Want to watch the latest season of your favorite show on your iPhone, but the tiny screen’s getting in your way of enjoying it? There’s a solution for that.
By using Chromecast with iPhone, you can stream and mirror anything on your TV. Of course, there are some limitations, which we’ll explain in this article along with how you can connect the devices to watch videos on a larger screen.
Does Chromecast Work with iPhone?
Yes, using a Chromecast device is one of the easiest ways to display your iPhone’s screen on your TV. The setup is quick and incredibly simple. Most modern TVs today are already equipped with Chromecast. If yours isn’t, you’ll have to buy the device separately.
With Chromecast, you can stream videos and photos from compatible apps on your iPhone. Some of these apps include YouTube, Netflix, and Google Photos. You won’t be able to mirror your phone’s screen on the TV, though, unless you use a third-party app in tandem with Chromecast.
To set up Chromecast on your TV and iPhone, you need the Google Home app. Your iPhone and iPad must be on iOS 14.0 or above to be able to use the app.
How to Connect to Chromecast on iPhone
Setting up Chromecast with Google Home requires only a few steps, which we’ve outlined below:
Step 1: First, download the Google Home app from the App Store.
Step 2: Make sure your TV is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
Step 3: If you’re using the Chromecast device, plug it into your TV and press the button on it.
Step 4: Now on your phone, launch Google Home and log in with your Gmail account.
Step 5: You’ll be asked to choose a Home. Either choose the default one or create your own.
Step 6: Tap Allow While Using App to give Google Home location access.
Step 7: The app will begin to search for Chromecast devices in your surroundings. Make sure your iPhone is close to your TV.
Step 8: It may ask you to choose your Chromecast-enabled TV manually. Tap Chromecast/Google TV.
Step 9: A QR code will show up on your TV. Scan it with your phone and select your Wi-Fi. You can now start streaming videos on your TV!
Streaming Videos from an iPhone to a Chromecast
To cast a video or a photo from your iPhone to your TV, you have to ensure that you’re using a Chromecast-enabled app.
When you use a compatible app, it doesn’t matter if you’re signed into a different Gmail account than the one on Google Home. As long as your phone and Chromecast are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you’ll have no trouble streaming your media content.
To stream videos from apps like YouTube and Netflix, follow the steps below:
Step 1: For this guide, we’ll use YouTube. Open the app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Now play a video you want to cast on the TV.
Step 3: Tap the casting button in the upper-right corner. Its location may be different if you’re on another Chromecast-compatible app.
Step 4: A dropdown list will appear. Choose your Chromecast TV from it.
Step 5: The video will then appear on your TV! Feel free to lock your iPhone at this point.
When you’re streaming a video with Chromecast, you can use your iPhone as a remote. Use it to adjust the volume or play the next/previous video.
Some of the apps that you can use with Chromecast include:
- Disney+
- Daily Motion
- Spotify
- BBC iPlayer
- Google Podcasts
- Google Slides
- VLC Media Player
Chromecast on iPhone supports thousands of other apps. If you want to see the full list, click here.
Mirroring Your iPhone’s Screen with Chromecast and a Third-Party App
As mentioned above, there’s no way to use the device to Chromecast iPhone and display the entire screen. You have to use a third-party app for that.
One app you can use is TV Mirror for Chromecast. It has a rating of 4.4/5 and you can use it to quickly connect your iPhone’s screen to your TV.
Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Download TV Mirror for Chromecast from the App Store.
Step 2: When you launch the app, it’ll automatically start to look for Chromecast devices near you that are on the same Wi-Fi as your phone.
Step 3: Select your Chromecast-enabled TV. If you’re on the free version, you’ll have to watch an ad before proceeding to the next step.
Step 4: You’ll be moved to the main dashboard of the app. Since you want to be able to control your iPhone’s screen on the TV, tap TV Mirror.
Step 5: Tap Start Broadcast.
While this method will enable you to see your iPhone’s screen on the TV, you won’t be able to view content that’s locked behind DRM restrictions. This means you can’t use the “screen broadcasting” feature to watch content on apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
If you upgrade to the pro version of the app, you won’t have to see ads and you’ll be able to watch videos with audio on the TV. The maximum resolution supported by the free version is 720p.
Is a Chromecast Attachment Necessary to Stream to TV from an iPhone?
A Chromecast device is only needed if your TV doesn’t have it built-in to it. Almost every modern smart TV has the built-in Chromecast app now, though, so there’s a good chance you won’t have to spend money on a separate device.
Having built-in functionality makes Google Chromecast’s iPhone setup even easier as you don’t have to connect anything to your TV.
It’s not just Android TVs that have it today, other brands like Sony and TCL also come with it now.
Some of the TVs that have built-in Chromecast include:
- TCL 5-Series Google TV
- Sony A95K
- Vizio V-Series
- Hisense U8H
- Sony X800H
To check if your TV has Chromecast functionality, go into settings and check if you can see it in the list of all apps. These settings will differ based on what TV you have.
Is There Any Difference Between Streaming and Mirroring?
Yes, despite the common misconception, streaming and mirroring are two different things. Streaming is when you cast videos from a specific app like YouTube or Netflix. Mirroring is when everything on your iPhone is displayed on the TV.
You use Chromecast to stream in-app videos but you can’t cast media stored in your iPhone’s Photos app. The easiest way to do that is by using AirPlay to stream downloaded media on an AirPlay 2-enabled TV.
When you stream something, you can use your iPhone without changing anything you see on the TV. While mirroring, every action performed on your phone is mimicked on the TV. We’ve added a table below which you can quickly look at to understand the differences between the two functions:
| Streaming | Mirroring |
| Whatever you choose to stream only plays on the TV and not on your iPhone. | Everything you do on your iPhone is replicated on the TV screen. |
| You can lock your iPhone while streaming videos as it doesn’t affect what’s happening on the TV. | You have to keep your iPhone unlocked while mirroring its screen on the TV. If you lock the phone, its connection with the TV will be disrupted. |
| You can only stream videos from within an app. Offline/downloaded videos can’t be streamed without a third-party app. | You can view offline videos, but if you’re using a third-party app for mirroring, you won’t be able to watch DRM-restricted sites like Netflix and Disney+. |
Conclusion
Chromecast setup on iPhone is a simple process. There are other methods, too, but this one is generally more accessible because so many TVs come built-in with casting functionality.
Some brands that have Chromecast-enabled TVs include Sony and Vizio.
To stream videos, you just have to make sure the app you’re using is compatible with Chromecast. Some apps you can use are YouTube and Netflix.
For screen mirroring, we recommend using a third-party app like TV Mirror for Chromecast but remember that the free version will have some limitations like a lack of audio and no 1080p playback.
