How to Cast to Roku TV from Phone & Chromebook (2026)

What You Need to Cast to Roku

Casting to Roku sends the video stream directly to your TV over your local network. Your phone acts as a remote control, which means lower battery drain and better video quality compared to screen mirroring. Here's what you need:

A Roku device (Roku TV, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Ultra, Roku Express, or Roku Premiere)
An Android or iOS phone with CastBrowser installed
Both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network
No account or subscription required — CastBrowser is completely free

How to Cast to Roku TV (Step-by-Step)

Install CastBrowser on Your Phone

Download CastBrowser from the Google Play Store for Android or the Apple App Store for iPhone. The app is free with no account required. It includes a full web browser with multi-tab support, automatic video detection, and a built-in ad blocker.

Connect Your Phone and Roku to the Same Wi-Fi

Both your phone and Roku must be on the same Wi-Fi network. CastBrowser automatically finds Roku devices on your local network. If your router has separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, either band works as long as both devices can reach each other.

Browse to a Website with Videos

Open CastBrowser and navigate to any website with video content. You can type a URL directly or use the search bar. CastBrowser's built-in browser works just like Chrome or Safari — it supports tabs, bookmarks, and history.

Let CastBrowser Detect the Video

CastBrowser automatically detects videos on every page you visit. When videos are found, you'll see a notification. Tap to view available videos with quality options when multiple resolutions are available.

Cast to Your Roku

Tap the cast icon and select your Roku device from the list. CastBrowser communicates with your Roku using its native protocol, which means reliable playback without screen mirroring. The video starts playing on your TV. Use your phone to play, pause, seek, and adjust volume.

Pro tip: Background casting

Once the video is playing on your Roku, you can turn off your phone screen or switch to other apps. CastBrowser supports background casting, so the stream continues uninterrupted. You can also save your playback position and resume later with CastBrowser's playback resumption feature.

How to Cast from Chromebook to Roku TV

This is one of the most common questions people have: can you cast from a Chromebook to a Roku TV? The short answer is that Chromebooks and Roku speak different casting languages, which makes direct casting tricky. Here's what you need to know.

Why Chromebook-to-Roku Casting Is Complicated

Chromebooks use Google Cast (the same protocol as Chromecast) for wireless streaming. Roku uses its own separate casting system that is not compatible with Google Cast. This means the built-in "Cast" button in Chrome on a Chromebook will not detect your Roku device.

Some Roku devices do support Miracast for screen mirroring from Windows laptops, but Chromebooks do not support Miracast either. So the main wireless display options that Roku offers are both unavailable from a Chromebook.

The Best Workaround: Use CastBrowser on Your Phone

The most reliable way to get web content from any source onto your Roku is to use CastBrowser on your Android or iPhone. Open the same website you were viewing on your Chromebook in CastBrowser, and cast the video directly to your Roku TV. CastBrowser supports Roku natively, so the connection is stable and the video plays at full quality.

Chromebook to Roku: Your Options

Chrome Cast button: Will not work — Roku does not support Google Cast protocol
Miracast screen mirroring: Not available — Chromebooks do not support Miracast
HDMI cable: Works if your Chromebook has an HDMI port, but requires a physical cable
CastBrowser on phone (recommended): Browse the same site on CastBrowser and cast to Roku wirelessly

Chromecast vs Roku — Can You Use Chromecast with Roku?

If you've searched for "chromecast to roku" or "google cast to roku," you're not alone. Many people assume that because Chromecast is so popular, every streaming device supports it. Unfortunately, that's not the case with Roku.

Chromecast (Google Cast) is Google's casting protocol. It's built into Chrome browser, Android phones, and Chromecast hardware. When you tap "Cast" in an app or browser, it looks for Google Cast-compatible devices.

Roku uses its own separate casting system. Roku devices do not show up when you use Chrome's cast button or any app's built-in Chromecast feature.

Google Cast (Chromecast)

Works with Chromecast dongles
Built into Google TV and Android TV
Supported by Chrome browser
Used by YouTube, Netflix apps, etc.
Does NOT work with Roku

Roku Casting

Works with all Roku devices
Proprietary to Roku
Not supported by Chrome browser
Requires Roku-compatible apps
Supported by CastBrowser

This is exactly why CastBrowser exists. Instead of relying on Google Cast (which Roku ignores), CastBrowser supports Roku natively. It discovers your Roku on the network, and streams the video directly — no Chromecast hardware needed.

How to Cast Chrome Browser to Roku

If you're trying to cast a video from Chrome browser on your computer to a Roku TV, Chrome's built-in cast feature won't help — it only works with Chromecast devices. But there are a few workarounds depending on your setup.

Option 1: Use CastBrowser on Your Phone (Recommended)

The easiest and most reliable method is to use CastBrowser on your phone instead of Chrome on your computer. Open the same website in CastBrowser, and the app will detect the video and cast it directly to your Roku. This gives you the best video quality, built-in ad blocking, and full playback control from your phone.

Option 2: Miracast Screen Mirroring (Windows Only)

If you're on a Windows PC, some Roku devices support Miracast screen mirroring. Go to your Roku's Settings > System > Screen mirroring and enable it. Then on your Windows PC, press Win+K to open the Connect panel and select your Roku. This mirrors your entire screen, not just the video, so it uses more bandwidth and shows everything on your desktop.

Option 3: Use the Roku Mobile App

The official Roku app offers basic media casting for photos and videos stored on your phone, but it does not include a web browser or automatic video detection. For web-based video content, CastBrowser is the better choice since it can browse any website and detect videos automatically.

Cast Phone to Roku TV

Casting from your phone to a Roku TV is the simplest and most reliable casting method. CastBrowser handles the entire process — from finding your Roku on the network to streaming the video. Here's how it works on each platform.

Cast from Android to Roku TV

Download CastBrowser from the Google Play Store and open any website with video content. CastBrowser detects videos automatically. Tap the cast button, select your Roku, and the video starts playing on your TV. Android users also get background casting — the stream keeps going even when you turn off your screen or switch apps. You can control playback directly from the notification panel.

For more details, see our full guide to casting from Android to TV.

Cast from iPhone to Roku TV

CastBrowser is available on the Apple App Store and works exactly the same way on iPhone. Unlike AirPlay, which only works with Apple TV and AirPlay 2-compatible TVs, CastBrowser works with Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, and DLNA Smart TVs — all from one app. This makes it especially useful for iPhone users who own a Roku TV instead of an Apple TV.

For more details, see our full guide to casting from iPhone to TV.

CastBrowser vs Screen Mirroring on Roku

Roku does support screen mirroring via Miracast (from Android phones and Windows PCs), but casting with CastBrowser is a fundamentally better experience for watching videos. Here's why:

CastBrowser (Video Casting)

+ Sends the video stream directly to Roku
+ Full video quality — no re-encoding
+ Low battery usage on your phone
+ Use your phone freely while casting
+ Built-in ad blocker
+ Subtitle support (SRT/VTT)
+ Works on both iPhone and Android
+ Supports 20+ video formats

Roku Screen Mirroring

- Mirrors your entire phone screen to TV
- Compressed quality with noticeable lag
- Drains your battery quickly
- Phone is locked to the mirrored content
- No ad blocking
- Notifications and private info visible on TV
- Not available on iPhone (no Miracast)
- Limited to what your phone can display

Screen mirroring has its place — it's useful for presentations, showing photos, or demonstrating an app. But for watching videos, casting with CastBrowser delivers better quality, saves battery, and lets you use your phone normally while the video plays on your TV.

Supported Roku Devices

CastBrowser works with virtually every Roku device on the market, including:

Roku Smart TVs (TCL, Hisense, Sharp, Philips, and others)
Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick 4K
Roku Express and Express 4K+
Roku Ultra and Ultra LT
Roku Premiere and Premiere+
Roku Streambar and Streambar Pro

CastBrowser also works with Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Chromecast, and any DLNA-compatible TV. If you have multiple devices at home, one app covers all of them.

Supported Video Formats for Roku Casting

CastBrowser detects and casts videos in over 20 formats, including both on-demand and live streams. If a video format is not natively supported by your Roku device, CastBrowser handles the conversion automatically.

MP4HLS (M3U8)DASH (MPD)MKVWebMMOVAVIFLV3GPM4VOGVWMVMPEG-TS

This broad format support means you can cast videos from virtually any website, regardless of the streaming technology they use. HLS and DASH live streams work just as well as standard MP4 files.

Why Use CastBrowser to Cast to Roku?

Native Roku support: CastBrowser connects directly to your Roku for reliable casting — no screen mirroring needed.
Automatic video detection: Finds videos on any website automatically — no need to search for URLs.
Built-in ad blocker: Enjoy a cleaner browsing experience — blocks ads, popups, bad redirections, and trackers.
Cast local files: Beyond web videos, cast media files stored on your phone directly to your Roku.
Subtitle support: Load SRT or VTT subtitle files for any video you cast.
Playback resumption: Stop a video and pick up where you left off later.
Completely free: No subscription, no hidden fees, no account required.

Troubleshooting Roku Casting Issues

Roku not showing up in the device list?

Check Wi-Fi: Verify both your phone and Roku are on the same Wi-Fi network. This is the most common cause.
Enable external control: On your Roku, go to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > External control and make sure it is set to "Default" or "Permissive."
Restart devices: Power cycle both your phone and Roku. For Roku, unplug it for 10 seconds and plug it back in.
Disable VPN: VPNs on your phone can prevent local network discovery. Disable any active VPN and try again.
Pull to refresh: In CastBrowser, pull down on the device list to refresh.
Check router settings: Some routers have "AP isolation" or "client isolation" enabled, which blocks devices from communicating with each other. Disable this in your router settings.

Video not detected on a website?

Play the video first: Some websites only load the video stream after you press play. Start the video on the page, wait a few seconds, then check CastBrowser's detected videos list.
Try a different page: Some sites use DRM protection that prevents video detection. Try a different source for the same content.
Disable ad blocker temporarily: In rare cases, aggressive ad blocking can interfere with video loading. Try toggling the ad blocker off for that site.

Video buffering or playback issues?

Lower video quality: If multiple quality options are available, try a lower resolution to reduce buffering.
Use 5GHz Wi-Fi: If your router supports dual-band, connect both devices to the 5GHz band for faster throughput.
Move closer to router: Weak Wi-Fi signals cause buffering. Move your Roku or router to improve signal strength.
Close other apps: Other apps or devices using heavy bandwidth can cause buffering. Close unnecessary apps and pause downloads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cast from a Chromebook to a Roku TV?

Not directly. Chromebooks use Google Cast, which is a different protocol than what Roku supports. The Chrome browser's built-in cast button will not detect Roku devices. Your best option is to use CastBrowser on your Android or iPhone — open the same website in CastBrowser and cast the video to your Roku. CastBrowser supports Roku natively.

Can you use Chromecast with Roku?

No. Chromecast and Roku are separate ecosystems with incompatible protocols. Google Cast does not work with Roku devices, and Roku's casting system does not work with Chromecast. If you want to cast web videos to a Roku, you need an app like CastBrowser that supports Roku natively.

How do I cast from Chrome browser to Roku?

Chrome's built-in casting only works with Chromecast devices. To cast web videos to Roku, use CastBrowser on your phone. It has a built-in browser with automatic video detection and supports Roku natively. On Windows PCs, you can also use Miracast screen mirroring as an alternative, but the video quality is lower.

What video formats does Roku support for casting?

When casting with CastBrowser, you get support for over 20 video formats including MP4, MKV, AVI, 3GP, M4V, WebM, FLV, OGV, MOV, WMV, HLS (M3U8), and DASH (MPD). CastBrowser automatically handles format conversion when a video's native format isn't directly supported by your Roku device.

Why is my Roku not showing up for casting?

The most common reason is that your phone and Roku are on different Wi-Fi networks. Make sure both are connected to the same network. Also check that external control is enabled on your Roku (Settings > System > Advanced system settings > External control). Restart both devices, disable any VPN on your phone, and pull down to refresh the device list in CastBrowser.

Is CastBrowser free for Roku casting?

Yes, CastBrowser is completely free. There are no subscriptions, no hidden fees, and no account required. Download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and start casting to your Roku right away.

Can I cast local files from my phone to Roku?

Yes. In addition to web videos, CastBrowser can cast video and audio files stored on your phone directly to your Roku TV. Open the local media section in the app, select a file, and cast it to your Roku just like a web video.

Does casting to Roku work with live streams?

Yes. CastBrowser supports HLS (M3U8) and DASH (MPD) live streams in addition to standard video files. If a website is streaming live content, CastBrowser will detect it and let you cast it to your Roku TV in real time.