How to use a Google Chromecast to mirror your Android’s display

Chromecasts are consistently among our favorite streaming devices and Google looks like it will launch the next-gen Chromecast soon. They are a convenient way to make any TV smart and allow you to easily cast your favorite shows and movies on the big screen. It’s simple to do with the Chrome web browser on a computer, but sometimes you might want to cast something from your Android phone and watch it on a big screen with others.

There is an easy way to share your Android phone with your TV using your Chromecast. The process is simple. You only need the Google Home app to make it work. It’s the same process on all generations of Chromecast, most Android TVs, Google TVs, and cast-compatible devices. Here’s how it works.

Casting your Android phone or tablet screen to your Chromecast

If you have a Chromecast or a Chromecast-compatible television and an Android phone or tablet, you can easily mirror your screen on your TV with the Google Home app. It’s the same app you used to set up your Chromecast for the first time.

Here’s how to share your phone’s screen with your TV:

1. On your phone, open the Google Home app.
2. Choose your TV from the list of devices. Depending on what you’re casting to, you might need to turn it on manually first.
3. Tap Cast my screen in the lower-left corner.

   

   

4. Tap the blue Cast screen button.
5. Depending on your phone, you might need to confirm one more time by tapping Start Now.

   

   

6. Your phone’s screen is now mirrored on your TV. This method is not optimized for casting videos but can be helpful for sharing your screen with other people in the room, such as in a meeting or with family and friends.
7. To stop sharing your screen, open your notification tray, expand the cast notification, and tap Disconnect. You can also repeat the first two steps and tap Stop mirroring at the bottom of the screen.

   

   

If you plan to cast a specific app like Netflix or YouTube, use the built-in casting button. Casting your screen from the Google Home app isn’t optimized for media playback. However, it is optimized when you use a media app like YouTube. There are over 3,000 Google Cast-enabled apps, so the steps to cast from them are a little different for each one. All you do is look for the casting icon, and you can connect directly from within the app.

Cast your Android phone from the Quick Settings menu

You can also find the cast option on many Android phones in the Settings menu. You only need to deal with the Google Home app once to set up the Chromecast. Google Cast is also built into Android’s operating system, so let’s check it in action.

We use a Pixel 6 running Android 14 in the screenshots below. The steps may differ depending on your phone’s manufacturer.

1. Swipe down from your home screen to access the notification center.
2. Swipe down to expand the Quick Settings menu.
3. Select Screen Cast from the menu.
4. Tap your Android TV or compatible Chromecast device on the list of devices.
5. Tap Start now.
6. The system shows an orange casting icon in the status bar when it’s connected.

   

   

7. When you are ready to disconnect, expand the notification center and tap the casting notification.
8. Select your connected device and tap Disconnect.

   

   

When casting your Android phone to a Chromecast using this method, the system shows everything you can see on your Android device, including the incoming notifications. If you receive constant alerts on your phone, activate Do Not Disturb before casting your screen to the TV. If you want to avoid other people seeing anything other than what you want to share, cast from within a cast-enabled app like YouTube.

Casting your Mac, PC, or Chromebook screen to your television with Chromecast

You can also share your computer’s screen and view it on your TV. The process is slightly different from the steps above but remains straightforward. Instead of the Google Home app, you’ll need the Chrome web browser installed on your computer before getting started. The steps are the same for PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks.

1. On your computer, open the Google Chrome web browser.
2. Click the overflow menu (three-dot icon) in the upper-right corner.
3. Open the Save and Share sub-menu and choose Cast.

   

   Sharing screen to Chromecast in Chrome

4. Before selecting the device to which you’d like to cast your screen, click the Cast icon where your other extensions are. Check out the Sources menu at the bottom of the list. This is where you’ll select whether you want to cast the Chrome tab you’re on or cast your entire screen.

   

   Sharing screen to Chromecast in Chrome

5. Select the device you’d like to cast to. This works with speakers and displays, meaning you can cast your computer’s audio to your speakers. If you can’t find the device you’re looking for, you may have to turn it on for it to appear on the list.
6. To stop casting, click the blue cast icon in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window again, and click the blue stop icon next to the device’s name you’re casting to.

Sometimes, you’ll run into a problem, and casting fails when connecting from your phone or computer. If the Chromecast worked in the past, rebooting both devices usually solves the problem. You should also ensure your phone and Chromecast are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you still have problems, make sure both Chrome and your Chromecast are up-to-date.

Get the most out of your Chromecast

Now that you know how to cast your phone’s or computer’s screen to your Chromecast, you can share documents, presentations, photos, movies, music, and more. You can also use these methods to share your screen where there’s a Chromecast in the room without looking for an HDMI cable. Plus, it’s easy for anybody to cast their screen without worrying about their computer’s operating system. If you run into problems with your Chromecast, there’s always a way to fix it, and it’s easier than you think.