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What Is Chromecast and What Can It Stream?
Chromecast lets you stream video and music to your TV
By Mark Harris Mark Harris Writer University of Wolverhampton Mark Harris is a former writer for Lifewire who wrote about the digital music scene and streaming music services in an easy to understand, no-nonsense manner. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 20, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section What Is Chromecast Design and Features Getting Started Stream Music And Video Chromecast Games and Google Stadia Frequently Asked Questions Getting into streaming so you can cut the cord with cable companies and control your own fate? Chromecast is a good choice to get started. What Is Chromecast
Chromecast is a hardware device developed and manufactured by Google that enables you to stream media to your TV wirelessly. Rather than using a wired connection, you can use the Chromecast device to stream digital music, video, and images over Wi-Fi. If, for example, you have a movie on your phone but want to watch it on your TV, you can use Chromecast rather than a cable to connect it to your TV — and do so without wires. Chromecast Design and Features
The Chromecast dongle (second generation) was launched in September 2015 and came in various colors. Its circular design has a built-in flat HDMI cable that plugs into an HDMI port on your HD (high-definition) TV. The back of the dongle is also magnetic, so you can attach the end of the HDMI cable when it's not in use to keep the cable tidy. Google, Inc. The Chromecast device also sports a micro USB port at the other end of the device to power the unit. You can use either a spare USB port on your TV or the power supply that comes with it. The first generation of the Chromecast looked a bit like a USB flash drive. Google released it in 2013 and still supports it, but the company no longer manufactures this version. Amazon’s Fire TV: A Solid Choice When Cutting the Cable TV Cord What You Need to Get Chromecast Working on Your TV
To stream media to your TV using the Chromecast device, you must have a Wi-Fi network already set up in your home. Using your wireless router, you can: Stream from a mobile device. You can use your phone or tablet to stream content. Before doing so, you must install the Chromecast app or a Google Cast compatible app on your device.Use it as local storage. If you have a music or video library, you can stream this, too. You can share folders on your computer, an external hard drive, NAS (network-attached storage), etc. You have to make sure it's available as a shared resource on your home network.Stream from the internet. If you're using your laptop or desktop computer to stream music and video, you need to use Google's Chrome web browser or a Chromium-based browser like Edge. The critical advantage of streaming this way is tab casting — in simple terms, mirroring what you see on your device to the big screen. How to Cast Apple Music to Google Chromecast How to Change Chromecast Background Images on Your TV or Computer Online Services You Can Use to Stream Music And Video
For digital music, you can use services from your Chrome browser or mobile device such as: YouTube Music Pandora Radio Spotify You can stream music videos and other content using these services (and more): YouTube Vevo Netflix Hulu Amazon Prime Video You can receive live television broadcasts through your internet connection using Chromecast as well. A few of the services compatible with Chromecast include: AT&T TV Now YouTube TV These lists are continuously evolving as app providers expand offerings and compatibility, so if you're interested in using a Chromecast with a particular service, check its website for updated information. Chromecast Games and Google Stadia
You can cast mobile games from your Android or iOS device to your Chromecast and play on your TV. Chromecast Ultra and Google TV also support Google's cloud gaming platform Google Stadia, which offers mainstream titles like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Resident Evil Village. You'll need a compatible game controller and a fast internet connection to use Google Stadia. Got a Chromecast? Here Are 8 of the Best Games Currently Available FAQ What's the difference between Chromecast and Roku? While both devices are used to stream television and film content and sport many of the same features, they use completely different operating systems and user interfaces. Chromecast is owned by Google and runs on Android, and Roku uses Roku OS. Chromecast can use Google Assistant, while Roku comes with a good remote with many features. Is there a monthly fee to use a Chromecast? There is no monthly fee required to use a Chromecast. But, you still need to pay monthly fees to use apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. If you don't want to pay for the content on these apps, there are some free alternatives like YouTube, Peacock, Tubi, and Crackle. How do you factory reset a Chromecast? Open the Google Home app and select your device > Settings > tap More (three vertical dots) on Android or tap Remove device on iPhone > Factory reset > Factory reset. You can also factory reset a Chromecast using the device itself. Keep in mind, factory resets erase all of your data and can't be undone. How do you connect a Chromecast to Wi-Fi? If you have a brand new Chromecast, plug it in and visit the Chromecast setup site to get it up and running. If you want to connect to a Wi-Fi network manually, go into the Google Home app and select your device > Settings > Wi-Fi > Forget > Forget network, then connect to the new Wi-Fi network. 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 Cast Apple TV to Chromecast How to Clear a YouTube Queue With Chromecast on Android How to Chromecast to a TV How to Connect an iPad to a TV How to Connect a Phone to a TV Wirelessly 6 Ways to Connect Your Computer to Your TV How to Connect Chromebook to Your TV How to Chromecast to Multiple TVs Simultaneously How to Get Peacock on a Smart TV How to Connect Google Home to Your TV How to Get a Browser on Chromecast How to Set Up a Google Chromecast How to Download a Different Samsung TV Internet Browser The 10 Best Free Chromecast Apps For Android in 2022 How to Reset Your Chromecast 9 Google Chromecast Tricks to Make Life Easier 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