You want your laptop screen, browser tab, video, or local media file on the TV without turning it into a project. The fastest route is Google Cast in Chrome, with the laptop and Chromecast device on the same Wi-Fi network. Start with the basic tab cast, then use the exact path that matches what you want to show.
Cast a Chrome tab to your TV
Use this when you want one browser page on the TV.
- 1.Connect your laptop and Chromecast, Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer 4K, Chromecast Ultra, or TV with Google Cast to the same Wi-Fi network.
- 2.Open Chrome on your Windows PC, Mac, Linux computer, or Chromebook.
- 3.Open the page you want on the TV, then select More, Cast, save, and share, and Cast.
- 4.Select your TV or Chromecast device from the list.
- 5.When you are done, select the Cast icon at the right of the address bar, then choose Stop casting.
Fix a missing TV
Check the Wi-Fi network first. Google is blunt about it: Chrome cannot find Google streaming devices on different networks.
Put the computer and the Chromecast, Google TV Streamer 4K, Chromecast Ultra, or TV with Google Cast on the same Wi-Fi network. Reopen Chrome, then select More, Cast, save, and share, and Cast.
If the Chromecast has not been set up, plug it into the TV and connect the USB power cable and power adapter. Use the Google Home app on an Android phone, iPhone, iPad, or tablet to set it up; laptop casting itself happens from Chrome or a Cast-enabled site.
On a Mac running macOS 15 or later, open System Settings, Privacy & Security, and Local Network. Turn on Local Network for Chrome or the app you want to cast from.
On Google TV, open All settings, Apps, See all apps, and Google Cast. Use Show system apps or Disabled apps if needed, choose Enable, then open Settings, System, and Restart.
Mirror your whole laptop screen
Use screen casting when the TV needs to show more than one browser tab, such as a desktop, presentation, or app window. In Chrome, select More, Cast, save, and share, and Cast.
Select Sources, choose Cast screen, then pick your device. This works from Chrome on Mac, Windows, and Chromebook with a compatible Google Cast receiver on the same Wi-Fi network.
Screen-cast audio can stay on the computer instead of the TV. If this method fails or you need TV audio, cast the Chrome tab instead.
Use the Cast button on video websites
Many video sites and web apps have their own Cast button, and that is usually better than mirroring your whole screen. Open the Cast-enabled site in Chrome, select Cast in the player or app controls, choose your device, and start playback.
On YouTube.com, connect the laptop and Chromecast to the same Wi-Fi network, open a video, then use Cast at the bottom right of the player. Select your Chromecast device and press Play.
YouTube TV works the same way in a desktop browser. Open YouTube TV, choose a show or video, click Cast in the video player, then choose the Chromecast or Google TV Streamer.
To end playback from a Cast-enabled site, select Cast again and choose Disconnect. Button placement varies by app, so check the video player first.
Play a local video file on the TV
Open Chrome on your laptop.
Put the video file into a Chrome tab by dragging it into the browser window. On Windows, press Ctrl + O; on Mac, press Command + O.
Once the file is playing in Chrome, select More, Cast, save, and share, and Cast.
Choose your Chromecast, Google TV Streamer 4K, Chromecast Ultra, or TV with Google Cast.
If the file does not open cleanly in Chrome, cast from a streaming site instead.
Cast from a Chromebook
Chromebooks cast from Chrome like other laptops, and ChromeOS also has a system shortcut for sharing the desktop. Use the Chrome route for one browser tab, and use Quick Settings for more of the Chromebook screen.
In Chrome, open More, choose Cast, then use Cast to to pick Cast tab or Cast desktop. Select your Chromecast, and choose Stop when you are finished.
From Quick Settings, select the time at the bottom right, make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, then choose Cast devices available. Pick your Chromecast, choose what to share, and select Share.
For YouTube media on ChromeOS, open YouTube in Chrome and select the media. Open the time area at the bottom right; if Media controls is pinned, select Media controls, choose Cast on Media Player, and select a device.
Pin the Cast button in Chrome
Pin the Cast button if you cast often.
- 1.Start casting from Chrome using More, Cast, save, and share, and Cast.
- 2.Look for the Cast button at the right of the address bar.
- 3.If it is missing later, open More, Cast, save, and share, and Cast again.
- 4.Right-click the Cast button and choose Always show icon. Google labels the same menu item Keep in Toolbar on its guidance for restoring a Cast button that has slipped into the overflow area, so use whichever wording your copy of Chrome shows.
Try Edge on work laptops
Microsoft Edge includes Google Cast surfaces in the app menu, page context menu, media controls on Cast-enabled websites, and a Cast toolbar icon when it is shown. A common Edge path is Settings and more, More tools, and Cast media to device.
On work or school laptops, an administrator can hide or disable casting in Chrome or Edge. The Chromecast can be working normally and still not appear from the managed laptop.
For a personal laptop, use Chrome first because Google’s consumer laptop-to-TV Chromecast steps use Chrome and Cast-enabled web surfaces. Use Edge when it is your main browser and the Cast option is available.
Skip older Chromecast laptop tricks
This fixes confusion from old laptop-to-TV guides.
Do not install the old Google Cast Chrome extension. Casting is built into Chrome, so the current path is More, Cast, save, and share, and Cast.
Do not use Chromecast Guest Mode PIN steps. Guest Mode is no longer supported, so guests need to join the host Wi-Fi network and cast from supported apps.
Do not use Windows logo key + K as a Chromecast fix. That Windows wireless display path is for Miracast displays and adapters, not Google Cast receivers.
If setup itself is broken, use factory reset only as a last resort. On Chromecast with Google TV, open the profile, then All settings, System, About, and Factory Reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Chromecast from a laptop without Chrome?
Use Chrome for Google’s main consumer laptop casting path. Microsoft Edge also exposes Google Cast surfaces; Firefox, Safari, AirPlay-to-Chromecast, and Windows Win + K are not Chromecast laptop methods.
Why does my laptop cast video but not audio to the TV?
Full-screen casting can keep audio on the computer. Cast the Chrome tab instead when the TV needs to play the sound.
Do I need the Google Home app on my laptop?
No. Google Home sets up and controls Chromecast devices from a phone or tablet. On the laptop, use Chrome, Chromebook controls, Edge, or a Cast-enabled site.
Can Windows 10 still Chromecast to a TV?
A Windows 10 PC can cast through Chrome when Chrome supports that PC. Windows 10 support from Microsoft ended on October 14, 2025, and Windows Win + K is Miracast, not Chromecast.
