How to Use Google Chromecast - Tips and Tricks - Tom's Guide

How to Employ Google Chromecast

At $35, Google Chromecast is a cheap and handy gadget that allows you lot to stream video, photos and music to your TV via your computer or mobile device. What the device lacks in robustness, it makes up for in convenience.

That said, it'south too got a newer, more complicated and more powerful big blood brother, the Chromecast with Google TV. And the means to fix information technology up vary just plenty to make different instructions necessary, so if you got that device (y'all tin can tell the divergence because the new model has a remote) check out our guide on how to gear up Chromecast with Google Tv set.

You lot control a Chromecast via a computer or mobile device rather than a remote. Rather than streaming content direct from your smartphone, tablet or estimator, Chromecast receives instructions so streams cloth correct from the Web. However, with the help of its apps, you tin can besides stream content straight from your reckoner and mobile devices.

The original Chromecast is not as versatile as a Roku (though the Chromecast with Google TV is more than similar), which has more channels and a directly navigable Bone. Still, the Chromecast is one of the cheapest streaming devices available, and has a simpler setup than near of its competitors.

Hither's how to go started and make the most of your Chromecast.

How to ready Chromecast

To gear up up Chromecast, all you need is a TV with an HDMI port, a Wi-Fi connexion and either a figurer or a mobile device with Google's Chrome browser. Simply connect the Chromecast to your Tv's HDMI port, visit chromecast.com/setup on your PC, download the app and follow the instructions from there.

How to find Chromecast apps

Chromecast is simply a receiver, and thus does not have its own navigable carte. Equally a result, it'due south not always easy to find out which streaming services have dedicated Chromecast apps. While y'all can theoretically circulate anything from Chrome onto a Chromecast, certain sites are optimized for information technology and so include a dedicated broadcast button. Google provides a partial list of these apps on its website.

How to broadcast from a computer

Whether yous're using Windows, Mac, Linux or Chrome OS on a desktop or a laptop, broadcasting your content to Chromecast is simple. After the initial setup, all you have to practise is press the Broadcast push on your content, and information technology volition announced on the big screen. For detailed instructions, bank check out our guide to the process.

How to broadcast from Android and iOS

Using a Chromecast with a mobile device is simple. For a smartphone or tablet (Android or iOS device), the process is exactly the same. Once yous download the Chromecast mobile app, you can stream content from Netflix, YouTube, Pandora and other pop services.

How to tabcast

Google Cast, or "tabcasting," is a utility that allows y'all to broadcast annihilation at all — not but Chromecast apps — to your Television receiver from Chrome running on your PC. Navigate to the site you want to see, and then click the Google Cast push button in the upper-right corner of the browser.

How to detect a Chromecast'south MAC accost

Chromecast volition by and large piece of work with any dwelling Wi-Fi network, simply if your security is very restrictive, you'll need to gear up your router to make an exception. This process varies by router, but i matter you'll need in every instance is the device'south media admission control (MAC) address. To observe this, await at the bottom of the Settings page on the Chromecast app for your estimator.

How to Factory Reset a Chromecast

If your Chromecast goes belly-upwardly, or you come across a problem that but won't go away, yous may demand to restore it to factory settings. There are ii means to do this, both of which are very piece of cake. The kickoff way is to access the Settings menu on the Chromecast app, either on your PC or mobile device, so click Restore Mill Settings. The second way is to agree down the Chromecast'due south concrete button for 25 seconds.

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom'south Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of scientific discipline and applied science. Subsequently hours, you tin find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.