Chromecast allows you to send things from a small screen, like your phone, to a big screen, like a TV. What happens, however, if someone has a Chromecast device but doesn’t have a television?
Chromecast can be used without a TV. You can hook up Chromecast to your PC or Laptop and cast to this screen from your smartphone in place of a TV. However, Chromecast is built for TVs, so the image may not look exactly the same on your PC as it would on a TV.
Today we’ll take a look at using Chromecast on a PC or Laptop, as well as look at any additional ways that you can go about using it. Let’s get started.
How To Use Chromecast Without a Smart TV
As I mentioned, it’s very possible to use Chromecast without a Smart TV.
However, you will need a laptop or desktop computer on hand.
Because Chromecast is built to cast videos, pictures, and so on from one screen to another, it can’t serve its purpose without a computer or a TV to cast to.
Speaking of Smart TVs, if you use your TV for web browsing, check out our other article on the best smart TVs for web browsing.
This can even be a replacement for Chromecast.
To use Chromecast on your laptop or PC, you’ll want to connect the Chromecast device to the computer via USB.
This will plugin the same way that it connects to your Smart TV USB.
It sounds simple, and it is, but there are some additional steps that you’ll need to take to prepare your computer to be ready to use Chromecast.
Setting Up Browser Extensions for Chromecast
The first thing you’ll need to do is to set up some browser extensions so that Chromecast can run on your laptop or desktop computer.
You can do this from any browser, but I would recommend using Google Chrome since Chromecast is a Google device.
Overall, this tends to make things easier.
Here’s what you’ll need to do if you are using Chrome.
- Tap the menu icon. This is located in the upper right-hand corner. It may either look like three vertical dots or like an arrow, depending on how old your browser is.
- Right-click on cast. This is located about midway down the menu once you’ve done the first step.
At this point, the cast button will appear at the top of the browser window.
Usually, it appears as a rectangle with what looks like WiFi bars in the bottom left corner.
This is an indication that your browser has been set up to cast and should be ready to continue with the Chromecast setup.
Set Up Chromecast on Your Computer
Once the cast button is up and running, it’s time to set up Chromecast on your laptop or desktop computer.
- Check your internet connection. Both the computer and the Chromecast device will need to be connected to the same network. You’ll also want to make sure that both devices are on the same band. For example, you don’t want one to be on 2.4GHz and the other to be on 5GHz.
- If you’re casting from your phone, ensure that it is on the same network. You can double-check this in your phone settings.
- Once you’re all connected, plug in your Chromecast device to your computer. The device should automatically connect, and you will be able to begin streaming. If it doesn’t connect automatically, you may want to try unplugging it and waiting about thirty seconds.
- If things still aren’t working right, repeat the steps that we’ve already gone through. If the setup isn’t done quite right, it can result in the device not working.
You don’t necessarily need a Chromecast device to use Chromecast on your laptop or desktop.
The casting button, which you set up earlier, will allow you to cast from your computer to another screen. However, you will need a Chromecast device to cast from your phone to the computer.
Casting From Your Phone to Computer
Once you have Chromecast set up on your laptop, you can easily cast movies, videos, and pictures to your computer from your phone.
To do this, you’ll simply want to start playing the video you want and then begin the casting process.
If the video is on YouTube or something similar, you’ll need to look at the video menu at the bottom of the video.
There will be an option to cast. Upon tapping, you will have the option to select where you want to cast to.
When your Chromecast device is connected to your laptop or desktop, you will have the option to cast directly to your computer.
Are There Any Other Ways To Use Chromecast Without a TV?
Unfortunately, Chromecast is specific to use with TVs most of the time.
While there is a workaround for using it with your laptop and your phone, you’ll always need both of these devices available if you don’t have a TV.
Many people have questioned whether or not you can use Chromecast to cast between two phones, for example.
Because the Chromecast device has to be plugged in via USB, this isn’t an option.
You also cannot cast from a phone to a tablet.
You can use the built-in features in the Chromecast browser extension to cast from your laptop to a tablet or something similar.
You can, however, cast from one computer to another.
You simply need to have the Chromecast device plugged into one of your computers.
Ultimately, it’s best to always use Chromecast with a Smart TV when possible.
Can I Use Chromecast Without a TV? Final Thoughts
Chromecast can be used without a TV. The first thing you’ll need to do is to set up a browser extension so that you can use Chromecast on your computer.
The next thing you’ll need to do is install Chromecast.
Once everything is set up, you’ll be able to stream Chromecast from your phone to your laptop.
If you have a TV on hand, you can also Chromecast directly from your computer to the TV without a Chromecast device.