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 Cast button that appears in the YouTube app or website. The Cast button looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner. Tap or click it, choose your TV from the list, and the video plays on your TV while you control it from your device. Your phone, tablet, or computer and your TV must be on the same WiFi network for this to work.

The whole process takes about 10 seconds once your devices are set up. You do not need to buy anything extra if your TV was made in the last five years — most modern TVs have casting built in. If your TV is older, a $25 to $40 streaming device plugged into an HDMI port will add the feature.

Key Takeaways

  • The Cast button appears in the YouTube app on phones and tablets, and on YouTube.com in your web browser on a computer.
  • Your phone, tablet, or computer and your TV must be connected to the same WiFi network before you can cast.
  • Most TVs made after 2018 have casting built in; older TVs need a separate streaming device like a Chromecast, Roku, or Fire Stick plugged into an HDMI port.
  • Once you cast a video, you control playback from your phone or computer — the TV remote is not needed.
  • Casting stops when you close the YouTube app, turn off your device, or manually disconnect from the Cast menu.

Check that your TV and devices are on the same WiFi

Before you look for the Cast button, make sure your phone, tablet, or computer is connected to the same WiFi network as your TV. Open your device's WiFi settings and confirm the network name. Then check your TV's WiFi settings — on most TVs, this is under Settings > Network or Settings > WiFi. The network name should match.

If your TV does not show a WiFi menu, it may not have WiFi built in. Older TVs without WiFi need a streaming device. If your TV has WiFi but you cannot find the network name, restart your TV and try again — sometimes the WiFi menu does not appear until the TV has fully loaded.

Find and tap the Cast button on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet and start playing any video. Look at the top right corner of the screen — you will see a rectangle icon with curved lines coming out of the top right corner. That is the Cast button. Tap it.

A menu will pop up showing all the TVs and casting devices on your WiFi network. Tap the name of your TV. The video will stop on your phone and start playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone screen will show a small card at the bottom saying the video is casting, and you can use your phone to pause, skip forward, or change the volume.

If you do not see the Cast button, your phone may not be on the same WiFi as your TV. Go back and check your WiFi settings. If the Cast button is grayed out or missing, restart the YouTube app and try again.

Cast from a computer or laptop

On a computer, go to YouTube.com in your web browser and start playing a video. Look for the Cast icon in the bottom right corner of the video player — it looks the same as on phones, a rectangle with curved lines. Click it.

A list of available TVs and casting devices will appear. Click your TV's name. The video will begin playing on your TV, and you can control it from your computer keyboard or trackpad. You can also minimize the browser window or switch to another tab — the video will keep playing on your TV.

If the Cast icon does not appear, make sure your computer is on the same WiFi network as your TV. Some older browsers may not support casting; if you are using Internet Explorer or an outdated version of Chrome, try updating your browser first.

What to do if your TV does not have casting built in

If your TV is more than five or six years old, it may not have casting built in. You can add casting by plugging a streaming device into an HDMI port on the back of your TV. The most common options are Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, and Roku devices. These devices cost between $25 and $50 and plug directly into an HDMI port.

Once the device is plugged in and connected to your WiFi, the Cast button will work the same way — your phone, tablet, or computer will see the streaming device in the Cast menu and send video to it. The device itself handles the connection to your TV, so you do not need to change any TV settings.

If you are not sure whether your TV has casting, check the TV's manual or search online for your TV model number plus the word "casting." Most Samsung, LG, Sony, and TCL TVs made after 2018 have it built in. Older models usually do not.

Stop casting and disconnect

To stop casting, tap the Cast button again on your phone or tablet. A menu will appear showing that your TV is currently receiving video. Tap "Disconnect" or the name of your TV. The video will stop on your TV and return to your phone or tablet.

You can also stop casting by closing the YouTube app, turning off your phone, or unplugging the streaming device. If you just want to pause the video, use the pause button in the YouTube player — that will pause on your TV without disconnecting.

Common problems and how to fix them

The Cast button does not appear: Make sure your phone and TV are on the same WiFi network. Restart the YouTube app. If you are using a web browser on a computer, try a different browser like Chrome or Firefox.

The Cast button appears but the TV is not listed: Restart your TV and your phone. Wait 30 seconds and try again. If your TV is on a different WiFi network (like a guest network), move it to the same network as your phone.

The video starts but stops after a few seconds: This usually means your WiFi connection is weak. Move your phone closer to the WiFi router, or restart your router by unplugging it for 10 seconds. If the problem continues, restart your TV as well.

The video is choppy or keeps buffering: Your WiFi may not be fast enough. If other people are using the internet heavily, ask them to pause their activity. You can also try moving closer to the router or restarting it.

The sound is out of sync with the video: Restart the YouTube app on your phone and try casting again. If the problem continues, restart your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a subscription to cast YouTube to my TV?

No. Casting works with the free version of YouTube. If you have YouTube Premium, you can cast ad-free videos, but the casting feature itself does not require a paid subscription.

Can I use my TV remote to control the video while casting?

No. When you cast, your phone, tablet, or computer becomes the remote. The TV remote will not control YouTube playback. You can use your phone to pause, skip, adjust volume, and change videos.

What happens if I close the YouTube app while casting?

The video will stop playing on your TV when ready. The casting connection will end. You can open the app again and cast a new video whenever you want.

Can I cast from multiple devices to the same TV at the same time?

No. Only one device can cast to a TV at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you are already casting, their device will ask if they want to stop your video and start theirs.

Does casting use a lot of data?

Casting uses the same amount of data as watching YouTube on your phone — it streams over your WiFi network. If you have a data cap on your home internet, casting will count toward it the same way as any other streaming would.