The Basic Steps to Cast From Your Phone

To cast from your phone to a Chromecast device, open the app you want to watch or listen to, tap the Cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), select your Chromecast from the list, and the content plays on your TV. Your phone acts as a remote control after that — you can pause, rewind, or adjust volume from the screen, or lock your phone and the cast continues.

The Cast icon appears in most streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and Google Play Music. Not every app has it, but the ones that do make casting straightforward. Your phone and Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network for this to work.

Key Takeaways

  • The Cast icon appears inside the app you want to watch or listen to — look for a rectangle with curved lines in the top or bottom corner.
  • Your phone and Chromecast must connect to the same Wi-Fi network before you can see the device in the Cast menu.
  • After you tap Cast and select your device, your phone becomes a remote; you can lock it and the video or music keeps playing on your TV.
  • Some apps do not have a Cast button, but most major streaming services (YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Disney+) support it.
  • If your Chromecast does not appear in the list, restart both your phone and the Chromecast device, then try again.

Finding and Tapping the Cast Icon

The Cast icon lives inside the app itself, not on your phone's home screen. Open YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, or whichever app you want to use, then look for the Cast icon — it is a small rectangle with three curved lines in one corner, usually in the top right or bottom right of the screen. On some apps it appears in a menu you have to tap first (often three dots or lines).

If you do not see the Cast icon, the app either does not support casting or you are not on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings to confirm you are connected to the right network. Once you tap the Cast icon, your phone searches for nearby Chromecast devices on that network.

Selecting Your Chromecast Device

After you tap Cast, a menu appears showing all Chromecast devices on your Wi-Fi network. Each device shows its name — for example, "Living Room" or "Bedroom" — so you can tell which TV it is connected to. Tap the name of the device where you want the content to play.

If you only have one Chromecast, it will be the only option. If you have multiple devices and do not see the one you want, make sure it is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone. Devices that are off or on a different network will not appear in the list.

Using Your Phone as a Remote After Casting

Once casting starts, your phone screen shows playback controls — play, pause, rewind, and volume buttons. You can use these to control what plays on your TV. The content continues on your TV even if you lock your phone or switch to another app, though you will need to open the casting app again if you want to adjust playback.

To stop casting, open the app again, tap the Cast icon, and select "Stop Casting" or tap the device name a second time. The video or music stops on your TV, and your phone returns to normal use. You can also unplug the Chromecast or turn it off, which will end the cast automatically.

Casting When Your Phone and Chromecast Are on Different Networks

Your phone and Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network to cast. If your phone is on your home Wi-Fi and your Chromecast is on a guest network (or vice versa), the device will not appear in the Cast menu. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and connect to the same network your Chromecast uses.

Some homes have multiple Wi-Fi networks with different names. If you are unsure which network your Chromecast is on, check the Google Home app — it shows all your Chromecast devices and which network each one uses. Switch your phone to that network, then try casting again.

Troubleshooting When Cast Does Not Work

If the Cast icon does not appear or your Chromecast does not show up in the device list, try these steps in order: first, restart your phone by turning it off and back on. Second, restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in. Third, check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network by looking at your phone's Wi-Fi settings and the Google Home app.

If the Cast icon still does not appear, the app you are using may not support casting. Try a different app like YouTube or Netflix to test whether casting works at all. If it does, the problem is that specific app. If casting does not work in any app, restart your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, wait for it to reconnect, then try again.

Apps That Support Casting From Your Phone

Most major streaming services have the Cast button built in. YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music, Pandora, and Amazon Prime Video all support casting. Smaller or older apps may not have it yet. The only way to know is to open the app and look for the Cast icon.

If an app does not have a Cast button, you have another option: use Google Home to cast your entire phone screen to the TV. This is slower and uses more battery than casting from within an app, but it works with any app. Open Google Home, tap the device you want to cast to, select "Cast My Screen," and your phone's display appears on the TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my phone while casting?

Yes. After you start casting, you can lock your phone, switch to other apps, or put it down — the video or music keeps playing on your TV. If you want to pause or rewind, open the casting app again and use the playback controls. Your phone acts as a remote, not a connection that has to stay open.

Why does my Chromecast not appear in the Cast menu?

The most common reason is that your phone and Chromecast are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it is connected to the same network as your Chromecast. If they are on the same network, restart both devices — turn off your phone and Chromecast, wait 10 seconds, and turn them back on.

Does casting use a lot of data?

Casting streams video or audio from the internet to your Chromecast, so it uses data the same way watching on your phone would. The amount depends on the quality and length of what you watch. If you are on a limited data plan, casting will count toward your monthly total just like any other streaming would.

Can I cast from an iPhone to Chromecast?

Yes. iPhones can cast to Chromecast using any app that has a Cast button — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and others work the same way on iPhone as they do on Android. The Cast icon looks the same and works the same way. Make sure your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast.

What happens if I unplug my Chromecast while casting?

The cast stops when ready and the video or audio disappears from your TV. Your phone returns to normal. When you plug the Chromecast back in and it reconnects to Wi-Fi, you can start casting again from where you left off in most apps.