Casting sends video, photos, or audio from your phone or computer to your Firestick wirelessly

Casting is the process of sending content from a device you control—a smartphone, tablet, or computer—directly to your Firestick and out through your TV. Instead of plugging in cables or mirroring your entire screen, you select a video or song in an app and tell it to play on the Firestick. The content streams over your home Wi-Fi network, and you keep using your phone or computer for other things while it plays.

The method depends on what device you're casting from and what app you're using. Some apps have a built-in cast button. Others require your phone to mirror its screen. A few work only with specific Firestick models. This guide covers the most common casting routes and what to do when casting doesn't work.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Firestick and the device you're casting from must be on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • Many apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify have a cast button built in—look for a rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol in the corner.
  • If an app doesn't have a cast button, you can mirror your entire phone or computer screen to the Firestick instead.
  • Casting from an iPhone requires AirPlay, which works only on newer Firestick models (2nd generation and later).
  • If casting fails, restart both your Firestick and the device you're casting from, then check that both are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Casting from Android phones and tablets

Most Android apps that play video or music have a cast button built in. Open the app, start playing the content you want, and look for a rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol in one of the corners—usually in the top right or bottom right of the screen. Tap it, and a list of devices on your network appears. Select your Firestick by name, and playback moves to your TV.

Apps that support casting this way include YouTube, YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, Disney+, Hulu, and many others. The button location varies slightly between apps, but it always looks the same: a rectangle with curved lines representing Wi-Fi in the bottom corner.

If an app doesn't have a cast button, you can mirror your entire Android screen to the Firestick. Swipe down from the top of your phone twice to open Quick Settings, then look for "Cast" or "Screen Mirroring." Tap it, select your Firestick, and your phone's screen appears on the TV. This method works on most Android phones running version 5.0 or later, though the exact name and location of the setting varies by phone model and manufacturer.

Casting from iPhones and iPads

iPhones and iPads use AirPlay to cast to a Firestick, but only Firestick models from the 2nd generation onward support it. If you have a 1st-generation Firestick, you cannot use AirPlay—you would need to use screen mirroring through an app instead.

To cast from an iPhone or iPad, open an app that supports AirPlay—YouTube, Disney+, Hulu, and others have it built in. Look for an AirPlay icon, which looks like a triangle with a Wi-Fi symbol inside it. Tap it, select your Firestick from the list, and playback moves to your TV. The icon location varies by app but is usually in the top right or bottom right corner.

If the app you want to use doesn't have AirPlay built in, you can mirror your entire iPhone or iPad screen. Swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, tap "Screen Mirroring," select your Firestick, and your device's screen appears on the TV. Screen mirroring works on iPhones and iPads running iOS 11 or later.

Casting from Windows and Mac computers

Casting from a computer works differently than from a phone. Most web browsers don't have a built-in cast feature, so you'll need to use screen mirroring instead. On a Windows PC, open the Settings app, go to System, then Display, and look for "Connect to a wireless display." Click it, select your Firestick, and your computer screen appears on the TV.

On a Mac, you can mirror to a Firestick using AirPlay if your Mac is running macOS 12.3 or later and your Firestick is 2nd generation or newer. Click the Control Center icon in the top right corner, select "Screen Mirroring," and choose your Firestick from the list.

Some streaming services like Netflix and YouTube have web versions that work in your browser. If the service has a cast button in the web player, you can use it the same way you would on a phone—look for the rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol and select your Firestick. Not all services offer this feature in their web versions, so check before you start playing.

Making sure your devices can find each other

Casting only works when your Firestick and the device you're casting from are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If they're on different networks—for example, if your phone is on your guest network and your Firestick is on your main network—casting won't work. Check your Wi-Fi settings on both devices and make sure they show the same network name.

Your Firestick's Wi-Fi connection appears in the Settings menu. On your Firestick remote, press the Home button, go to Settings, select Network, and look at the connected network name. On your phone or computer, open Wi-Fi settings and confirm you're on the same network. If they don't match, connect your phone or computer to the same network as your Firestick.

Distance and obstacles can also affect casting. If your Firestick and phone are far apart or separated by thick walls, the Wi-Fi signal may be too weak. Try moving closer to your router or Firestick, or move your router to a more central location in your home.

Troubleshooting when casting doesn't work

If you tap the cast button and your Firestick doesn't appear in the list, restart both devices. Unplug your Firestick for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully start up. Then restart your phone or computer. After both devices have restarted, try casting again.

If your Firestick appears in the list but casting fails after you select it, check your Wi-Fi connection on both devices. Open your Firestick's Settings menu and run a network test. Go to Settings, select Network, and look for a "Test Connection" or "Connection Speed" option. If the test fails or shows very slow speeds, your Wi-Fi signal may be too weak. Move your router closer to your Firestick or reduce the number of devices using your Wi-Fi.

If you're trying to cast from an iPhone and AirPlay isn't working, make sure your Firestick is 2nd generation or newer. You can check this in your Firestick's Settings menu: press Home, go to Settings, select Device, and look for the model number. If you have a 1st-generation Firestick, AirPlay is not supported—use screen mirroring instead.

Some apps require you to sign in before you can cast. If you see a message saying you're not signed in, open the app on your phone or computer, sign in with your account, and try casting again. The app needs to know who you are before it will send content to your Firestick.

What to do if your app doesn't have a cast button

Not every app that plays video or music has a cast button built in. If the app you want to use doesn't have one, you can mirror your entire screen instead. Screen mirroring sends everything on your phone or computer screen to the TV, so you see exactly what you're looking at. This method works with any app, but it uses more battery on your phone and may be slower than casting through a built-in button.

To use screen mirroring on Android, swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings, tap "Cast" or "Screen Mirroring," and select your Firestick. On iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, tap "Screen Mirroring," and select your Firestick. On Windows, open Settings, go to System, select Display, and click "Connect to a wireless display." On Mac, click Control Center in the top right, select "Screen Mirroring," and choose your Firestick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special app to cast to my Firestick?

No. Casting is built into most streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify. You don't need to read anything extra. If an app doesn't have a cast button, you can use screen mirroring instead, which is built into your phone or computer's operating system.

Can I cast to my Firestick from outside my home?

No. Casting requires your device and Firestick to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If you're away from home, you can't cast to your Firestick. Some apps like Netflix let you read content to watch offline, which is an alternative if you want to watch something away from home.

Why does casting stop when I lock my phone?

When you lock your phone, some apps pause casting to save battery. Others continue playing even when your phone is locked. It depends on the app. If casting stops when you lock your phone, try turning off your phone's auto-lock feature in Settings, or check the app's settings to see if there's an option to keep playing when the screen is off.

Can I cast from multiple devices at the same time?

No. Only one device can cast to your Firestick at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you're already casting, their device will ask if they want to take over. If they confirm, your casting stops and theirs begins.

What if my Firestick isn't showing up when I try to cast?

Make sure both your Firestick and the device you're casting from are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart both devices by unplugging your Firestick for 30 seconds and restarting your phone or computer. If your Firestick still doesn't appear, check that casting is turned on in your Firestick's Settings menu under Display & Sounds.