The basic steps to cast from your phone

To cast from your phone to a Chromecast device, open any app that supports casting — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, or your phone's screen itself — then tap the Cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner). Select your Chromecast device from the list, and the content will stream to your TV. Your phone acts as a remote; you can pause, adjust volume, or stop casting from the screen.

The Cast icon appears in the top right or bottom of the app you're using. If you don't see it, the app doesn't support casting, or your phone and Chromecast aren't on the same Wi-Fi network. Make sure both devices are connected to the same network before you start.

Casting uses your Wi-Fi connection, not Bluetooth. Once you start casting, your phone can lock or run other apps — the video or audio continues on your TV without interruption. You control playback from your phone's screen, and you can stop casting by tapping the Cast icon again and selecting "Disconnect."

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone and Chromecast must be on the same Wi-Fi network to cast.
  • The Cast icon appears in most Google apps and many third-party apps like Netflix and Spotify.
  • Your phone acts as a remote after casting starts; you can lock it or use other apps while content plays on your TV.
  • Casting works with video, music, photos, and your entire phone screen depending on the app.
  • If the Cast icon doesn't appear, restart your phone, check your Wi-Fi connection, or update the app.

Which apps work with Chromecast

Google's own apps have built-in casting: YouTube, Google Photos, Google Play Music, Google Podcasts, and Chrome browser all include the Cast button. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Pandora, and Tidal all support casting. Many news apps, fitness apps, and streaming services have added it as well.

The easiest way to check if an app supports casting is to open it and look for the Cast icon. If it's not there, the app doesn't have casting built in. Some apps that don't have a Cast button can still be cast using screen mirroring — this sends your entire phone display to the TV instead of just the video or audio.

Casting is different from screen mirroring. When you cast, only the content streams to your TV, and your phone uses very little battery. When you mirror your screen, everything on your phone appears on the TV, which drains your battery faster and can cause lag.

How to cast your entire phone screen

If an app doesn't have a Cast button, you can mirror your entire screen instead. On Android, swipe down from the top twice to open Quick Settings, then tap Cast or Screen Cast (the name varies by phone). Select your Chromecast device. Your phone's screen will now appear on your TV.

On iPhone, open Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner. Tap Screen Mirroring, then select your Chromecast device. Your iPhone screen will mirror to the TV. You can adjust volume and brightness from your phone, and tap Screen Mirroring again to stop.

Screen mirroring works for any app, but it uses more battery and Wi-Fi bandwidth than regular casting. If you're watching a video or playing music, casting the app itself is faster and more reliable than mirroring your screen.

Troubleshooting when casting doesn't work

If the Cast icon doesn't appear or your phone can't find your Chromecast, first check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Your phone and Chromecast must be connected to the same router. If you're on a guest network or a different band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz), they won't see each other.

Restart your Chromecast by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Restart your phone as well. Close the app you're trying to cast from and open it again. If the Cast icon still doesn't appear, update the app from your phone's app store — older versions may not support casting.

If your Chromecast is on a different Wi-Fi network than your phone, you can move it to the correct network using the Google Home app. Open Google Home, tap your Chromecast device, then tap Settings and Wi-Fi to change the network. Once both devices are on the same network, the Cast icon should appear.

Controlling playback while casting

Once you start casting, your phone becomes a remote. Tap the Cast icon again to see playback controls — pause, play, skip forward or back, and adjust volume. The controls appear on your phone's screen, not on the TV. You can lock your phone and the video will keep playing; casting doesn't stop when your screen turns off.

If you want to stop casting, tap the Cast icon and select Disconnect. The video will stop on your TV, and you can start casting something else or use your phone normally. If you just close the app without disconnecting, casting will continue until the video ends or you manually stop it.

Some apps let you adjust the volume from your phone's volume buttons while casting. Others require you to use the volume controls in the Cast menu. Check the app's settings or help section if you're not sure which method works.

Casting from multiple phones to the same Chromecast

Only one phone can cast to a Chromecast at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you're already casting, they'll see a prompt asking if they want to take over. If they confirm, your casting stops and theirs begins. You can prevent this by turning on Guest Mode in the Google Home app, which lets guests cast without taking control of your device.

To enable Guest Mode, open Google Home, tap your Chromecast device, then tap Settings and toggle Guest Mode on. Guests can then cast to your Chromecast without needing your Wi-Fi password, but they can't change your device settings. When Guest Mode is on, anyone on your Wi-Fi can cast to your TV.

If you want to keep casting private, leave Guest Mode off. Only people connected to your Wi-Fi network can cast to your device, and they'll need to be on the same network as your Chromecast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be on Wi-Fi to cast from my phone?

Yes. Your phone and Chromecast must both be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If your phone is on cellular data, casting won't work. Make sure both devices are on the same router and the same network band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

Can I use my phone while casting?

Yes. Once casting starts, your phone acts as a remote. You can lock it, use other apps, or even leave the room. The video or audio continues on your TV. You can pause or skip by tapping the Cast icon, but the content doesn't stop if you use other apps.

Why does the Cast icon not show up in my app?

The app may not support casting, or your phone and Chromecast aren't on the same Wi-Fi network. Try restarting both devices and checking that they're connected to the same network. Update the app from your phone's app store — older versions may not have the Cast button.

What's the difference between casting and screen mirroring?

Casting sends only the video or audio to your TV and uses less battery. Screen mirroring sends your entire phone display to the TV and drains your battery faster. Use casting when the app supports it; use screen mirroring only for apps that don't have a Cast button.

Can I cast from my phone if I'm not home?

No. Your phone must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast. If you're away from home, you can't cast to a Chromecast on your home network. You can only cast when you're connected to the same Wi-Fi as your device.