How to Cast from a Chromebook to a TV or Roku
Chrome has casting built in, but it only reaches Chromecast and Google TV — it will never list a Roku, and it mirrors your screen instead of streaming the video. Because a Chromebook runs Android apps, you can install CastBrowser and cast compatible web videos straight to Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, and DLNA TVs, using each TV's own casting protocol.
Cast from your Chromebook in 30 seconds
To cast web videos to any TV — including Roku, which Chrome cannot reach — install CastBrowser from Google Play on your Chromebook.
- Install CastBrowser (free) from the Google Play Store on your Chromebook.
- Connect your Chromebook and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open a compatible website in CastBrowser and start the video.
- Tap the cast icon and pick your TV — Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, or DLNA.
- The TV plays the stream while your Chromebook stays the remote.
Note: Chrome's built-in Cast menu only works for Chromecast and Google TV. For everything else, use CastBrowser.
Cast web videos from your Chromebook to Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV and more — free, no account.
The Two Ways to Cast from a Chromebook
A Chromebook can send video to a TV in two very different ways, and knowing which one you need saves a lot of frustration:
- Chrome's built-in Cast (Chromecast / Google TV only): Open the Chrome menu and choose Cast to mirror a browser tab or your whole desktop to a Chromecast or Google TV. It is convenient, but it only sees Google Cast receivers and it mirrors the screen rather than streaming the video at its native quality.
- CastBrowser (every major TV platform): Because Chromebooks run Android apps, you can install CastBrowser and cast the actual detected video stream to Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, and DLNA TVs — each over the protocol that device actually supports.
If your TV is a Chromecast or Google TV and you just want to throw a tab on screen, Chrome's built-in cast is fine. The moment you want a clean video stream, or your TV is a Roku, you need the app route.
Can You Cast from a Chromebook to a Roku TV?
Not with Chrome's built-in Cast — and this is the single most common Chromebook casting question. Roku does not support Google Cast, so a Roku will never appear in Chrome's Cast device list, no matter how many times you refresh. This is a platform limitation, not a bug on your Chromebook.
The fix is to use Roku's own casting path instead of Google's. CastBrowser talks to Roku over its native ECP protocol, so once the app is installed on your Chromebook it can detect a web video and send it to your Roku directly:
- Install CastBrowser from the Google Play Store on your Chromebook.
- Put your Chromebook and Roku on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open a compatible website in CastBrowser and start the video so it is detected.
- Tap the cast icon and choose your Roku from the list.
- The Roku plays the stream — no Google Cast, no screen mirroring.
For more on Roku's casting limits and workarounds, see casting Chrome to Roku and does Roku support Chromecast.
One Chromebook app for Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, Samsung and DLNA — get CastBrowser free.
Casting from a Chromebook to Chromecast or Google TV
For Chromecast and Google TV you have both options. Chrome's built-in Cast mirrors a tab, which is handy for slideshows or web pages. But for video, CastBrowser sends the real stream so playback is sharper, your Chromebook's battery is spared, and you can keep using other tabs while it plays. Open a compatible site in CastBrowser, start the video, tap cast, and pick your Chromecast or Google TV. More detail is in the cast to Chromecast and Google TV guide.
Casting to Fire TV, Samsung, and DLNA TVs
The same CastBrowser install on your Chromebook reaches the other major platforms, each over its own protocol:
- Fire TV: CastBrowser uses Amazon's Fling SDK to send a compatible stream to a Fire TV Stick, Cube, or Fire TV Edition set. See casting to Fire Stick.
- Samsung and other Smart TVs: Many Smart TVs accept media over DLNA. CastBrowser can send a compatible stream or local file that way — see casting to Samsung TV and what DLNA is.
- Web Receiver: If your TV has a usable browser, open the CastBrowser Web Receiver on the TV and cast to it from your Chromebook.
Detection of a stream is not a guarantee of playback: the receiving device still has to support the video's format and codecs, and DRM-protected content from major subscription services cannot be cast.
Supported Video Formats
CastBrowser detects videos in over 20 formats, including adaptive streams. Whether a given file plays still depends on what your TV can decode.
Troubleshooting Chromebook Casting
No TV showing up in the device list?
- Roku won't appear in Chrome's Cast menu: That is expected — Roku has no Google Cast support. Use CastBrowser instead.
- Check Wi-Fi: Confirm your Chromebook and TV are on the same local network and not separated by an isolated guest network, subnet, or VLAN.
- Disable VPN: A VPN on the Chromebook blocks local device discovery. Turn it off and try again.
- Check router isolation: "AP isolation" or "client isolation" stops devices from seeing each other. Disable it in your router settings.
- Restart the TV: Power-cycle the TV and pull to refresh the device list in CastBrowser.
Video detected but won't play?
- DRM content: Protected streams from major subscription services cannot be cast.
- Format support: Your TV may not decode that container or codec. Try a different source or quality.
- Expired link: Some web video URLs expire. Reload the page and let CastBrowser re-detect the video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cast from a Chromebook to a Roku TV?
Not with Chrome's built-in Cast — Roku does not support Google Cast, so it never appears in Chrome's device list. Because a Chromebook runs Android apps, you can install CastBrowser, open a compatible website, and cast the detected video to your Roku over Roku's own ECP protocol instead.
How do I cast my Chromebook screen to a TV?
Chrome has built-in casting for Chromecast and Google TV: open the Chrome menu, choose Cast, and pick your device to mirror a tab or the desktop. It only works for Chromecast-compatible receivers and mirrors your screen. To send the actual video stream — and to reach Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, or DLNA TVs — use CastBrowser.
Does a Chromebook have Chromecast built in?
A Chromebook is a Google Cast sender, not a receiver — it casts to Chromecast and Google TV through Chrome but cannot receive a cast. The device on the other end must support Google Cast. For TVs that do not, such as Roku, install CastBrowser to use the TV's native casting protocol.
Can I install CastBrowser on a Chromebook?
Yes. Most modern Chromebooks support Android apps from the Google Play Store, so you install CastBrowser the same way you would on an Android phone. It then runs as an app on Chrome OS and can cast compatible web videos to Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, and DLNA TVs on the same network.
Why won't my TV show up when I cast from my Chromebook?
Usually the Chromebook and TV are on different or isolated networks — an isolated guest network, separate subnet, or VLAN. Confirm both are on the same local network, disable any VPN, and check your router for AP or client isolation. Restarting the TV and refreshing the device list in CastBrowser also helps.
Is casting from a Chromebook with CastBrowser free?
Yes. CastBrowser is currently free, with no account and no subscription. You can cast compatible, non-DRM web videos and supported local files from your Chromebook to a compatible TV at no cost.
Start Casting from Your Chromebook
Download CastBrowser for free and stream compatible web videos from your Chromebook to Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, Samsung, or DLNA TVs in seconds.