How to Cast to Chromecast & Google TV
A practical guide to casting web videos to Chromecast, Chromecast with Google TV, and any Smart TV with Chromecast built-in — from Android, iPhone, or directly inside a phone-based browser. CastBrowser detects the actual video stream on the page and sends it to your TV at full quality, so you do not have to settle for tab mirroring or screen mirroring.
What You Need to Cast to Chromecast
Casting to a Chromecast sends the original video stream from a website directly to the dongle or TV — your phone is just a remote. That is what makes it look better and use less battery than mirroring an entire phone or browser tab. Here is the short list:
- A Chromecast dongle, Chromecast with Google TV, a TV running Google TV / Android TV, or any Smart TV labelled "Chromecast built-in"
- An Android phone or iPhone with CastBrowser installed
- Both devices on the same Wi-Fi (and not on a guest network with isolation enabled)
- Once your Chromecast is already set up, CastBrowser does not require a Google account, Google Home pairing flow, or Chrome desktop install
How to Cast to Chromecast from Android
Android already speaks Google Cast natively, but in-app cast buttons usually only let you cast media from inside that one app. CastBrowser lets you cast videos from any website to Chromecast — the same way every dedicated streaming app does, but with whatever site you are browsing.
- Install CastBrowser from the Google Play Store.
- Connect your Android phone and Chromecast to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open CastBrowser and browse to the website with the video you want to watch.
- Tap the cast icon in the toolbar — CastBrowser will list every Chromecast and Google TV it finds on the LAN.
- Pick your Chromecast and the video starts playing on the TV. Lock your phone or switch apps; background casting keeps the stream alive.
Need a broader walkthrough for non-Chromecast devices too? See the cast from Android to TV guide.
How to Cast to Chromecast from iPhone
iPhone is the harder case. iOS does not include a system-wide Google Cast client — the screen-mirroring icon in Control Center only looks for AirPlay receivers, so a Chromecast will never appear there. The fix is to use an app that brings Google Cast to iOS. CastBrowser does exactly that.
- Install CastBrowser from the Apple App Store.
- Put your iPhone and Chromecast on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open CastBrowser, navigate to a page with video, and tap the detected video.
- Pick your Chromecast or Google TV from the device picker.
- Use your iPhone as a remote — playback, seek, volume, subtitle selection.
Unlike AirPlay, this works without an Apple TV and without an AirPlay-capable receiver. For a broader iOS overview see cast from iPhone to TV.
How to Cast Web Videos from Any Site to Chromecast
The reason most users open a casting app in the first place is that the website they are watching does not have a built-in cast button. CastBrowser's built-in browser solves this by scanning every page you load and surfacing the underlying video stream:
- • Open the site inside CastBrowser's tab — same URL, same content, no extension required.
- • Press play once so the page actually starts loading the stream.
- • A notification appears with the detected video and any available quality variants.
- • Tap cast and select your Chromecast — the stream goes straight to the TV.
For a deeper look at the "cast any URL" workflow, including bookmarking and queue handling, see the website cast guide.
Casting to Chromecast with Google TV
The newer Chromecast with Google TV is two things at once: a full Google TV streaming box and a Chromecast receiver. From a casting app perspective it looks like any other Chromecast — CastBrowser discovers it under the same Google Cast protocol and sends video to it the same way. You can open Google TV apps with the remote, or push web videos from your phone with CastBrowser, or do both at the same time.
The same applies to Smart TVs running Google TV or Android TV (Sony, TCL, Hisense and others). They expose a Chromecast receiver to the network whether or not the TV is on a launcher screen.
Chromecast Built-in TVs vs Chromecast Dongle
Chromecast built-in (TV)
- + Nothing to plug in — receiver is in the TV firmware
- + Common on Sony, Vizio, TCL, Hisense, Sharp, Philips
- + Always available when the TV is on (some TVs even wake from cast)
- - Receiver firmware updates depend on the TV vendor
Chromecast dongle / with Google TV
- + Adds casting to any TV with HDMI
- + Receiver software updated directly by Google
- + Chromecast with Google TV adds a full streaming launcher
- - Requires HDMI port and USB or wall power
CastBrowser does not care which one you have. Both expose the same Google Cast service over mDNS, both show up in the same picker, and both receive the same video stream.
CastBrowser vs Chrome Tab Casting vs Screen Mirroring
Three approaches show up when people search for "cast to Chromecast." They are not equivalent — only one of them actually plays the original video.
- CastBrowser (direct stream): Detects the underlying MP4/HLS/DASH on the page and sends it to the Chromecast. The TV plays the original file. Phone usage and battery are minimal, and you can lock the screen.
- Chrome tab casting (desktop only): Re-encodes whatever Chrome is rendering and streams it to the Chromecast. Quality drops, audio sync can drift, and it requires a desktop with Chrome open the entire time.
- Screen mirroring: Mirrors the whole phone or PC display, including notifications. Quality is even lower, latency is higher, and you cannot use the device for anything else while casting.
Supported Video Formats
Chromecast and Google TV have a fairly narrow native codec list. CastBrowser extends what you can actually cast by handling formats Chromecast cannot decode on its own:
Live HLS and DASH streams work the same way as on-demand files, so live TV, sports and IPTV playlists play in real time. If a site uses a format the Chromecast cannot decode, CastBrowser converts it on the fly before sending.
Troubleshooting Chromecast Casting
Quick fixes are below. For a deeper diagnosis covering "untrusted device" errors, AP isolation, mesh-network problems, and factory reset, see the dedicated Chromecast not working fix guide.
Chromecast not showing up?
- Same Wi-Fi: The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands often have separate SSIDs. Make sure both devices are on exactly the same network and not a guest SSID.
- VPN off: Active VPNs block local mDNS discovery on most phones. Disable the VPN, refresh the device list and try again.
- AP / client isolation: Some routers (especially mesh and ISP-supplied units) block LAN-to-LAN traffic by default. Look for "AP isolation," "Client isolation" or "Wireless isolation" and turn it off.
- Restart the Chromecast: Unplug it for 10 seconds and plug it back in.
- Pull to refresh: Swipe down on CastBrowser's device list once the network looks correct.
Video plays on the phone but not the TV?
- DRM-protected streams: Sites using Widevine L1 or FairPlay typically refuse to cast. Try a non-DRM source for the same content.
- Unsupported codec: CastBrowser will flag this and offer a converted version. Pick that variant if the original fails.
- Bandwidth: Move both devices closer to the router or switch the Chromecast to 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Lower the quality variant if buffering persists.
Cast button missing or greyed out?
- No video detected yet: Press play on the page once. Some sites only fetch the actual stream after the user interacts with the player.
- Iframe-embedded player: Tap into the embedded player area, not just the surrounding page, so CastBrowser can see the underlying video element.
- Ad blocker conflict: Toggle the ad blocker off for the site if a stream is being suppressed and reload.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cast to Chromecast from my phone?
Install CastBrowser, put your phone and Chromecast on the same Wi-Fi, open the site you want to watch inside CastBrowser, then tap the cast button and pick your Chromecast. The video plays on the TV at full quality and your phone becomes the remote.
Can I cast to Chromecast from iPhone without an Apple TV?
Yes. iOS does not have native Google Cast, so the system mirroring control will never see a Chromecast — but CastBrowser brings Google Cast to iPhone. Install it from the App Store, browse the page, tap the cast icon and pick the Chromecast or Google TV. No Apple TV, no AirPlay receiver.
What is the difference between a Chromecast dongle and Chromecast built-in?
A dongle is a separate HDMI device from Google. Chromecast built-in is the same receiver baked into a Smart TV (common on Sony, Vizio, TCL, Hisense, Sharp, Philips Google/Android TVs). Casting apps treat them identically — same protocol, same discovery, same picker entry.
Can I cast web videos to Chromecast without using Chrome browser?
Yes. Chrome's tab cast is desktop-only and re-encodes the entire tab. CastBrowser sends the original video stream from any phone-based browser session — no Chrome, no desktop, no tab mirroring. The Chromecast plays the source file directly.
What video formats does Chromecast support through CastBrowser?
MP4, MKV, AVI, WebM, MOV, FLV, 3GP, M4V, WMV, MPEG-TS, plus HLS (M3U8) and DASH (MPD) for adaptive web streaming, including live streams. Formats Chromecast cannot decode natively are converted on the fly.
Why is my Chromecast not showing up in the casting app?
Almost always a Wi-Fi or VPN issue. Confirm both devices are on the same SSID (2.4 / 5 GHz often differ), turn VPN off on the phone, disable AP/client isolation on the router, then refresh CastBrowser's device list.
Is CastBrowser free for Chromecast?
Yes — free on Google Play and the App Store, with no account, no subscription and no premium unlock for any supported format or live stream.
Start Casting to Your Chromecast
Download CastBrowser for free and stream web videos to Chromecast, Chromecast with Google TV, or any Smart TV with Chromecast built-in in seconds.