If you’re having trouble finding the cast icon in your app of choice, it could be due to your device not being able to see the Chromecast on the network. Here are some common issues and the best fixes to get your Chromecast up and running again.
First, try fully rebooting your phone. This may sound basic, but it works for about 95% of cases. If that doesn’t work, reboot both your Chromecast and your Wi-Fi router. You can reboot your Chromecast through the Google Home app or by unplugging the USB cable. Both methods take a couple of minutes to turn on and connect back to each other.
Make sure that you’re not using a VPN while trying to connect to the Chromecast and double-check that you’re connected to the same network as your Chromecast. You can check this by going into the Google Home app, selecting your Chromecast, choosing settings, and then under device information, you’ll see the network name. Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi and try a different phone or tablet to see if that one can find the Chromecast. If it can, then there may be something going on with your specific device.
Next, test another app. The YouTube app is the most reliable and if it can’t see the Chromecast, then it’s likely the app you’re trying won’t either. If it does see the Chromecast, then force close the app you’re trying to cast and attempt to cast again.
As a final ditch effort, you could try factory resetting the Chromecast and setting it back up again. If you still don’t get anything, then consider replacing the Chromecast or leaving a comment below for further assistance.
It’s important to note that your Wi-Fi could be the reason you’re having issues, not just with your Chromecast but all your internet-connected devices. In this case, it may be worth upgrading your router to get better performance. There are plenty of options out there on the market, and recommended routers can be found in the video description.
Now that you’ve got your Chromecast up and running again, it’s time to test it out. Here are five of the best movies you can use to test your system. Happy casting!