Tips and Tricks to Use Google Chromecast Like a Pro

 Google Chromecast is a perfect device to kill time these days when you can’t step out of your home due to the ongoing pandemic. If you are a moviegoer and are currently unable to visit cinemas, you can get cinematic experience at home with Chromecast. It supports dozens of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, YouTube, Spotify and more that allows you to watch almost all movies that launch digitally. 

However, if you are new to Chromecast and haven’t explored it properly yet, this guide will help you. You will be able to make the most out of your equipment after reading our article.

Use Google Home to Control Chromecast

Do you know that you can link your Google Home smart speaker to your Chromecast? It will allow you to control and play anything on your Chromecast with your voice commands. To connect your both devices, please follow the given below instructions:  

1. First and foremost, ensure that both devices have connected on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Then, navigate to the Google Home app.  
3. Head to the More settings option.
4. There you need to find and tap the TVs and Speakers option.  
5. You should now see the list of devices that you have connected to your smart speaker.
6. Head to the + button from the bottom.  
7. When you see your Chromecast, tap on it.
8. Your Chromecast is now connected to the smart speaker.

Now that you have linked your Home speaker to it, you can use voice commands to access the Chromecast.

Use Ethernet Adapter

In case you own a 4K-ready Chromecast Ultra, you can plug in an Ethernet cable to it so that you get perfect internet speed. If your router is located a little away from the Chromecast, then you may not get sufficient signal strength. You might experience poor internet speed if your router is placed a little far from the Chromecast. Therefore you can install an Ethernet cable to it, but many Chromecast variants don’t have Ethernet cable port. Google offers a perfect solution to connect Ethernet cable to your Chromecast even if it doesn’t have a ethernet port. You can buy an Ethernet adapter for Chromecast to join a direct Ethernet to it. Google has manufactured an Ethernet adapter for Chromecast that converts Micro USB to Ethernet. It costs 15 USD and plugs into your Chromecast’s Micro USB port.  

Mirror Android Phone Screen via Chromecast

Does your Android device have the screen mirroring feature? Most Android devices come with Miracast that allows users to cast the entire screen of their smartphones. This way you can laterally view everything on your Android phone on your TV, including your private messages.

If you want to mirror your Android device to Chromecast, please obey these orders:

1. Make sure your Android phone and Chromecast are connected to the same WiFi network.
2. Then head to the Google Home app.
3. Click the Navigation drawer located on the upper left corner.
4. Then head to Cast Screen.
5. Choose your Chromecast.

That is all you need to do to cast your phone screen to your TV. Now you should see your phone display on your TV. This way you can see everything your phone has to offer on the big screen.

To stop casting, follow these instructions:

1. Go to the Google Home app.
2. Head to the navigation drawer. 
3. Click on Cast Screen.
4. Choose Disconnect.

You have stopped screencasting effectively.  

Get Free Streaming Apps

Google provides free exciting offers for its Chromecast users on the Chromecast offer page. You can search for it on Google and navigate to this page. On the offer page, you might see several offers like free access to some streaming services. You can get one month or even extended free trials to some streaming apps by navigating to this page. 

Play Local Videos and Movies

You can play local video files stored on your computer to your TV via Chromecast. You will need the Chrome browser on your PC or Mac to play local videos to Chromecast. All you need to do is open Chrome on your computer and then press CTRL + O keys on your keyboard. Then browse the video file you want to play. Click on a video to play it in your Chrome browser, then select three vertical dots from the top-right corner. After that, select the Cast option and then follow the on-screen instructions to cast your screen to Chromecast. Casting local videos through your computer to Chromecast is that simple.  

We hope these tips and tricks would help you in getting the most out of your Google Chromecast.

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