Android TV · Network & Internet

Cast video, audio, or your phone screen to the TV

Android TV has Chromecast built in, letting compatible apps on a phone, tablet, or computer send (cast) content directly to the TV over the same Wi-Fi network. Cast settings live under Settings → Apps → Google Cast (or Chromecast built-in).

How to open Casting & Google Cast

  1. Connect your phone or tablet to the same Wi-Fi network as the TV.
  2. Open a Cast-enabled app (like YouTube or a music app) and tap the Cast icon.
  3. Select your TV's name from the list of available devices.
  4. Playback should start on the TV within a few seconds; control it from the app as usual.

What you should know

  • The casting device and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work — casting does not work across different networks or most guest networks.
  • Casting can send a single app's media stream (like a video) or mirror an entire phone screen, depending on the app and device.
  • The TV's device name shown to casting apps can be changed under Settings → Device Preferences → About → Device name.

Why it matters

Casting fails silently more often from a network mismatch than from a broken app — confirming both devices are on the identical Wi-Fi network resolves the majority of "can't find my TV" cases.

Best practices

  • Keep the TV's Android TV OS and Google Play services up to date, since casting reliability depends heavily on both.
  • Rename the TV to something recognizable under Device Preferences → About if multiple TVs or Chromecasts show up with generic names.

Common problems and fixes

TV doesn't show up as a cast target
Verify both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network (not one on a 2.4GHz guest network and one on 5GHz main, for example) and that the TV is powered on and connected.
Casting starts but video stutters or lags
Move closer to the router or reduce other network traffic — casting quality depends on both devices having a stable, sufficiently fast connection.

Tips and tricks

  • Screen mirroring (casting your entire phone display) uses more bandwidth than app-level casting and can be less smooth — use a dedicated cast-enabled app when available instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cast from an iPhone to an Android TV?

Yes — apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify support casting from iOS the same way they do from Android, as long as both devices share a network.