The fastest way to get YouTube from your phone to your TV screen
You can send YouTube from your phone to your TV using Google Cast, which is built into most Android phones and works with iPhones too. The Cast button appears in the YouTube app itself — tap it, select your TV from the list, and the video plays on the big screen while you control it from your phone. Your phone and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and your TV needs a device that supports Cast, like a Chromecast, Android TV, or a smart TV with built-in Cast support.
If your TV doesn't have Cast built in, you can add it with a Chromecast device (a small stick or dongle that plugs into an HDMI port) or a similar adapter. Once that's set up, the process is the same: open YouTube on your phone, tap Cast, and pick your TV.
Key Takeaways
- The Cast button in the YouTube app lets you send video to your TV when ready, and your phone becomes the remote.
- Your phone and TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for Cast to work.
- If your TV doesn't have Cast built in, a Chromecast device plugs into the HDMI port and adds the feature.
- You can pause, rewind, adjust volume, and search for new videos all from your phone while the video plays on TV.
- If Cast doesn't appear in your YouTube app, check that your phone's software is up to date and restart both devices.
Check what your TV has and what you need
Before you start, figure out whether your TV already supports Cast. Most smart TVs made in the last five years have it built in — look in your TV's settings menu under "Connected Devices," "Casting," or "Google Cast." If you see an option there, your TV is ready. If not, you'll need a Chromecast or similar device.
A Chromecast is a small device that costs between $30 and $100 depending on the model. It plugs into an HDMI port on the back or side of your TV and needs power from a USB port or wall outlet. Once plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi, it works the same way as built-in Cast. Google also makes the Chromecast with Google TV, which includes a remote and a full TV interface, but for YouTube alone, a basic Chromecast is enough.
Your phone must be an Android device running Android 5.0 or newer, or an iPhone running iOS 12 or newer. Check your phone's settings to see which version you have. The YouTube app itself must be up to date — open your phone's app store and search for YouTube to see if an update is waiting.
Set up your Chromecast or TV's Cast feature
If your TV has Cast built in, go to your TV's settings menu and look for "Google Cast," "Chromecast," or "Cast." Turn it on if it's not already active. Then make sure your TV is connected to the same Wi-Fi network your phone uses — check your TV's Wi-Fi settings to confirm.
If you're using a Chromecast device, plug it into an HDMI port on your TV and connect the power cable. Your TV will show a setup screen. read the Google Home app on your phone, open it, and tap the plus sign to add a device. Select Chromecast, choose your device from the list, and follow the on-screen steps to connect it to your Wi-Fi. Once that's done, you won't need the Google Home app again — the Cast button in YouTube will find it automatically.
After setup, restart both your phone and TV to make sure they're talking to each other properly. This takes less than a minute and fixes most connection problems before they start.
Cast YouTube from your phone to your TV
Open the YouTube app on your phone and find a video you want to watch. Tap the Cast icon — it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner, usually in the top right corner of the screen. A list of available devices will appear. Tap the name of your TV or Chromecast.
The video will start playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone screen will show a smaller version of the video with playback controls. You can pause, play, rewind, skip forward, adjust the volume, and search for new videos all from your phone. The TV remote won't control YouTube — your phone is the remote now.
To stop casting, tap the Cast icon again and select "Stop casting." The video will stop on your TV, and you can go back to using your phone normally. If you want to watch something else on your TV, just cast a new video the same way.
Troubleshoot when Cast doesn't show up or won't connect
If you don't see the Cast icon in YouTube, first check that both your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings and your TV's Wi-Fi settings and make sure they match. If they don't, connect your TV to the correct network.
Next, restart the YouTube app on your phone. Close it completely, wait a few seconds, and open it again. If the Cast icon still doesn't appear, restart your phone. Many connection problems clear up after a restart.
If your TV or Chromecast is on a different Wi-Fi band (some networks split into 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), try connecting your phone to the same band your TV is using. Check your TV's Wi-Fi settings to see which band it's connected to, then go to your phone's Wi-Fi settings and select that same network.
If you've restarted everything and Cast still won't work, unplug your Chromecast or TV for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully restart. Then try casting again. If the problem continues, check that your YouTube app is fully up to date by opening your phone's app store and searching for YouTube.
Control playback and search from your phone
While a video is casting to your TV, your phone shows a mini player with full controls. You can tap the play and pause buttons, drag the progress bar to jump to a different part of the video, and adjust the volume with your phone's volume buttons or the on-screen slider.
To search for a new video while one is playing, tap the search icon in the YouTube app. Type what you're looking for, and when you find something, tap it to start playing on your TV. The current video stops and the new one begins. You can queue up videos this way without ever touching the TV remote.
If you want to disconnect your phone from the TV without stopping the video, just lock your phone or switch to another app. The video keeps playing on your TV, and you can reconnect your phone to the Cast session anytime by opening YouTube and tapping the Cast icon again.
Other ways to get YouTube on your TV if Cast isn't an option
If Cast doesn't work for your setup, you have other choices. Many TVs have YouTube built in as an app — check your TV's app store or home screen to see if YouTube is already there. If it is, you can open it directly on the TV and sign in with your Google account. You'll use your TV remote to search and play videos, but you won't have your phone as a remote.
You can also connect your phone to your TV with an HDMI cable if your phone supports it. Some Android phones have USB-C ports that output video, and you can buy an adapter to connect to HDMI. This mirrors everything on your phone screen to the TV, including YouTube. The downside is you're tethered by a cable and your phone's battery drains faster.
Another option is a Roku device, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV, which all have YouTube built in and support casting from phones. These are more expensive than a basic Chromecast but offer more features if you watch other streaming services too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Chromecast if my TV is already smart?
Not necessarily. Most smart TVs made in the last five years have Cast built in. Check your TV's settings menu for "Google Cast" or "Chromecast." If you find it and it's turned on, you're ready to cast from your phone. If your TV doesn't have it, then a Chromecast device adds the feature.
Can I cast YouTube if my phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks?
No. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network to communicate. If your phone is on a guest network and your TV is on the main network, they won't see each other. Connect both to the same network and try again.
What happens if I close the YouTube app on my phone while casting?
The video stops playing on your TV. If you want to keep watching, you need to open YouTube again and cast the same video. Your phone doesn't have to stay in the YouTube app while casting — you can switch to other apps or lock your phone, and the video keeps playing.
Can I use my TV remote to control YouTube while casting?
No. When you cast YouTube, your phone becomes the remote. Your TV remote won't pause, rewind, or search. You control everything from your phone's YouTube app.
Why does Cast keep disconnecting?
This usually happens when your phone moves too far from the Wi-Fi router or when the signal is weak. Move closer to the router or restart both your phone and TV. If it keeps happening, your Wi-Fi network may be unstable — try restarting your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.