Put your phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi, open the YouTube app on both, play a video on the phone and tap Cast, then pick your TV. If the Wi-Fi differs, link the phone with the numeric TV code from Settings, Add a device on the TV.
Your phone becomes the remote and the TV does the playing. Google describes Cast as a way to control the YouTube experience on your TV from a phone, tablet or computer, and the steps below follow its page on how to cast YouTube to a TV. This version is written for an Android phone.
Same Wi-Fi: cast it
- Join your Android phone and the TV or streaming box to one Wi-Fi network.
- Open the YouTube app on the TV or streaming device.
- Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet.
- Select the video you want and tap Cast in the video player.
- Choose the TV or streaming device, and the video plays on it.
Different Wi-Fi: link with a TV code
No shared network? There's a second route, which swaps the Wi-Fi match for a short code. It's handy if you want to be sure everything is paired, whatever router each device happens to be using.
- On the TV, open Settings and scroll to Add a device. A code appears, made of numbers only.
- On the phone, tap Cast, then tap Add a device.
- Enter the TV code.
Two limits apply here. TV code is not available with computers, and unlinking one TV-code device removes all linked devices, so you'd need to link them again afterwards.
A worked example: a guest's phone on your lounge TV
A friend visits and wants to put a video on your TV. If their phone is on your home Wi-Fi, the standard route is all they need. They open the YouTube app, start a video, tap Cast and pick your TV from the list.
A friend on mobile data or a separate guest network needs the code route instead. The numbers appear on the TV, and your friend enters them on their phone.
Either way, the result is the same. The video plays on the big screen, and the phone is just the remote. It's a good way to share holiday clips or a favourite channel without passing a handset around the room.
Which route fits your situation?
| Route | What you need | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Cast on the same Wi-Fi | Phone and TV on one network, YouTube app on both | You're at home and everything shares a router |
| TV code | The numbers from Settings, Add a device on the TV | The phone and TV are on different networks |
Most people only ever need the first. The code route is the fallback, and it's useful to know it exists before you spend ten minutes hunting for a setting that isn't there. If one doesn't suit, the other is only a few taps away, so you're never stuck. Between them, they cover the usual situations, from a quick cast at home to a visitor on a different network.
If casting won't start
- Check you're using the YouTube app. You can't cast from youtube.com in a mobile browser.
- On Android 17 or later, YouTube needs permission to discover streaming devices on your local network. Without it, casting won't work.
- Confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi, or switch to the TV code route.
The catch most people miss
It's the browser. Plenty of people open YouTube in Chrome or Safari on their phone, look for a cast button and find nothing. The app is what makes casting possible, and the website in a mobile browser can't stand in for it, however recent your phone is.
If you'd rather control things from a computer, there's a guide to how to control YouTube on a PC from your phone, and if the app itself is the problem, see YouTube not working on your phone.
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Frequently asked questions
Do my phone and TV need the same Wi-Fi?
For the standard Cast route, yes. If they're on different networks, use the TV code method instead, which links the two without sharing a router.
Where do I find the TV code?
On the TV, open Settings and scroll to Add a device. The code is numbers only, so it's quick to type in on your phone.
Can I cast from youtube.com in my phone's browser?
No, you need the app. Open it instead of the website, start a video, and look for the Cast button in the player.
Why won't casting work on a newer Android?
Give YouTube permission to find devices on your local network.
Can I use a TV code from a computer?
No. TV code isn't available with computers.
What happens if I unlink a TV code device?
All linked devices are removed, so you'd link them again.
