The fastest way to get YouTube on your TV screen

You can send YouTube from your phone, tablet, or computer to your TV using a feature called casting. The Cast button appears in the YouTube app or website when your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Tap or click the Cast icon, select your TV from the list, and the video plays on your screen instead of your device—you keep control from your phone.

You do not need a cable or any special equipment beyond what you probably already have: a TV, a device with YouTube (phone, tablet, or computer), and Wi-Fi. The TV itself does not need to be a smart TV, but it does need a device that supports casting, like a Chromecast, Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, or a built-in casting feature if your TV is newer.

Key Takeaways

  • The Cast button in the YouTube app or website lets you send video to your TV when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Your TV needs a casting device like Chromecast, Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV, or a built-in casting feature if it is a newer smart TV.
  • Once you cast, your phone becomes a remote—you can pause, skip, and adjust volume from your device while the video plays on the TV.
  • If the Cast button does not appear, restart your phone and TV, check that both are on the same Wi-Fi network, and make sure your casting device is powered on.

Finding and using the Cast button

Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet, or go to YouTube.com in a web browser on your computer. Start playing any video. Look for the Cast icon—it looks like a rectangle with a curved line in the bottom left corner. On phones and tablets, it is usually in the top right corner of the screen. On a computer, it is near the video player controls.

Tap or click the Cast icon. A list of available devices appears—these are your TV and any other casting devices on your Wi-Fi network. Select your TV from the list. The video stops on your device and starts playing on your TV. Your phone or computer now acts as a remote: you can pause, play, skip forward or backward, adjust volume, and search for new videos, all from your device while the TV displays the content.

To stop casting, tap the Cast icon again and select "Stop casting" or straightforward unplug your casting device. The video returns to playing on your phone or computer if you want to continue watching there.

What casting devices work with YouTube

A casting device is a small box or stick that plugs into your TV's HDMI port and connects to Wi-Fi. Google Chromecast is the most common—it is small, inexpensive, and made by the same company that owns YouTube. Roku devices, Amazon Fire Stick, and Apple TV all support YouTube casting as well. If your TV is a newer smart TV (made in the last five to seven years), it may have casting built in without needing a separate device.

To check if your TV has built-in casting, look in the settings menu or the TV's manual for "Chromecast built-in," "AirPlay," or "screen mirroring." If you do not see any of these, you will need to buy a casting device. Chromecast is usually the cheapest option and works with YouTube on any phone, tablet, or computer.

Troubleshooting when the Cast button does not appear

If you do not see the Cast icon in YouTube, the most common reason is that your phone and TV are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check that both devices are connected to the same network—look at your phone's Wi-Fi settings and your TV's network settings and make sure the network name matches.

Restart both your phone and your TV. Turn off your phone completely, wait ten seconds, and turn it back on. Unplug your TV or casting device for ten seconds, then plug it back in. Open YouTube again and look for the Cast button. If your casting device is powered off or not connected to Wi-Fi, the Cast button will not appear, so make sure the device has power and shows a light or indicator that it is connected.

If the Cast button still does not show up, check that you are using the official YouTube app or YouTube.com in an up-to-date web browser. Some older versions of the YouTube app do not have the Cast feature. Update the app from your phone's app store and try again.

Using your phone as a remote while casting

Once video is casting to your TV, your phone becomes a full remote control. The YouTube app shows playback controls at the bottom of the screen: play and pause buttons, a timeline you can drag to skip forward or backward, and a volume slider. You can also search for new videos, add videos to a playlist, or switch to a different video—all without touching the TV or a physical remote.

If you lock your phone or switch to another app, casting continues on the TV. You can unlock your phone and open YouTube again to control playback whenever you want. The TV screen shows the video and basic information like the title and channel, but does not show the YouTube app interface—only what is playing.

Casting from a computer to your TV

You can also cast from a computer running Chrome, Edge, or another Chromium-based browser. Go to YouTube.com, start a video, and look for the Cast icon near the video player. Click it, select your TV, and the video plays on your screen. Your computer keyboard and mouse control playback—you can pause, skip, and adjust volume just as you would on a phone.

Casting from a computer works the same way as casting from a phone: both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and your TV must have a casting device. If you want to close your computer or put it to sleep, casting will stop, so keep your computer awake while you are watching.

When casting is not the right choice

Casting works well for watching YouTube on a TV, but it is not the same as connecting a cable. If you want to display your entire computer screen on the TV—not just YouTube—you might want to use screen mirroring or HDMI instead. Screen mirroring sends everything on your device to the TV, while casting sends only the YouTube video.

If your Wi-Fi is slow or unstable, casting may buffer or pause frequently. Moving closer to your router, reducing the number of devices on your network, or restarting your router can help. If casting still does not work smoothly, a wired HDMI connection from your device to your TV will be more reliable, though it requires a cable and keeps your device tethered to the TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a smart TV to cast YouTube?

No. Any TV with an HDMI port can cast YouTube if you add a casting device like Chromecast, Roku, or Fire Stick. Older TVs work just as well as new ones—the casting device does the work, not the TV itself.

Can I cast YouTube if I am not at home?

No, casting requires both your phone and TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If you are away from home, you cannot cast to your home TV. You can watch YouTube on your phone or use a different method like logging into YouTube on a TV app if your TV has one.

What happens to my phone while I am casting?

Your phone acts as a remote. You can lock it, switch to other apps, or even leave the room—casting continues on the TV. Unlock your phone and open YouTube whenever you want to change the video or adjust playback.

Why does casting keep stopping or buffering?

Weak Wi-Fi is the most common cause. Move your phone or casting device closer to your router, or restart your router by unplugging it for ten seconds. If your network is crowded with many devices, disconnect devices you are not using. If buffering continues, your internet speed may be too slow for smooth video playback.

Can I cast to multiple TVs at the same time?

No, you can only cast to one device at a time from a single phone or computer. If you want to play YouTube on multiple TVs, you would need to cast from different phones or computers to each TV.