Chromecast Guides

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....

The post How to launch Videostream (and other Chrome apps as well)? appeared first on All About Chromecast.

Android screen casting makes the TV your second screen!

The latest Chromecast app (1.9.6) update brought  Android screen casting (screen mirroring), one of the most anticipated features of Chromecast, to all Android devices with Android KitKat 4.4.2 or later.

If you are new to this feature, you may refer to this post.

Essentially, Android screen casting (screen mirroring) through Chromecast will make your TV the second screen of your Android devices.

You can enjoy videos, games, music, and everything on the TV with Android screen casting through Chromecast.

Anything displayed on your android screen and the audio can be mirrored on your TV through Chromecast.

This makes your $35 Chromecast more values.

Previously, screen casting feature is only supported on a few selected (high-end) devices.

How to start and stop Android screen casting?

After you update Chromecast app to 1.9.6 or later, you can find the cast screen option as shown below.

If your device is not among the supported device list (see this post for the updated officially supported devices), you will see the following warning messaging

“Screen casting is not optimized for this device, your experience may vary.”

Tap OK to continue as shown below.

Now tap … Continue to read the post....

The post Android screen casting for Chromecast is now supported on all Android devices with KitKat 4.4.2 or later appeared first on All About Chromecast.

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This … Continue to read the post....

The post Privacy appeared first on All About Chromecast.

What is the Google Home and Chromecast casting notification?

With the release of Google Home, the Google cast app was renamed as Google Home app.

Now, Chromecast (including Chromecast Ultra), Chromecast Audio and Google Home are all managed by the same Google Home app.

One of the new features in Google Home app (through Google Play services on the phone) is the Google Home and Chromecast casting notification (remote control notifications) in all mobile devices that are connected to the same network as the casting devices.

This means, by default, all mobile devices (with a Google account and the latest Google app) in the same network as casting devices now get the casting notification (remote control notification) when any of the casting devices is casting.

Here casting devices include Chromecast, Chromecast 2nd Gen, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast Audio and Google Home.

For example, when Google Play music is playing music to Chromecast Audio, you will see the notification in other Android  phones as shown below.

This notification appears not only on the device you initiated the casting, but also all other mobile devices in the same network, by default.

So, any devices can control the playback remotely through … Continue to read the post....

The post How to disable Google Home and Chromecast casting notification? appeared first on All About Chromecast.

Why do we need one more solution (robust and free) of streaming local media to Chromecast?

To stream local media to Chromecast is not as simple as many expected. Google intends to make Chromecast an internet thing, not a local media player.

If you used Chromecast for online streaming, you probably are very happy with this $35 device. It works with more and more services, and the online streaming quality is quite impressive most of the time.

But if you have a lot of media files in the hard drive of your PC, you may feel the pain to stream local media to Chromecast  (to watch on the big screen).

In the Chromecast how-to guides section, I shared two methods of streaming local media to Chromecast:

1. Stream local video to Chromecast through a Chrome browser tab.
2. Share the whole desktop screen (and audio) to Chromecast through desktop sharing.

Both of the methods are not robust, with obvious limitations.

Using a Chrome tab to stream local media to Chromecast is the simplest method. But it is severely limited by the media formats that you can play through Chrome browser. Very often, the user has to install additional software or … Continue to read the post....

The post How to use Plex media server to stream local media to Chromecast (from your PC) appeared first on All About Chromecast.

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.

Like any other electronics devices, sometimes, Chromecast Audio may not work properly.

In this case,  you need reset Chromecast Audio. This guide explains two different methods to factory data reset Chromecast Audio. The methods also applies to Chromecast.

Please note, when you reset Chromecast Audio, the device will then return to “factory” state as a new Chromecast. This means you need setup the Chromecast Audio as a new device after the factory data reset (FDR).

When you need reset Chromecast Audio?

For most owners, it is not necessary to reset Chromecast Audio.  You may consider to reset Chromecast Audio:

1. when the Chromecast Audio LED color is solid orange;
2. when you change your wireless router;
3. when you change wireless network settings (e.g., SSID) on the router;
4. when you bring your Chromecast Audio to your friends home;
5. when you want to pass the Chromecast Audio to other people;
6. when Chromecast Audio works oddly.

Corresponding to these scenarios, you have two methods to factory data reset Chromecast Audio:

1. hard reset (using hardware button);
2. soft reset (using Chromecast App in mobile devices or Google Cast extension on PC);

Both methods work identically. But the second method (soft reset) is not accessible … Continue to read the post....

The post How to factory data reset Chromecast Audio? appeared first on All About Chromecast.

Update: Chromecast 2018 (3rd generation) is out. You may check this guide for new features in Chromecast 2018.

Google just announced and released the 2nd generation of Chromecast on September 29, about 2 years after the initial release of Chromecast.

You can order the new Chromecast through Google Store or Best Buy now.

You may wonder what’s new in the new Chromecast (Chromecast 2015) and whether you should update to the new Chromecast.

In this post, I will share with you the top 5 new features and improvements of the new Chromecast (Chromecast 2015).

Detailed how-to guides for the new Chromecast will be added gradually.

1. Chromecast Audio: a new member of  the new Chromecast family:

In addition to the normal Chromecast with HDMI interface, Google released the new Chromecast Audio for your speaker.

You can connect Chromecast Audio to a speaker (or a soundbar or even your home theatre system) through the 3.5mm audio cable.

Chromecast Audio instantly turns your speakers or soundbar into a “smart” and “connected” device. It can stream music from the cloud or from your phones or other devices. Please check Chromecast Audio guides here.

It is better than a Bluetooth speaker:

• It

… Continue to read the post....

The post What’s new in the new Chromecast (Chromecast 2015) 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....

The post Chromecast Ultra vs Chromecast 2nd Gen appeared first on All About Chromecast.

The LED light on the voice remote for Chromecast with Google TV can give you some quick information about the status of the remote.

This Chromecast with Google TV guide explains the meaning of the LED light on the voice remote for Chromecast with Google TV to help you understand the status of the remote correctly.

Please note that this guide only applies to the official voice remote, which is bundled with the Chromecast with Google TV (both the 4K and HD versions). You may get a replacement from Google Store. Third-party Android TV remote controls may have totally different designs. The meaning of LED lights on these third-party remotes, if present, depends on the manufacturer.

Where is the LED light on the voice remote for Chromecast with Google TV?

As explained in this guide and shown in the picture above, the LED light is located in the lower part of the front panel below the Power button and the input source switch button.

When it is not lit up, it is hard to find it actually. Also, the LED light is white only.

The LED light alerts you to the status of the voice remote. It does … Continue to read the post....

The post Meaning of LED light on voice remote for Chromecast with Google TV appeared first on All About Chromecast.