Chromecast works with iPhone, but not the way it works with Android

Yes, Chromecast works on iPhone, but iPhone cannot cast its screen to a Chromecast device the way an Android phone can. Instead, iPhone lets you cast content from specific apps — like YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and Google Photos — directly to your Chromecast. The app sends the video or music to your TV; your phone becomes a remote control, not a mirror of your screen.

This matters because it changes what you can do. You cannot cast your entire iPhone screen, your web browser, or a presentation from your phone's display. You can only cast from apps that have built-in Chromecast support. If an app does not have that button, you cannot use Chromecast with it on iPhone.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone can cast from individual apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify, but cannot mirror your entire screen to Chromecast the way Android phones do.
  • You need both your iPhone and your Chromecast on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • The Chromecast button appears inside supported apps — look for a rectangle with curved lines in the corner, usually near the volume or settings icon.
  • If you need to cast your browser or screen, you will need an Android device or a Mac with AirPlay support instead.

Which apps work with Chromecast on iPhone

The major streaming services all support Chromecast on iPhone. YouTube, YouTube Music, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Photos, and Pandora all have the cast button built in. So do many others — Twitch, Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV, and dozens more. If you use a streaming app regularly, it almost certainly works.

The cast button usually looks the same across all apps: a small rectangle with curved lines coming from the bottom left corner. On some apps it sits near the volume controls; on others it is in a menu. Once you tap it, your iPhone shows a list of Chromecast devices on your network and lets you pick which one to send the video or music to.

Apps that do not have Chromecast support include most web browsers, video calls (FaceTime, Zoom), and games. If you need to cast something from Safari or Chrome, or from an app that does not have a cast button, Chromecast on iPhone will not work for that task.

Setting up Chromecast to work with your iPhone

Your Chromecast device must be plugged into your TV and powered on. Your iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast — not a guest network, and not a different band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz matters on some networks). If your Chromecast is not showing up when you tap the cast button, the network connection is usually the problem.

To check your network: go to Settings on your iPhone, tap Wi-Fi, and confirm you are connected to the same network name your Chromecast is using. Your Chromecast's network name appears on the TV screen when you first set it up, or you can find it in the Google Home app by tapping your Chromecast device and looking at the Wi-Fi section.

If your iPhone and Chromecast are on different networks, move your iPhone to the same network as your Chromecast. If you are on a guest network, switch to the main network. Once both devices are on the same Wi-Fi, the cast button in your apps should find your Chromecast within a few seconds.

Why screen mirroring does not work on iPhone

Android phones can mirror their entire screen to Chromecast — meaning everything on your phone's display appears on your TV. iPhones cannot do this with Chromecast. Apple's screen mirroring technology is called AirPlay, and it only works with Apple TV devices, not Chromecast.

This is a technical limitation, not a setting you can change. Chromecast and AirPlay use different protocols. If you need to mirror your iPhone screen to a TV, you need an Apple TV device, not a Chromecast. If you already own a Chromecast and need screen mirroring, you would need to buy an Apple TV separately.

Casting from Safari and web browsers

Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on iPhone do not have a built-in cast button. You cannot cast a webpage or a video playing in your browser to Chromecast from an iPhone. This is different from Android, where Chrome has a cast feature.

If the video you want to watch is available in a dedicated app — like YouTube or Netflix — use that app instead of the browser. The app will have the cast button. If the video only exists in a browser and you need to watch it on your TV, you would need to use an Android device or a computer instead.

Troubleshooting when Chromecast does not appear

The most common reason Chromecast does not show up is that your iPhone is not on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart your Wi-Fi by going to Settings, tapping Wi-Fi, turning it off, waiting five seconds, and turning it back on. Then open your app and tap the cast button again.

If Chromecast still does not appear, restart your Chromecast device by unplugging it from power, waiting ten seconds, and plugging it back in. While it restarts, restart your iPhone by turning it off and back on. Once both devices are back on, try casting again.

If the cast button does not appear in an app at all, that app may not support Chromecast on iPhone. Check the app's help section or try a different app to confirm your Chromecast is working. Some older app versions do not have Chromecast support, so updating the app from the App Store may help.

Alternatives if Chromecast does not meet your needs

If you need to mirror your entire iPhone screen, you need an Apple TV device instead. Apple TV works with AirPlay and can display everything on your phone's screen. It costs more than Chromecast but is the only option for full screen mirroring on iPhone.

If you use Android devices in your household, Chromecast is still useful for those phones and tablets — they can cast both apps and their entire screen. You could use Chromecast for Android devices and AirPlay for iPhones, or stick with Chromecast for app-based casting on both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast Apple TV+ to Chromecast from my iPhone?

No. The Apple TV app on iPhone does not have Chromecast support. You can only cast Apple TV+ content if you have an Apple TV device. If you want to watch Apple TV+ on a non-Apple TV, you would need to use an Android device or a computer.

Will casting drain my iPhone battery faster?

Casting uses Wi-Fi and keeps your phone's screen on, so battery will drain faster than normal. Once you start casting, you can lock your iPhone screen and the video will continue playing on your TV. Locking the screen saves battery while keeping the cast active.

Can I control the volume from my iPhone while casting?

Yes. When you are casting, your iPhone's volume buttons control the TV's volume, not your phone's speaker volume. You can also adjust volume in the app itself, usually in the same menu where the cast button is located.

What if my Wi-Fi network has a space or special character in the name?

Chromecast works fine with Wi-Fi network names that have spaces or special characters. Make sure your iPhone is connected to the exact same network name as your Chromecast. If you have trouble, restart both devices and try again.

Can I cast to multiple Chromecast devices at once from iPhone?

No. You can only cast to one Chromecast device at a time from iPhone. If you want to play the same content on multiple TVs, you would need to cast to each one separately, one after the other.