The fastest way to get YouTube on your TV screen

Casting sends video from your phone, tablet, or computer to your TV wirelessly. You don't need cables or a special box—if your TV is made in the last five years and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your device, you almost certainly have the hardware already built in. The Cast button appears in the YouTube app or website, you tap it, pick your TV, and the video plays on the big screen while your phone becomes a remote.

The process takes about 10 seconds once you know where the button is. Your phone stays in your hand and doesn't have to stay pointed at the TV. You can pause, rewind, or skip forward from your device, and the video keeps playing on the screen.

Key Takeaways

  • The Cast button is built into the YouTube app and website on phones, tablets, and computers, and works with most TVs made after 2018 that have Google Cast or AirPlay built in.
  • Your TV and your casting device must be on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • Casting from YouTube is free and does not require a YouTube Premium subscription.
  • If your TV does not have built-in casting, you can add it with a Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Roku device plugged into an HDMI port.

Check what casting technology your TV has

Most modern TVs have one of three casting systems built in: Google Cast (used by most Android TVs and many Samsung, LG, and Sony models), AirPlay (built into all Apple TVs and many newer Samsung and LG sets), or Roku (if your TV is a Roku TV). Some TVs have more than one. The easiest way to find out is to look for the Cast icon in the YouTube app on your phone—if it appears, your TV supports casting.

If you don't see a Cast button, check your TV's manual or search the model number plus "casting" online. The manual will tell you whether the TV has Google Cast, AirPlay, Roku, or none of these. If your TV has none, you will need to add a casting device (see the section below).

Your TV must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. Check your TV settings to confirm it is on the same network as your phone or computer. If your TV is on a guest network and your phone is on the main network, casting will not work.

Cast from the YouTube app on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and start playing any video. Look for the Cast icon—it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner, usually in the top right of the screen. Tap it. A list of nearby devices will appear. Select your TV from the list.

The video will start playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone screen will show a smaller version of the video and playback controls. You can lock your phone, switch to another app, or put it in your pocket—the video keeps playing on the TV. To stop casting, tap the Cast icon again and select "Stop casting."

If you don't see your TV in the list, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart your TV and try again. If the Cast icon does not appear at all, your TV may not support casting, or you may need to update the YouTube app.

Cast from YouTube on a computer or laptop

Go to YouTube.com in your web browser. Start playing a video. Look for the Cast icon in the video player controls—it is in the bottom right corner, next to the fullscreen button. Click it. A window will pop up showing available devices. Select your TV.

The video will play on your TV. Your computer stays connected but you can minimize the browser or switch to another window. The video continues on the TV. Click the Cast icon again and select "Stop casting" to disconnect.

If the Cast icon does not appear, your computer may not be on the same network as your TV, or your browser may need to be updated. Google Cast works best in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. If you are using Safari on a Mac, you will need an Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV to cast.

Add casting to a TV that doesn't have it built in

If your TV has no built-in casting, you can plug in a separate device. The most common options are Google Chromecast (plugs into HDMI, costs around $30), Amazon Fire Stick (plugs into HDMI, costs around $40), Apple TV (plugs into HDMI, costs $100 or more), or a Roku streaming device (plugs into HDMI, costs $30 to $100). All of these let you cast YouTube from your phone or computer.

Plug the device into an available HDMI port on your TV. Connect it to power. Follow the setup instructions on your TV screen to connect the device to your Wi-Fi. Once it is set up, the Cast button in YouTube will show the device as an option, just like a TV with built-in casting.

Google Chromecast is the simplest and cheapest option if you only want to cast YouTube. Fire Stick and Roku offer more apps and features beyond YouTube. Apple TV is the best choice if you have other Apple devices and want to use AirPlay.

Troubleshoot when casting is not working

The most common reason casting fails is that your phone and TV are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and your TV's network settings to confirm they are both connected to the same network name. If your home has a 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz network with the same name, try connecting both devices to the same band.

If both devices are on the same network and casting still does not work, restart your TV and your phone. Unplug the TV for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot. Then open YouTube and try casting again. If you are using a separate casting device like a Chromecast, restart that device the same way.

Make sure your YouTube app is up to date. Open your phone's app store, search for YouTube, and install any available updates. If you are casting from a computer, make sure your browser is current. Close and reopen the YouTube website and try again.

If the Cast icon still does not appear, your TV or casting device may not support the YouTube version you are using. Check the TV or device manual to see if it needs a software update. Some older TVs and devices stop receiving updates and may no longer work with the latest YouTube app.

What happens to your phone while you are casting

Once you start casting, your phone is no longer displaying the video—it is just sending a signal to your TV. You can lock your phone, put it away, or use other apps. The video keeps playing on the TV. Your phone acts as a remote control: you can pause, play, skip forward or backward, adjust volume, and change videos all from your phone screen.

If you close the YouTube app or turn off your phone, the video will stop on your TV. You do not need to keep YouTube open on your phone, but you do need to keep your phone powered on and on the same Wi-Fi network. If your phone disconnects from Wi-Fi, casting will stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need YouTube Premium to cast?

No. Casting is free and works with a regular YouTube account. YouTube Premium adds features like ad-free viewing and offline downloads, but those are separate from casting.

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 two TVs, you would need two separate devices casting from two separate phones or computers.

What if my TV is not showing up in the Cast list?

Make sure your TV is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. Restart both your TV and your phone. Check that both are on the same network—if your TV is on a guest network, move your phone to the same guest network. If you still don't see it, your TV may not support casting, or you may need to update the YouTube app.

Can I cast YouTube while someone else is watching cable on the TV?

No. Casting takes over the entire TV screen. You would need to switch the TV's input to the casting device first, which stops whatever was playing before. Once you stop casting, you can switch back to cable or another input.

Does casting use a lot of data or battery?

Casting uses Wi-Fi, not cellular data, so it does not count against a mobile data plan. Battery drain on your phone is minimal because the TV is doing the work of playing the video—your phone is just sending commands. Your phone battery will drain faster than if it were off, but much slower than if it were playing the video itself.