Chromecast Guides

From July 2019, Amazon Prime Video finally supports Chromecast and you can easily chromecast Amazon Prime Video to your TV.

Now, you can enjoy the Prime videos on the TV without a fire TV dongle/box/cube. Chromecast and the Amazon Prime Video app are the only requirements.

This Chromecast how-to guide explains to you how to use Chromecast to stream Amazon Prime videos, and the difference between Chromecast and Watch on Second Screen.

Fire TV vs. Chromecast

For a long time, Amazon has fought against Google on all fronts.

Chromecast was banned on the Amazon platform. Fire tablets removed anything related to Google. Amazon used Bing, instead of Google, as the default search engine on their devices.

Google fought back by removing YouTube support on all Amazon devices (Fire tablet, Fire TV,  Fire TV Cube, and Echo Show).

In July 2019, two adults finally stopped hostility.  Amazon started to sell Chromecast (and other Google gadgets) and add Chromecast support to Prime Video app.

So, you can now use Chromecast to stream Amazon Prime Video from your mobile devices or PC to your TV without using a Fire TV.

In the past, you have three options … Continue to read the post....

The post How to Chromecast Amazon Prime Video to your TV? appeared first on All About Chromecast.

What is AllAboutChromecast.com?

AllaboutChromecast.com is a community for owners of Chromecast devices: Chromecast, Chromecast 2nd Gen (Chromecast 2015), Chromecast Audio, and Chromecast Ultra (Chromecast 2016).

AllAboutChromecast is a community for Chromecast owner to help other owners.  We are NOT affiliated to Google in any means.

All guides and articles in AllAboutChromecast.com are free to access for all users. No subscription is needed. You can also post your questions in comments section of each guide or article.

Why AllAboutChromecast.com?

Chromecast is a unique device.

It is easy to setup and use, only if you know how to use it.

Like most modern gadgets, Chromecast has so many features and possibly different usages. It is impractical to cover them in one user guide.

For most Chromecast owners, you only need to know “how can I use it for bla bla bla”.

This is what our Chromecast How-to guides and Chromecast Audio guides will do for you.

We simply have the best how-to guides on using Chromecast (including Chromecast, Chromecast 2nd Gen and Chromecast Ultra) and Chromecast Audio.

All our guides were tested on our own devices before they were released. No BS.

Any most importantly, we (the whole … Continue to read the post....

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Although Chromecast Audio was discontinued, you can still make your vintage speakers or favourite AVR systems alive by using Chromecast to stream music to dumb speakers, just like what Chromecast Audio does.

Of course, this may require additional setup and one additional gadget (a few bucks) unless your speaker or AV support HDMI input.

This Chromecast guide explains why you may consider using Chromecast to stream music to dumb speakers and how to set up the system so that you can continue streaming music to the speakers and AV systems without Chromecast Audio.

Update: the latest Chromecast 2020 (Chromecast with Google TV; Chromecast 4th Gen) merges Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra, and Android TV. There is no successor for Chromecast Audio

Why do you want to use Chromecast (or Chromecast Ultra) as Chromecast Audio?  Because Google discontinued Chromecast Audio!

In early 2019, Google silently discontinued Chromecast Audio. Now, it is almost impossible to get a “new” Chromecast Audio even on eBay.

The asking price of a “used” Chromecast Audio is about that of two new Chromecast units!

Chromecast (including Chromecast Ultra) is designed for videos/TVs, and Chromecast Audio for speakers/AVR systems. The comparison of Chromecast and … Continue to read the post....

The post How to use Chromecast to stream music to dumb speakers (as Chromecast Audio does)? appeared first on All About Chromecast.

Chromecast is one of the most innovative gadgets in 2013.  It makes it easy to enjoy contents in a large screen at an affordable price of $35.

But what holds most enthusiasts from ordering the device is that only limited apps are supported before the Google Cast SDK  is open to public. Only selected partners (e.g., Hulu, HBO, Plex…) are allowed to release apps with Chrome cast support.

The Google Cast SDK (it is branded as Google Cast in most situations, although the product name is still Chromecast)  was initially for preview only: developers are not allowed to release their apps per the terms.

This week, Google finally officially open the Google Cast SDK to the public. All developers now can make their apps work with Chromecast officially.

This brings infinite opportunities for our Chromecast, and for our mobile devices

We will see more and more apps work with Chromecast. For example, if you want to stream local contents to  a TV, currently, you have to use Chrome browser (with Google Cast extension) in a laptop or a PC (you may refer to this guide if you still want to know how to do it).  But since the Google Cast … Continue to read the post....

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Update 1: Now there are six methods. The new approach is to use Android screen cast.

Update 2: Added the image illustrating the differences of the six methods to stream local media files with Chromecast from the book: Chromecast 101: How to stream local media files with Chromecast (Kindle Edition, released November 2014, ASIN: B00Q7TSL3G).

Update 3: with the release of VLC 3.0 on February 9, 2018, Chromecast is now supported.

You can use VLC media player to stream local media files from a PC or an Android phone without using any additional apps or servers.  On Android phones, you may check this guide on how to use VLC for Android to stream local media files to Chromecast device.

Chromecast can not only stream internet contents, e.g., YouTube, Netflix, but also can it stream local contents, your videos, music, and photos to your  TV. It can also turn your TV into your remote monitor for your PC!

There are several methods for streaming local media files to Chromecast.  Each has its strength and weakness.

A lot of Chromecast owners get confused on these methods after we illustrated different possible ways.

The purpose of this comparison is to guide … Continue to read the post....

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You can launch Videostream just like other Chrome apps

As explained in this page, Videostream for Google cast is one of the best solutions to stream local contents to Chromecast.

It is both powerful enough and simple enough for most Chromecast owners. We also published a detailed guide on how to use Videostream extension to stream local contents to Chromecast.

But one of the most common questions asked is how to launch Videosteram after initial installation.

Videosteram for Google cast is just a normal Chrome app. So, you can launch Videostream just like launching other Chrome apps.

This is a simple job for Chromebook users, or seasoned Chrome users.

But for many new and casual Chrome users, it can be very confusing about how to launch Chrome app after the installation.

This guide will show you how to launch Videosteram for Google cast app easily. You can even create a shortcut of Chrome apps on desktop.

There are at least 3 different methods to launch Videostream for Google cast from your PC. We will cover all of them one by one.

After Google removed Chrome App launcher for PC (Windows, PC, and Linux) earlier this year, you cannot … Continue to read the post....

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When do you need to reset Chromecast (factory data reset)?

Most of the time, it is not necessary to factory reset Chromecast  (factory data reset). The device update itself when connected to internet.  It seldom gives problem.

But in the following two scenarios, you probably have to reset  Chromecast:

• You change your wireless router. Chromecast can only remember one network. If you changed your router, you can either re-do the setup (you may follow this Chromecast setup guide) if the old network is not in range, or simply reset Chromecast.
• Chromecast hangs or freezes.  You can try to plug out the USB power cable, then check whether Chromecast works after plugging the cable back. But if this doe not work or Chromecast hangs frequently, it is good idea to reset Chromecast (factory data reset) before calling Google support or returning the unit.

How to reset Chromecast (factory data reset)?

It is quite simple to factory reset Chromecast. There are two ways to factory reset Chromecast.

Method 1: Use the button on Chromecast to reset Chromecast

Hold down the button (next to the micro USB port) on your Chromecast for at least 25 seconds or until the solid light begins … Continue to read the post....

The post How to reset Chromecast (Factory Data Reset,FDR)? appeared first on All About Chromecast.

On October 4, 2016, Google announced a new $69 (not $35) Chromecast device: Chromecast Ultra.

This actually is the 3rd generation of Chromecast. Chromecast (1st gen) was released in  2013. Chromecast 2nd gen and Chromecast Audio (which were discontinued in 2019) were announced in 2015.

This post will try to help you understand the differences between Chromecast 2nd Gen and Chromecast Ultra, and help you decide whether you need a Chromecast Ultra.

Chromecast 3rd gen (Chromecast 2018) and Chromecast 4th gen (Chromecast 2020; Chromecast with Google TV) are also available in the market now.

Is Chromecast Ultra for 4K TV only?

One of the most prominent features of Chromecast Ultra is supporting 4K video streaming.

But this does NOT mean Chromecast Ultra is only for 4K TV owners.

If you only have a Full HD (1080p) TV, compared to Chromecast 2nd gen,  Chromecast Ultra can still offer some nice new and improved features:

• High Dynamic Range (HDR) support. Of course, HDR contents are still very limited. YouTube and Google Play will gradually join Netflix and Amazon for streaming HDR contents. HDR-ready TV is also needed to enjoy the benefits. We will discuss this in detail in

… Continue to read the post....

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When considering to buy a streaming device for the TV, a lot of people may have a hard time to decide between Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Both gadgets share a similar form factor, share a similar price (less than $40). Both are from reputable tech companies.

It is usually not helpful to read reviews for these two products. It is all about your needs: what do you want to do with the HDMI Stick?

This guide will try to help you decide which one is suitable for YOU: Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV Stick?

I have no intention (possible?) to make a judgment on which one is better because the better one is not always suitable for you. What you need is Mr. or Ms. Right.

Chromecast VS Amazon Fire TV Stick: 2 similar but fundamentally different products

Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV Stick have a similar size and weight.  They both need external power through a Micro USB port. They both must be inserted into an HDMI port on the TV.

They both can turn your TV into a connected entertainment device.

But Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV stick are fundamentally different:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick

… Continue to read the post....

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What is Chromecast Audio multi-room group playback?

If you have two or more Chromecast Audio devices, you can let them play exactly the same music simultaneously.

This Chromecast Audio feature is named as multi-room group playback (multi-room support).

Chromecast Audio multi-room group playback was announced when Chromecast Audio was announced. About two months later, in December 2015,  this feature was released through a firmware update (and Chromecast app update).

Essentially, Chromecast Audio multi-room group playback allows you to play music on all of your Chromecast Audio devices in the same WiFi network.

Currently, Chromecast Audio multi-room group playback feature is available for Chromecast Audio only. You cannot add a Chromecast device to the group.  You may read this page on differences between Chromecast and Chromecast Audio.

Update: Group playback is available for all Chromecast (Chromecast, Chromecast Audio, and Chromecast Ultra) and all Google Home speakers (Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, Google Nest Mini aka Home Mini 2nd Gen).

Also, you should not confuse the group playback with the Google Home speaker group. The differences between the group playback and speaker group are explained here.

The requirements of Chromecast Audio

… Continue to read the post....

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