast icon sometimes disappear from an app?

The most common reason is that your iPad and Chromecast lost connection to the same Wi-Fi network. Check your network connection and make sure your Chromecast is still connected. If the icon still does not appear, close the app completely and reopen it, or restart your iPad.