Google launched its Chromecast streaming digital media players back in 2013. Since then, various models of the affordable dongle-based device have sold up to 55 million units. It’s easy to see why; the affordable Chromecast models allows users to stream apps from their smartphone to their TV. They can check out movies and TV shows from apps like Netflix and Hulu, along with many Chromecast supported games and audio sources.
You can also stream your current Chrome browser content to your big screen TV via Chromecast, and if you own an Android smartphone or tablet, you can mirror its screen to the TV as well with a connected Chromecast.
Currently, Chromecast supports Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac platforms. In this article, we will show you how to set up your new Chromecast, no matter what supported operating system you own, so you can start enjoying the streaming benefits of this device. The setup is mostly the same for all Chromecast models.
How to set up Chromecast for Android phones and tablets
1. Turn on your TV. If you own a regular Chromecast, connect it to your’ TV’s HDMI port, and connect its power cord to an available USB port on your TV. If one is not available, connect the Chromecast to your nearest power outlet with the included cable. If you own a Chromecast Ultra, connect it to your TV’s HDMI port, and connect its charging cord to a power outlet (it will not work with any USB cable or port). You can also connect the Chromecast Ultra to a nearby Ethernet port if you want a wired internet connection.
2. Download and install the Google Home app on your Android phone or tablet.
3. Open the Google Home app and tap on the Get Started option. You will then be asked to confirm which Google Account you want to use for the Chromecast. If you don’t have a Google Account, you will need one before you can continue.
4. You will have to give your Android device permission to use location services and access so it can find your Chromecast. If this is ready, tap on OK to continue.
5. The app will then scan the area to find your Chromecast. When it does, tap on Next. If you have more than one nearby Chromecast in your home, the app will show a list of them. Just tap on the device you want to set up, and then tap Next.
6. When the Google Home app detects your Chromecast, tap Next. If you have more than one nearby Chromecast in your home, the app will show a list of them. Just tap on the device you want to set up, and then tap Next.
7. The TV Chromecast is connected to should then display a unique code. If you see it, tap on Yes. If you don’t, your phone or tablet may not be close enough to the Chromecast. Move in a bit closer, tap on Try again, then tap on Scan for devices to repeat the previous process.
8. It will ask if you want to share your Chromecast’s stats, along with any crash reports, with Google. You can either tap Yes, I’m in or No thanks to this selection.
9. Some users may be asked which region of the world they are located in. If this shows up in the setup on the Google Home app, go to the region list, then tap on the region you’re in, and then tap Continue.
10. You will then be asked which room the Chromecast is located in your home from a list. Tap on it and then tap Next. If you want to create your own room name, tap on Add custom room, type in the name of that room, and then tap Next.
11. If you are connecting your Chromecast to your Wi-Fi network, choose the network on the Google Home app you want to connect to and then type Next. If you are connecting your Chromecast Ultra via the wired Ethernet connection, you can skip this step and the next one.
12. If your Android phone or tablet uses Android 5.0 Lollipop or above, your home Wi-Fi network’s password should automatically fill in the password field in the Google Home app when you tap OK. If this happens, tap on Connect next to complete the process. You can also choose the Enter manually option, and you can type in your Wi-Fi network password on your own, and tap Connect.
13. The app will then ask you to link the Chromecast to your Google Account for a more personalized experience. Just tap Continue on this page.
14. The Google Home app will show you a summary of what you have set up, and you will be given options to sign up for email updates, view a video tutorial on how to cast, and an option on how to set up other functionality. All of these are optional, however, and are not needed to complete the Chromecast setup.
15. That’s it: you are done and ready to stream, mirror and cast with your Android phone or tablet.
Read more: Best Chromecast apps for Android
How to set up Chromecast for iOS (iPhone and iPad)
1. Turn on your TV. If you own a regular Chromecast, connect it to your’ TV’s HDMI port, and then connect its power cord to an available USB port on your TV. If one is not available, connect the Chromecast to your nearest power outlet with the included cable. If you own a Chromecast Ultra, connect it to your TV’s HDMI port, and then connect its charging cord to a power outlet (it will not work with any USB cable or port). You can also connect the Chromecast Ultra to a nearby Ethernet port if you want a wired internet connection.
2. Download and install the Google Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
3. Open the Google Home app and tap the Get Started option. It will ask to confirm which Google Account you want to use for the Chromecast. If you don’t have a Google Account, you will one before you can continue.
4. The Google Home app will want to use your iPhone or iPad’s Bluetooth support for the next step. If Bluetooth is turned on already, skip this step. If it is turned off, or if you don’t want to use Bluetooth, you can tap on No thanks. Then tap on the Home button on your device, go into the Settings section and tap Wi-Fi. Connect to same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device. Go back to the Google Home app, and it should detect the Chromecast.
5. The app will then scan the area to find your Chromecast. When it does, tap on Next. If you have more than one nearby Chromecast in your home, the app will show a list of them. Just tap on the device you want to set up, and then tap Next.
6. The TV the Chromecast is connected to should then display a unique code. If you see it, tap on Yes. If you don’t, your phone or tablet may not be close enough to the Chromecast. Move in a bit closer, tap Try again, then tap on Scan for devices to repeat the previous process.
7. IT will ask if you want to share your Chromecast’s stats, along with any crash reports, with Google. You can either tap Yes, I’m in or No thanks to this selection.
8. Some users may be asked which region of the world they are located in. If this shows up in the setup on the Google Home app, go to the region list, then tap on the region where you are located, and then tap Continue.
9. You will then be asked which room the Chromecast is located in your home from a list. Tap on it and then tap Next. If you want to create your own room name, tap on Add custom room, type in the name of that room, and then tap Next.
10. If you are connecting your Chromecast to your Wi-Fi network, choose the network on the Google Home app you want to connect to and then type Next. If you are connecting your Chromecast Ultra via the wired Ethernet connection, you can skip this step and the next one.
11. You can type in your Wi-Fi network password on your own in the app, and then tap Connect.
12. The app will then ask you to link the Chromecast to your Google Account for a more personalized experience. Just tap Continue on this page.
13. The Google Home app will show you a summary of what you have set up, with options to sign up for email updates, view a video tutorial on how to cast, and an option on how to set up other functionality. None of these are needed to complete the Chromecast setup.
14. That’s it: you are done and ready to stream and cast with your iPhone or iPad.
Read more: Things you didn’t know you could do with Chromecast
How to set up Chromecast for PC (Windows and Mac)
1. Turn on your TV. If you own a regular Chromecast, connect it to your TV’s HDMI port, and then connect its power cord to either an available USB port on your TV. If one is not available, connect the Chromecast to your nearest power outlet with the included cable. If you own a Chromecast Ultra, connect it to your TV’s HDMI port, and then connect its charging cord to a power outlet (it will not work with any USB cable or port). You also have the option to connect the Chromecast Ultra to a nearby Ethernet port if you want a wired internet connection.
2. Make sure your Windows or Mac PC is running the latest version of the Chrome web browser. You can do this by going to the Settings section of the browser, then click on the “About Google Chrome” section, and finally.
3. Go to the chromecast.com/setup web page via the Chrome browser.
4. Once you reach that page, click on the Set up your Chromecast using this computer section.
5. The browser will then scan the area to find your Chromecast. When it does, you should click on the device name in the browser that’s the same one that you see on your TV, and then click on Set me up. You should see a long list of Privacy and Terms you have to agree with to continue the setup process. Click on Accept when you are ready.
6. The setup process should automatically connect to the Chromecast, via its Wi-Fi hotspot. If this happens, move on to the next step. If it doesn’t, you will need to go to your PC’s Wi-Fi menu and select the Wi-Fi network that matches the name of your Chromecast. You can then connect to that network and then click Next.
7. The TV that the Chromecast is connected to should then display a unique code. If you see it, click Yes. If you don’t, repeat the previous setup process.
8. You will then be asked to name which room the Chromecast is located in your home. Type in that name, or leave the default name in place. Choose the country you are located in and then click on Next.
9. Connect your Chromecast to your local Wi-Fi network by clicking on the upside down arrow. Type in the password for your local network and click on Connect. Then click Next.
10. That’s it: you are done and ready to stream, mirror and cast media with your Windows and Mac PC onto your TV via the Chrome browser.
Read more: How to stream from Kodi to Chromecast
How to set up Chromecast – conclusion
As you can see, setting up a Chromecast to work on a different platform requires some different instructions, especially if you want to connect the Chromecast to a PC. Have you tried to use Chromecast to cast or stream content from your device to your big screen TV?
Via Phandroid