The fastest way to cast YouTube to your TV

You can send YouTube from your phone, tablet, or computer to your TV using a feature called casting. Casting works when your device and TV are on the same WiFi network. A cast button appears in the YouTube app or browser — tap it, pick your TV from the list, and the video plays on the big screen while you keep control from your device.

You do not need a cable, a separate app, or a subscription. The cast button is built into YouTube on most devices. If you do not see it, your TV may need a casting receiver — a device like a Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV that plugs into an HDMI port and connects to WiFi.

Key Takeaways

  • Casting works only when your phone, tablet, or computer and your TV are connected to the same WiFi network.
  • The cast button in YouTube looks like a rectangle with WiFi waves in the corner and appears in the app or browser on your device.
  • If your TV does not have a built-in cast receiver, you can add one with a Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV plugged into an HDMI port.
  • Once you cast, the video plays on your TV and you control playback from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Cast from the YouTube app on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet and find the video you want to watch. Look for the cast icon — it looks like a rectangle with WiFi waves in the corner — usually in the top right corner of the screen. Tap it.

A list of available devices appears. Select your TV from the list. YouTube will start playing on your TV, and the cast icon on your device will turn white or blue to show the connection is active. Use your phone or tablet to pause, play, skip forward or backward, and adjust volume. The video stays on your TV even if you lock your device or open another app.

To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select Stop casting. The video will stop playing on your TV.

Cast from a web browser on your computer

Go to YouTube.com in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on your computer. Find the video you want to watch and tap the cast icon in the video player — it is in the bottom right corner, next to the fullscreen button. A list of devices on your WiFi network appears.

Click your TV. The video will play on your TV and you can control it from your computer. Your computer does not need to stay awake — you can close the browser tab or put the computer to sleep and the video will keep playing on your TV. To stop, click the cast icon again and select Stop casting.

What to do if you do not see a cast button

If the cast icon does not appear in YouTube, your TV may not have a built-in casting receiver. Most newer TVs (made after 2015) have one, but older models do not. Check your TV's manual or settings to see if casting is turned on.

If your TV does not support casting, you can add it with a separate device. A Chromecast (made by Google) plugs into an HDMI port and costs between $30 and $100 depending on the model. Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV are other options that also plug into HDMI and work with YouTube casting. Once plugged in and connected to WiFi, they appear in your cast list just like a built-in receiver.

Make sure your WiFi network is set up correctly

Casting only works when your phone, tablet, computer, and TV are all on the same WiFi network. If your home WiFi has a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band, both your device and TV should connect to the same one. Some devices prefer 5 GHz (faster but shorter range), while others work better on 2.4 GHz (slower but longer range). If casting does not work, try switching your phone or tablet to the other band in your WiFi settings.

Restart your router if casting stops working suddenly. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to reconnect. Then try casting again. If you are still having trouble, restart your TV and your device as well.

Control playback and adjust settings while casting

While a video is casting to your TV, your device becomes a remote control. You can pause and play, skip to any point in the video by dragging the progress bar, and adjust volume. On your phone or tablet, swipe down from the top of the screen to see the cast notification — tap it to see playback controls without opening the YouTube app.

You can also queue up videos to play next. While casting, add videos to your queue from the YouTube app and they will play on your TV in order. If you want to watch something different on your device while the video plays on your TV, just open another app — the cast will keep going.

Troubleshoot casting problems

If casting starts but the video does not play, or if it keeps stopping, check that both devices are still on the same WiFi. Move your phone or tablet closer to the router if the signal is weak. A weak connection can cause the video to buffer or disconnect.

If the cast button does not appear at all, make sure you are using the official YouTube app or YouTube.com in a supported browser (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox). Some older versions of the YouTube app do not have casting. Update your app from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone and iPad). If you are using a browser, make sure it is up to date as well.

If your TV appears in the cast list but will not connect, restart both your TV and your device. If that does not work, forget the WiFi network on your device, restart your router, and reconnect to WiFi. Then try casting again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast YouTube if my TV is not a smart TV?

Yes. Plug a Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV into an HDMI port on your TV. Once it is connected to WiFi, it will appear in your cast list. Your TV does not need to be smart — the casting device handles the connection and playback.

Do I need to pay for YouTube to cast?

No. Casting is built into YouTube and works with a free account. YouTube Premium is not required. You can cast videos, playlists, and live streams without paying.

What happens if I turn off my phone while casting?

The video will keep playing on your TV. You can turn your phone off, lock it, or use other apps. To stop the video, you will need to turn your phone back on and tap the cast icon to disconnect, or use your TV remote to change the input or turn off the TV.

Can I cast from YouTube on my smart TV to another TV?

No. You can only cast from a phone, tablet, or computer to a TV. You cannot cast from a TV to another TV. If you want to watch on a different TV, use your phone or tablet to cast to that TV instead.

Does casting use a lot of data?

Casting streams video over WiFi, so it uses the same amount of data as watching YouTube on your device. If you have a data cap on your home internet, casting will count toward it. Casting does not use your phone's cellular data — only WiFi.