- The four things YouTube casting needs before it will work
- When the Cast icon is missing on YouTube.com
- Casting from a phone's browser won't work on YouTube
- Videos that can't be cast to a TV at all
- Casting to a TV on a different network with a TV code
- YouTube Kids profiles and casting errors
- Older Chromecast models and missing features
- Casting YouTube Music and what to try last
- Frequently asked questions
If YouTube cast isn't working, make sure your phone is on Wi-Fi, on the same network as the TV, and running the latest app. On a computer, check the Google Cast extension in Chrome. Private videos and live content can't be cast.
You press the Cast icon, expecting the video to appear on the big screen, and either the icon isn't there or your TV never shows up in the list. I've seen this at client meetings and at home, and it's nearly always something simple about the network or the app rather than a broken TV.
Google and YouTube have both published troubleshooting guidance for casting. I've combined them into one checklist, starting with the rules that catch most people out.
The four things YouTube casting needs before it will work
Google's casting troubleshooting page opens with a short list of requirements. Check every one before you try anything cleverer:
- Your phone or tablet must be on Wi-Fi. It can't cast to a Cast-enabled device while it's connected to the mobile network.
- The device you're casting from must be on the same home Wi-Fi network as the TV or streaming device.
- You need the latest version of the app you're casting from. Check Google Play or the App Store for updates.
- On an iPhone or iPad with iOS 14 or later, or a computer with macOS 15 or later, Local Network access must be switched on so your device can discover the TV.
If your phone is on mobile data, or on a guest network that's separate from the TV's network, that alone explains most missing devices.
When the Cast icon is missing on YouTube.com
On a computer, Google's page says to check that the Google Cast extension is installed in your Chrome browser and that the computer is on the same network as your Cast-enabled TV. It's the first thing I'd look at if you see the icon in the app on your phone but not on the website.
YouTube's own steps for casting from a computer go like this:
- Make sure the computer and the TV or streaming device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the YouTube app on the TV or streaming device.
- Go to youtube.com in your computer's browser.
- Open the video, click the three-dot menu in the player and select Cast.
- Choose your TV or streaming device from the list.
To stop, click Cast and then Stop casting. YouTube adds that some features aren't available when you cast from a browser, so use the app if you want the full set.
Casting from a phone's browser won't work on YouTube
This one is easy to miss. YouTube's help says you can't cast from youtube.com in a mobile browser. You need the YouTube app on your phone or tablet. If you've been opening YouTube in Safari or Chrome on your phone and wondering where the icon is, install or open the app instead.
Videos that can't be cast to a TV at all
Sometimes the icon is there and the TV is found, but one particular video still won't play. Google's page lists the exceptions. Private videos, live content and videos not approved for mobile playback won't work with a Cast-enabled TV. If you're a creator and viewers tell you they can't cast your video, check whether it's private or a livestream before you suspect anything else.
The same page explains one thing that isn't a fault. Because YouTube uses adaptive bitrate streaming, a cast video may look lower quality at first and then switch to the best quality it can after a few seconds. If it can't buffer at playback speed, it drops to a lower quality for smoother playback.
Casting to a TV on a different network with a TV code
If your phone and TV can't share a Wi-Fi network, YouTube has a workaround. A TV code links them even when they're on different networks. It isn't available from a computer. YouTube's steps:
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- Open the YouTube app on your smart TV or streaming device.
- Go to Settings and scroll to Add a device. A blue, numbers-only TV code appears.
- On your phone or tablet, open the YouTube app and tap Cast.
- Tap Add a device, enter the code, tap Link and choose the device from the list.
To reconnect later, start YouTube on the TV, then on your phone tap your profile picture, then Settings, General, Watch on TV, and tap Link next to your TV. One warning from YouTube: you can't unlink devices one by one. Unlinking a single device removes all the devices linked with a TV code.
YouTube Kids profiles and casting errors
If you're signed in to a YouTube Kids profile through the YouTube app on your smart TV, streaming device or game console, YouTube says you may get an error when you try to cast. If that happens, switch to a different profile. It's a quirk that surprises families who share one TV login.
Older Chromecast models and missing features
Google's help says that older Chromecast models, namely the second and third generation, Chromecast Ultra and TVs that work with Google Cast, have limited YouTube features. Some things, such as signing in, liking, commenting, subscribing, browsing and suggestions, might not be available on the TV. You can still do those in the mobile app while the video plays, so use your phone as the controller.
Casting YouTube Music and what to try last
Google also notes that YouTube Music can be cast from the Android and iOS apps and from music.youtube.com in a browser, but that it doesn't play local content from your Android device to a streaming device. Playlists, radio stations and songs have to be hosted in the cloud or uploaded first. If your network disconnects, the playlist stops after the current song, so check your Wi-Fi if the music ends without warning.
If everything above checks out and casting still fails, work through the general steps: restart the TV or streaming device and your router, update the YouTube app on both, and reopen the app. My guide to why YouTube might not be working covers the wider causes, and if you've got the wrong login on the TV, switching accounts on YouTube helps. For a lingering issue with the Cast device itself, Google points you to its Streaming Help pages and community.
Frequently asked questions
Why is YouTube casting not working?
Google's help says your phone must be on Wi-Fi, on the same network as the TV, and running the latest app. On newer iPhones and Macs, Local Network access must also be on.
Why is there no Cast button on YouTube.com?
Google's page says to check the Google Cast extension is installed in Chrome and that your computer is on the same network as the TV.
Can I cast YouTube from my phone's web browser?
No. YouTube's help says you can't cast from youtube.com in a mobile browser. Use the YouTube app on your phone or tablet.
Which videos can't be cast?
Private videos, live content and videos not approved for mobile playback won't work with a Cast-enabled TV, according to Google's help.
How do I cast to a TV on a different Wi-Fi network?
Use a TV code. On the TV go to Settings, then Add a device, and enter the code in the YouTube app on your phone using Cast, then Add a device.
