20 Things You Didn’t Know Your Google Chromecast Could Do

Google helps simplify your online life, with email, online storage, news, and digital maps. But it can also take over your TV with the Chromecast.

Google currently sells just one media-streaming device—the Chromecast With Google TV (in 1080p and HD versions). The device got a much-needed makeover in 2020, adding a remote and an on-screen menu. Many people are probably still streaming via Google’s legacy devices, though; the Chromecast has been around since 2013. Its functionality is also built into many smart TVs.

However you “cast” your content, part of the Chromecast’s appeal lies in its portability and ease of use: Just plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and you’ll be streaming Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Spotify, and more from your mobile device or PC to the TV in no time—not to mention apps for music, working out, and catching up on sports.

Although the ultraportable devices are pretty much plug-and-play, a few tips and tricks can make casting more magical. Check them out below.

1. Get a Bird’s-Eye View

Nest Doorbell
(Credit: Google)

If you have Google’s Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell, you can live-stream from those devices to your TV with the Chromecast. Just use the Chromecast Voice Remote to ask which device you want to show on your TV: for example, say, “Show me the front door camera.” You can also use a Nest speaker or display for a big-screen view by saying something like, “Hey Google, show me the front door camera on my TV.”

2. Get Personal

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You share a lot with the people you love, but maybe not your taste in movies and shows. Everyone in your household can keep their watchlists—and more important, their recommendations—separate with Google TV on your Chromecast. Go to the Google TV home screen and select your profile. Select Add Account. Sign in to the Google account you want to add, answer the profile setup questions, then select the streaming services you want to associate with the profile.

3. Make Things Family-Friendly

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Parents with the Chromecast With Google TV can set up separate profiles for their kids, so no one has to worry about unsupervised screen time. Parents can specify which apps their kids can access (including YouTube Kids), select a theme, and even manage screen time. “When it’s almost time to turn off the TV, your kids will be greeted with three countdown warning signs before a final ‘Time is up’ screen appears and ends their watch time,” Google says(Opens in a new window). Kids are smart, so parents can PIN-protect their own profiles.

4. Ask Google Assistant to Pull Up Your Favorites

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Instead of scrolling through menus to get to your watchlist, just press the Google Assistant button on the side of the remote and say, “Show me my watchlist.” You can also use it to ask Google’s virtual assistant to open supported apps. If you have an older Chromecast without a remote, but you do have a Google smart home device such as the Nest display, connect them(Opens in a new window), and make requests such as, “OK Google, play Stranger Things on Netflix.” Other compatible services(Opens in a new window) include Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and YouTube TV.

5. Where’s the Remote? It Doesn’t Matter

Given that the Chromecast plugs into a port on your TV, you’ll need to switch the input on your TV to go between the cable box, the Chromecast, and whatever else you have in your home entertainment setup. If your TV supports HDMI-CEC, though, your TV can make the leap as soon as you hit the cast button from a supported app; no old-school remote needed. Some TV makers might call it by a different name (Google lists a rundown here(Opens in a new window)), but if your TV supports it, go to the TV’s settings, select the HDMI-CEC option, and enable it. Note that your Chromecast must be using a wall outlet for power and not plugged into a USB port on the TV.

6. Phone It In

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If you lose a Chromecast remote in the couch cushions, you can still navigate on your screen with the Google TV app. On iOS(Opens in a new window), turn on the TV, open the app, and select TV Remote on the bottom right. Select your device and enter the code shown on your TV screen. Tap Pair. On Android(Opens in a new window), add the virtual remote to your Quick Settings(Opens in a new window).

7. Mirror Your Android Device on TV

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If you want your Android screen to appear on the TV for work or entertainment, screen casting is supported(Opens in a new window) on devices running Android 8.0 and above (sorry, iPhone users). Your mileage may vary depending on which phone you have; the screenshot above is from a OnePlus 5T. Open the Google Home app, tap your Chromecast device, and tap Cast my screen on the bottom and then Cast screen. Tap Stop mirroring when you’re done.

8. Bring Apple TV and Google TV Together

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Maybe there’s a huge rivalry between Apple and Google, but you don’t have to get involved in the conflict when you have a Chromecast With Google TV. The Apple TV app, which includes Apple TV+, is available(Opens in a new window) in the Apps section of your home screen. It’s the kind of friendly cooperation you’d find on Ted Lasso.

9. Cast Music to Your TV

(Credit: Spotify/Pandora/Apple Music)

If you have an impressive sound system hooked up to your TV, why not use it to listen to your favorite tunes? A variety of music-streaming services can cast music to the Chromecast, including Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon Music. Make sure your device is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast, look for either the More Devices button or the Chromecast icon, and select your Chromecast from the list that pops up. Disconnect from your music app via the Google Home app.

10. Cast Google Photos to the TV

(Credit: Chloe Albanesius )

The Chromecast can serve as a modern-day alternative to old-school slideshows—no projector needed. Google Photos has Chromecast support(Opens in a new window), so you can cast your pics from Google Photos on iOS, Android, and the PC to your TV. Look for the Cast icon on the top of the Google Photos app, and tap to connect.

11. Add Photos to the Chromecast Background

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Switch up your Chromecast background with Ambient Mode. You can use your own photos(Opens in a new window) or choose from Google’s selection of art, landscape photography, and satellite images. In the Google Home app, tap your Chromecast. Tap the gear icon and select Ambient Mode. Here, you can choose to have your Chromecast display images from Google Photos or a gallery of Google-curated images and artwork. Tap Experimental for a low-bandwidth mode. You can also add the weather and time to the display and set how fast the Chromecast cycles through each photo.

12. Make Your Meetings Bigger

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We hate to bring up the topic of video meetings, but if you’re tired of staring at them on a small screen, you can make them more like entertainment by bringing them to your TV. You can cast your Google Meet meetings while still using your computer for its camera, microphone, and audio. Download the Meet app, open your meeting using Google Calendar or the Meet app, and select Cast this meeting. You’ll be able to choose the Cast device you want to use in the Cast tab. To stop casting, select the three-dot menu and click Stop Casting Meeting.

13. Cast Google Slides to Your TV

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When you use Google Slides, you can show your presentation with the Chromecast, since Google Cast is built into Chrome. Click the Present option on the top-right of your presentation, select Present on another screen, and pick your Chromecast device.

14. Chromecast Guest Mode

Whether you have house guests for a week or party guests for an evening, you might want to let them decide what to watch without giving them access to your Wi-Fi. On older-model Chromecasts, turn to Guest Mode(Opens in a new window). (Guest Mode is not available on the Chromecast With Google TV.) Open the Google Home app, select your Chromecast, tap the settings cog on the top-right, select Recognition & sharing > Guest Mode, and tap it to toggle on. When guests want to cast something, they can tap the cast icon in a supported app, select Nearby device, and enter the four-digit PIN that appears on the TV or that you provide to them.

15. Banish Buffering With an Ethernet Adapter

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The Chromecast is a handy gadget for streaming Netflix, YouTube, and other content from mobile devices to your TV, but it requires a strong Wi-Fi connection to deliver streams that don’t buffer. Not everyone has a super-fast Wi-Fi network, though. For those who don’t, Google offers a $20 Ethernet adapter(Opens in a new window) for the Chromecast With Google TV. A similar adapter(Opens in a new window) for previous-gen Chromecasts is $15, though there’s currently a waitlist.

The adapter looks like the existing Chromecast power cord, but the plug end includes a small Ethernet port. Connect an Ethernet cable that’s also connected to your modem to that port, plug the USB end of the adapter into the Chromecast, attach the Chromecast to the HDMI port on your TV, and you’re ready to go.

16. Listen on Your Headphones

When you want to watch something on TV but don’t want the sound to disturb others, the Chromecast With Google TV includes Bluetooth support, which you can access in the Remote & Accessories section of the Google TV home screen.

For older Chromecast devices, try LocalCast for Chromecast(Opens in a new window). It lets you cast video to your television while keeping audio on your device. Tap Route audio to phone on the Now Playing screen, and plug in some headphones.

17. Create a YouTube TV Queue

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The only annoying thing about watching YouTube via a Chromecast is that you have to pick up and put down your device every time you want to watch another video. Or do you? Open the YouTube app, tap the Cast button, select your Chromecast device, and choose a video to watch. A pop-up box appears that gives you the option to play the video right away or add it to your queue. Add as many videos you want to watch to your queue, then settle in. Tap the up arrow at the bottom of the screen to view or edit your upcoming video selections.

18. Cast Plex to the Chromecast

(Credit: Chloe Albanesius)

One of the chief complaints about the Chromecast is that it doesn’t support local media playback, so you can’t tap into content you’ve saved in the cloud. But with media management app Plex, you can stream your music, movies, and photos via the Chromecast(Opens in a new window). Plex organizes your scattered content and lets you watch it on tablets, TVs, phones, and other devices. Sign up(Opens in a new window), download the Plex app, and send your content to the Chromecast.

19. Do Not Track

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It’s impossible to turn off all tracking, since the Chromecast is merely a conduit for content, but you can limit what it sends to Google. In the Settings menu of your Chromecast device, select Recognition & sharing and toggle off the option next to Send device usage data and crash reports to Google.

20. Chromecast Preview Program

If spoilers don’t dissuade you, you’ll want to join the Chromecast Preview Program(Opens in a new window). It brings you the latest Chromecast features before they’re released to the public. Google says the program is not for beta testing but rather a preview of stable features.

To sign up, open the Google Home app. Tap your Chromecast and the gear icon on the top-right, select Device information > Preview program. Tap Join Program, and agree to receive emails about new features. To opt out, return to this page and tap Leave program.