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How to Connect Chromecast to a Mobile Hotspot

The best way to use a mobile hotspot with Chromecast is also the easiest

By Brad Stephenson Brad Stephenson Freelance Contributor Western Sydney University Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on March 11, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Streaming Devices Chromecast Roku Fire TV Apple TV

What to Know

Change the name and password of your mobile hotspot to match that of your regular Wi-Fi network.Turn off your main Wi-Fi and turn on your mobile hotspot.Turn on your TV and Google Chromecast. It should automatically connect to your mobile hotspot.
Connecting your Chromecast to a mobile hotspot can be a great trick for casting content onto a TV without a regular Wi-Fi network. This page will walk you through the best strategy for using a mobile hotspot with a Chromecast device that’s been tested on both iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets.

How Do I Connect Chromecast to a Mobile Hotspot

Here’s the best way to connect a Chromecast device to a mobile hotspot created on an iPhone, iPad, or Android smartphone or tablet. You will need: A Chromecast device.A smartphone or tablet with a cellular connection.A second smartphone, tablet, or computer for casting media.
Open the mobile hotspot settings on your smart device and change the Wi-Fi network’s name and password to match that of the Wi-Fi network that you usually use to connect to your Chromecast. You can customize the hotspot’s information on Android or customize the hotspot information on iOS devices.
Tip: To change the mobile hotspot name on iOS, you also need to change your Apple device’s name. Turn off your regular internet modem or router to disable the Wi-Fi internet connection.
If you’re in a different location than your home Wi-Fi network, you won’t need to disconnect it as your Chromecast will likely be out of range from its signal. Activate the mobile hotspot on your iPhone or iPad. If you’re using an Android tablet or smartphone, turn its Android mobile hotspot on. Connect the Chromecast to a power source and your TV. Turn the TV on. After a few seconds, your Chromecast should automatically connect to your mobile hotspot. You won’t need to change any settings or connection preferences. To cast content to your Chromecast, connect a separate device to your mobile hotspot and cast as per usual.
You can’t cast content from the device creating the mobile hotspot. It’s usually best to use a smartphone for making the hotspot and a tablet, iPod touch, or computer for casting content.

Can I Use Chromecast With a Mobile Hotspot

It is possible to connect a mobile hotspot to a Chromecast device but it’s important to realize that this functionality isn’t officially supported by Google and thus can be incredibly unreliable. Google Chromecast devices are designed to work with stable Wi-Fi networks, not mobile hotspots. While a common strategy for connecting a Chromecast to a mobile hotspot is to simply change the Chromecast's current network connection to that of your smartphone’s hotspot, this doesn’t always work for everyone. For example, sometimes the Chromecast can completely fail to detect the mobile hotspot while other times it can see the hotspot network but will refuse to connect to it. Another reason to avoid manually changing the network settings on your Chromecast is that doing so will force you to set the Chromecast up again from scratch. These issues can occur when using a variety of smartphones, tablets, and computers. This is why it’s best to avoid this strategy and use the one shown at the top of this page which tricks the Chromecast into automatically connecting to a mobile hotspot that it thinks is your usual Wi-Fi network.

The Chromecast Mobile Hotspot Data Usage Problem

Using a mobile hotspot to connect to a Chromecast device may be convenient when traveling or in a location without a Wi-Fi network but it’s important to use this feature wisely as it can get expensive. If you’re planning on streaming a movie or TV show over your mobile hotspot, keep in mind that this will use your smartphone’s cellular data. Check how much data you have left on your cellular plan before streaming or downloading content. One way to save data is to download media beforehand while connected to a Wi-Fi network and then mirror your screen to the Chromecast when using cellular. Of course, if you’re using a portable mobile hotspot device that allows for large downloads, you likely won’t need to worry about how much media streaming you do. Does a Mobile Hotspot Use Data? FAQ How do I connect a Chromecast to hotel Wi-Fi? The easiest way to use your Chromecast with hotel Wi-Fi is to connect your laptop to the network, and then use your Chromecast as normal. If that option doesn't work, use a mobile hotspot instead. Why won't my Chromecast connect? If your Chromecast isn't working, you can try a few things to get it running again. First, try restarting the dongle and the computer you're attaching it to. You can also try restarting your network and turning off devices that might be using a lot of bandwidth. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Connect Chromecast to Hotel Wi-Fi How to Chromecast to a TV How to Fix It When a Tablet Won’t Connect to a Mobile Hotspot How to Get a Browser on Chromecast How to Use Chromecast Without Wi-Fi How to Mirror Android to TV (Connect Your Phone Wirelessly) How to Connect a Phone to a TV Wirelessly How to Connect Google Home to Your TV How to Cast Apple TV to Chromecast How to Fix It When Chromecast Isn't Working How to Reset Your Chromecast How to Set Up a Google Chromecast How to Cast Movies to Chromecast From Firefox How to Change the Network on Your Chromecast & Connect to New Wi-Fi How to Do Screen Mirroring on LG Smart TVs Does a Mobile Hotspot Use Data? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies