Have you been pondering over the question; “Why is my Chromecast device not working with my monitor, smartphone, or TV?” Are you having trouble connecting your Chromecast streaming device to your WIFI network? We will target connectivity issues and some of the other most common issues that users experience with their Chromecast devices and provide quick fixes for them.
Chromecast is a unique device developed by Google that uses an HDMI port to connect to your TV or monitor. You can also stream videos from your computer or phone onto your TV screen. Google Chromecast offers a free subscription. However, you have to pay for the services that you would like to run on it.
As good as it sounds, Chromecast users experience some errors with their Chromecast devices. The problem can be either with the plug and play device itself or the device that users use to connect with Chromecast. Let’s find out some of the causes of these issues and fix them as easily as possible.
What Are The Reasons For Chromecast Connectivity Issues?
Users reported the following most common issues with Google Chromecast that resulted in their devices not working properly.
Chromecast Connectivity Issues
Sometimes, you can encounter issues with your Chromecast device that won’t let you stream any content. You may receive the following error messages.
- No cast devices found.
- Your casting performance may be limited.
There could be several reasons for these errors such as:
- Your Chromecast is not detecting your WIFI network
- Something is wrong with your WIFI router
- Your device is missing necessary updates
- The device is having power delivery issues
Chromecast Going Through Power Cycles
One of the most common issues with Chromecast is that you have to power cycle your TV or Chromecast to make the cast icon visible on your mobile devices.
Users reported that they tried to reconfigure their network and wipe their router settings as well. However, the issue remains the same and the cast icon does not show up.
Running Chromecast From Your Computer or A Mobile Device
If you are casting from your computer, some issues can cause your Chromecast to stop working or won’t show the cast button on different websites. You may also experience cast button appearance issues on a mobile device as well.
What Do I Do If My Chromecast Won’t Connect?
Now that you know a few of the reasons why your Chromecast is experiencing all these issues, it is time to let you in on a few easy and quick fixes.
Restart Your Chromecast/Reboot Your Router
The first fix is very simple and often solves the Chromecast connectivity issues. To restart your Chromecast:
- Unplug your Chromecast
- Wait for 3 minutes
- Plug your Chromecast back on
To reboot your router:
- Unplug your WIFI router from the main power outlet
- Wait for 30 seconds
- Plug your WIFI router back into the main power outlet
After restarting your Chromecast and rebooting your router, try reconnecting both devices and see if that fixes the issue. If it didn’t, try rebooting your phone, computer, or tablet that you use to control your Chromecast.
Check WIFI Connectivity Issues
Are you getting the error that your Chromecast could not connect to your WIFI network? Have you recently:
- Changed your WIFI password
- Forgot to update your Chromecast
- Added another WIFI network to your area
One quick way to fix the WIFI connectivity issue with your Chromecast is to make sure that your mobile device and your Chromecast are connected to the same WIFI network. First, check your mobile device to see which WIFI network you are connected to. Secondly, go to Chromecast settings to confirm that the same WIFI network shows there as well.
If both Chromecast and mobile device are on the same WIFI network and the error persists, move on to the following fixes.
Get An Extender Cable
Your Chromecast might be having difficulties detecting a signal. Your TV can block your Chromecast signal. Therefore, if you use an extender cable, it might help your Chromecast’s ability to detect your WIFI network with ease.
The older Chromecast version came in with a small HDMI extender cable. It is a 2-inches long, stiff cable that sticks out to the back of your TV. If your existing model does not have an extender cable, buy one from a reputable source. Afterwards, insert it into the HDMI port on your TV and then plug in your Chromecast device.
Reset Your Router or Modem
Sometimes, resetting your modem or router can fix the Chromecast WIFI connectivity issues. To do this:
- Turn your modem or router off and unplug it from the main power source
- Wait for 30 seconds
- Reconnect power and turn your router or modem back on
- Wait another minute before connecting your Chromecast to your router/modem
- Verify that your Chromecast can now connect to your WIFI network
Reset Chromecast to Factory Settings
If all the above fixes fail, you can try to reset your Chromecast back to its factory settings, then check if that solves the issue. The Chromecast reset process won’t delete your app data. You only have to run the setup process again.
The Chromecast resetting process alters the Chromecast’s identification number. Therefore, it can help solve a lot of incompatibility and other issues going on with your Chromecast.
It is a great idea to use another mobile device after resetting your Chromecast. For instance, if you used your tablet to set it up by using the Google Home app for the first time, you can use your mobile phone to download the app for an effective fix.
Check Your Router’s Frequency
If resetting the Chromecast fails to work, it is time to take a look at your router’s signal settings. Most of the time, routers operate on a frequency of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or both.
Chromecast only works with 2.4 GHz networks as the lower frequency infiltrates solid objects better. To match your router frequency to your Chromecast:
- Go to your router’s settings
- Check the frequency of the router
- Select 2.4 GHz
- Run Chromecast setup process again
- Check the option of “Enable guest mode” during the setup process
- Let the setup process complete and verify that the Chromecast connectivity issue is fixed
Check Other Devices For Network Congestion
Your Chromecast may not be getting a strong signal because other WIFI devices in your home are using the same 2.4 GHz frequency. This can lead to network congestion and can cause your Chromecast to malfunction. To counter that issue, disconnect or power off unnecessary devices and try casting to your device again.
Why Did My Chromecast Suddenly Stop Working?
Apart from the above fixes, few other reasons can cause your Chromecast to stop behaving normally. You can apply the following fixes to solve the issue.
Update Google Chrome
If you cast from your computer, an older version of Google Chrome may be causing your Chromecast to stop working. Also, due to this issue, you may not see a cast button on different websites. Luckily, there is a quick and simple fix. All you have to do is update Google Chrome on your computer. To do this:
- Open Google Chrome browser on your computer
- Click on the three dots on the upper right corner of the Chrome browser
- Scroll down to Settings
- Under the Settings page, click on “About Chrome”
- The Chrome will check if there is an update available
- Install the updates and close the Chrome browser
- Relaunch your Chrome browser and verify that your Chromecast is working and you can see the cast button on various websites
Chromecast Blacking Out
Sometimes, your Chromecast might be turning off suddenly or blacking out from time to time, or restarting on its own. Most likely, the issue is with the Chromecast power source.
Chromecast uses the power supply through the USB cable that comes with the box. A lot of TVs have USB ports located very near to their HDMI ports. You are saving power when you plug the USB cable into the TV. However, this can be one of the reasons for your Chromecast to stop working.
This happens because the USB reboot every time you turn off your TV as the power is cut to the USB ports. This constant interference can cause power issues to the Chromecast device. To fix this, remove your Chromecast USB from your TV and plug it into a wall charger that your device came with. You can also use a phone charger for that matter to fix the power source issues with your Chromecast.
Can No Longer Cast To TV?
If you have tried all the fixes and are still unable to cast to your Android TV, make sure that you are using the 1.33 or higher version of Google cast receiver. To check the current version of your Google cast receiver:
- Switch on your Android TV
- Go to Home screen –>Settings–>Google Cast
- Check for the current version
- If the current version is older than the recommended version, go to Google play on your TV–>My apps–>Google Cast Receiver –>Update
- Verify that you cast to your android TV after the update
How Do I Reset My Chromecast?
To factory reset your Chromecast, perform the following steps.
- On the side of your Chromecast device, press and hold down the reset button.
- Disconnect the USB cable and wait for 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the USB cable to your Chromecast device to complete the factory reset.
To factory reset Chromecast from Google Home App:
- Find Google Home App on your mobile device and open it.
- Locate your Chromecast device and tap on it.
- Tap the Settings icon.
- Scroll down, select the factory reset option, and tap OK
How To Set Up and Use Chromecast and get it working correctly?
If you are casting from your computer, you only need to have Google Chrome installed on your computer. To set up Chromecast properly on your mobile devices, do the following steps one by one.
- Make sure you have a compatible tablet or a phone (Android 5.0 or higher, iOS 11.0 or higher), a TV with an HDMI port, and a stable WIFI connection.
- Plug the USB cable into your Chromecast.
- Plug your Chromecast into your TV’s HDMI port.
- Turn your TV on, press the source or input button on your TV’s remote, and wait for the Chromecast welcome screen.
- Next, download the Google Home App from the Google play store or Apple store and install it on your mobile device. Then select “Get started”.
- Pick a nickname to identify your TV for casting and wait for the app to look up your devices.
- Once Chromecast is detected, tap Next.
- A 4-digit code will show up on your mobile device and your TV. Click Yes to it.
- Select a name for your Chromecast device. Next tap on Continue.
- Lastly, connect your Chromecast and your mobile device to the same WIFI network.
After you have completed the Chromecast set-up process. Let’s find out how to use your Chromecast with your iPhone or Android phone.
How To Use Chromecast on an iPhone?
You can cast apps on your iPhone that supports Chromecast. To use Chromecast on your iPhone:
- Connect your Chromecast and iPhone to the same WIFI network
- Tap on Chromecast supported up-to-date app
- Tap the cast button that looks like a TV screen with a WIFI icon
- If you have multiple Chromecast devices, select a device that you want to cast to, then tap Cast
- To disconnect from casting, tap the Cast button again
How To Use Chromecast on an Android Phone?
To cast your Android screen to your TV:
- Open the Google Home app–> Account–> Mirror device –> Screen/Audio
- Select your Chromecast device and you are done
- For Chromecast supported apps, open the app and tap cast. Next, select your Chromecast device and then tap cast again
Conclusion
We hope that this guide helped you fix a lot of your Chromecast issues. We also informed you on how to set up and operate your Chromecast device on your TV and mobile devices. However, if you are still facing some problems, you can always get in touch with the Google support staff for Chromecast. Keep Casting!!!
