Chromecast devices allow you to easily stream content from your computer – including screen mirroring -. In this guide, we will show you how to achieve this in a simple way that will surely surprise you for this reason.
We assume that you already have a Chromecast or a compatible device configured – and for this reason, you can start using it. If you are new to the world of Google players and you are reading this article because you are considering purchasing one, you can access our article in which we show you initial tips that are very useful.
How to Cast your desktop to a Chromecast
This option emulates screen mirroring tools such as Apple’s AirPlay and other options on the market (always talking about possibilities that use wireless technology). The entire selected screen will be replicated on the remote TV.
Sending your desktop thanks to Chrome or Edge
You can use Chrome or Edge web browsers to mirror your desktop, as both are based on the Chromium browser engine. The images you will see are those of the Google browser, but in Microsoft’s, the steps are exactly the same. This is what you have to do:
Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner next to the profile icon. If you’re using Edge, it’s located in the same place, but the three dots are horizontal instead of vertical.
In the drop-down menu, click the Submit entry. If you’re using Edge, the cast option is not on the first layer of the menu. You must click the menu button and then select “More tools” and then “Send to the media device.” At this point, the streaming menus are the same for both browsers.
Once you have selected the streaming menu, you will be presented with a list of available devices on your local network that support streaming. Please note that the device must be running to be listed as a valid streaming destination. An example: If you have a TV with Chromecast built-in and you don’t see it listed, you’ll need to turn on the TV before selecting it as a casting destination.
The default casting behaviour is to cast the browser tab. But if you want your desktop to be mirrored, you need to click on Sources at the bottom of the casting menu and switch from Cast Tab to Cast Screen. Then select the device you want to mirror your desktop to.
Note: For single monitor setups, you’ll see an option to turn audio on or off and a Share button that you must click to begin sharing. Those using multiple monitors will see the same options, with the additional option of selecting which screen they want to mirror to the remote display.
After tapping “Share,” your screen will be cast to the destination device. At this point, you can continue using your computer as usual.
Things you should keep in mind
When you’re done streaming, you can return to the browser and click the cast icon in the toolbar to display the list of streaming destinations again. Simply select the current streaming destination and click on it to stop streaming. The process is the same in Edge, the icon just looks slightly different, but it lights up blue during the streaming process.
Of course, you can restart the transmission process at any time by repeating the previous process.
In short, casting your computer’s desktop to a Chromecast – or a TV with one of these players built-in – is useful when you must see the entire screen for a proper experience, but there are inherent latency and lag issues with doing so. It’s great for making a presentation or displaying relatively static content, but it’s not very suitable for gaming or other similar activities.