The fastest way to send YouTube to your TV

To cast a YouTube video to your TV, open YouTube on your phone or computer, tap or click the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), and select your TV from the list. Your TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your device. The video will then play on your TV while you control it from your phone or computer.

This works on any TV with a built-in Chromecast, a Fire TV device, an Apple TV, or a Roku connected to it. You do not need to buy anything extra if your TV already has one of these built in — most newer TVs do. If your TV is older, you can plug in a separate casting device for $30 to $50.

Key Takeaways

  • The cast icon appears in the YouTube app on your phone and in the YouTube website on your computer, and tapping or clicking it shows all available TVs on your network.
  • Your phone, computer, and TV must all be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • Once you cast, your TV plays the video while your phone or computer acts as a remote control — you can pause, skip, or adjust volume from your device.
  • If your TV does not have a built-in casting feature, you can add one by plugging in a Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or Roku device.

Casting from your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet and find the video you want to watch. At the top right of the screen, you will see the cast icon — it looks like a small rectangle with three curved lines coming from the bottom left corner. Tap it.

A list of available devices will appear. Select your TV from the list. If you do not see your TV, make sure both your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Once you select your TV, the video will start playing on your television, and your phone becomes the remote. You can pause, play, skip forward or backward, and adjust the volume all from your phone screen.

Casting from your computer or laptop

Go to YouTube.com in your web browser and find the video you want to cast. In the top right corner of the video player, you will see the cast icon — the same rectangle with curved lines. Click it.

A menu will appear showing all available devices on your network. Click your TV's name. The video will begin playing on your TV, and you can control playback from your computer keyboard or trackpad. You can also minimize the browser window or even close the tab — the video will keep playing on your TV.

What to do if your TV does not appear in the cast list

The most common reason your TV does not show up is that it is not on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone or computer. Check your TV's network settings and make sure it is connected to the same network you are using on your device. Restart both your TV and your phone or computer, then try again.

If your TV is on the correct network but still does not appear, restart your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart, then try casting again. If the problem continues, check that your TV's casting feature is turned on — some TVs have this as a setting you can disable.

Adding a casting device to an older TV

If your TV does not have a built-in casting feature, you can buy a separate device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port. The most common options are Google Chromecast ($30 to $40), Amazon Fire TV Stick ($40 to $50), Apple TV ($99 to $200), and Roku devices ($30 to $100). All of these let you cast YouTube from your phone or computer the same way.

Plug the device into an available HDMI port on your TV, connect it to power, and follow the setup instructions that come with it. You will need to connect it to your Wi-Fi network during setup. Once that is done, the casting process works exactly the same as it does on a TV with a built-in feature.

Controlling playback while casting

Once a video is casting to your TV, your phone or computer is your remote. The YouTube app or website shows a full remote control interface with buttons for play, pause, skip forward and backward, and volume. You can also swipe on your phone screen to adjust brightness or skip ahead in the video.

If you want to stop casting, tap or click the cast icon again and select "Stop casting." The video will stop playing on your TV, and you can go back to watching on your phone or computer. Your TV will return to whatever it was showing before you started casting.

Troubleshooting common casting problems

If the video starts buffering or freezing on your TV, the problem is usually your Wi-Fi connection. Move your phone or casting device closer to your Wi-Fi router, or restart your router. If you have many devices connected to your network, try disconnecting some of them to free up bandwidth.

If the cast icon does not appear in the YouTube app, make sure you have the latest version installed. Go to your phone's app store, search for YouTube, and install any available updates. On a computer, casting works best in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers — if you are using a different browser, try switching to one of these.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast YouTube while using other apps on my phone?

Yes. Once you cast a video to your TV, your phone is just a remote control. You can open other apps, check email, or even lock your phone — the video will keep playing on your TV. Just open YouTube again when you want to adjust what is playing.

What happens if I lose Wi-Fi while casting?

The video will pause on your TV. Once your Wi-Fi connection comes back, it will resume playing. If the connection is down for more than a few minutes, you may need to cast again.

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 the same video on multiple TVs, you would need to cast from different devices to each TV.

Do I need a YouTube Premium subscription to cast videos?

No. Casting works with any YouTube account, including free accounts. You can cast any video you are able to watch on your phone or computer.

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

No. You cast from a phone, tablet, or computer to a TV. Your TV cannot be the device doing the casting.