Google Chromecast is the real deal for hassle-free casting and streaming content on the TV via a mobile device or laptop. It has made our lives easier with its plug-and-play interface. Setting up a Chromecast device is no sweat. However, most users are familiar with running Chromecast via mobile and not a laptop.
But gladly, setting up Chromecast through a laptop is not very different. The setup will not take much of your time, and you’ll be able to enjoy casting content on a bigger screen in no time. Here’s everything that you need to do to get started to connect your Chromecast device to a laptop.
How do I set up Google Chromecast?
The best thing about Chromecast is its user-friendly interface that makes setting up a breeze. If you’re starting with the Google dongle, you need a TV with an HDMI port, a Chromecast device, and a laptop, mobile or PC.
- Connect the Google Chromecast to the HDMI port of your TV.
- Next, visit the Chromecast setup page on your laptop. Here, you’ll find an option to download the Google Home app for Android/iOS.
- Install the application according to your OS.
- Now, your Chromecast needs a network connection. Connect it to an available WiFi network and complete the setup.
Note: Make sure your laptop and Chromecast are on the same network.
How to connect Chromecast to a laptop?
Now that you have successfully set up your Chromecast device, direct your focus towards your laptop. Where do you begin casting? At this point, you need to find a way to get going with your streaming.
Anyway, forming a connection between a laptop and Chromecast is no task. Follow these steps, and you’ll be almost there.
- Install the latest version of Google Chrome on your laptop. If you already have that, good for you!
- Now, find the menu of your Chrome browser.
- Once you open the menu, you’ll see an option for ‘casting.’
- Select ‘cast’ and find your Chromecast device on the menu.
- Finally, the connection will be formed at this point. Now you can start streaming your favorite content on the TV screen.
Once the steps are done, streaming content shouldn’t be a problem. We’re not done here yet since we’ve discussed only forming a connection between the two devices.
For those who do not know what to do next, below you’ll find a complete guide on how to start streaming on your TV via Chromecast.
How to stream content using Chromecast on laptop?
We are done with all the technicalities associated with Chromecast and its setup. Now you need to find the content you want to broadcast on your TV.
Let’s say you want to stream a Netflix show on your TV. What are you going to do?
- On your Chrome browser, visit the Netflix Website.
- Sign in to your Netflix account by entering your account details.
- Now, open the Menu/More icon of your browser, usually represented by three dots.
- Select the cast icon from the menu and choose your Chromecast device for connection.
- Lastly, choose whatever you want to broadcast on your TV screen and play.
You can cast other applications such as YouTube, Hulu, Zoom, etc., using a similar method. Just make sure you have a strong Internet connection as well as both devices are connected to the same network.
Why is Chromecast not displayed as an option on my laptop?
Sometimes this problem can occur if your network connection is compromised. Apart from that, Chromecast is usually not displayed as an option when
- it is not installed correctly or
- due to incorrect connections
So, first of all, check the connection of your Chromecast device. Try unplugging and plugging it again. Most of the time, this solves the issue.
Check your laptop, and if you still cannot access Chromecast, there might be an installation issue.
To reinstall your Chromecast device
- First, reset the device by pressing the reset button on it for 25-30 seconds.
- Once the light starts flashing, repeat the installation process by following the Google Chromecast Setup page instructions.
While typically, these two tips will solve your problem. If not, you can even try rebooting your laptop because sometimes the issue lies in the laptop and not the Chromecast device.
How to Fix Lag between Chromecast and Laptop?
A lag between the sound and video or delay between the content streaming on the TV and laptop is quite annoying. It just ruins the whole experience.
First of all, check that you’re using an updated version of your browser. Most of the time, a lack of system updates results in a poor casting experience.
Weak Internet Connection
Additionally, lags can also happen due to a weak internet connection. If your network connection is not as strong, you can overcome this problem by lowering the streaming quality or video quality on your laptop. This way, the quality will not be great, but at least the lags will be eliminated.
Low System Memory
At times, lags also occur due to low memory on your laptop. If the network connection is not an issue, try closing all the background apps on your laptop and clearing up the memory. This allows your laptop to function better and faster, hence, minimizing any delay between the content.
Final Thoughts
Google Chromecast opens many opportunities for broadcasting content on your TV, especially a non-smart TV that doesn’t have a built-in Chromecast technology. Chromecast allows you to stream videos, music, games, local files, meetings, and whatnot.
Overall, it is a great device to convert your non-smart TV to a smart TV in an affordable way. The streaming opportunities are just as vast, provided you’re connected to a stable network connection.