In this post we’ll be taking you through how to get Chromecast for Mac. Streaming devices and smart TVs have become the “in” thing. They are only moving up nowadays. While cable TV prices aren’t that favorable and with streaming services giving you more bang for your buck, it’s hard to not make the switch. In 2018 alone more than 30 million households made the switch to streaming services.
Well, that was in 2018, you can well imagine what the scenario is today. When it comes to streaming services, Google Chromecast ranges top of the line. Besides connecting you with Hulu, Netflix and YouTube you can also make video calls, cast your photos onto it as well as play slideshows on it as well.
So it’s no surprise then that Chromecast has become a go to option for many wanting to get streaming services from their Mac. While Apple TV may be a better option as it’s easier to use, setting up Chromecast for Mac aren’t that hard either. So without further ado let’s begin…
How to Chromecast on safari? We are seen about download the chromecast using the safari browser. Initially connect your chromecast device into the television HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) to active the chrome cast. Now, connect your internet with the chromecast and Mac. Setting up Chromecast on Android and iOS is extremely easy; you just need to download the Google Home app and follow the setup instructions. However, it's a different story for PC and MacBook. Plug in the HDMI end of Google Chromecast device into the HDMI port of your Home TV and plug. You can use Chromecast as a guest mode without sharing the access to your Wi-Fi. You can present your dynamic presentation on Chromecast through Google Slides. How to setup Chromecast on PC (Windows/ Mac) If you are looking for a perfect guideline to setup Chromecast on PC, you are in the right place. I’ll show you in detail. Chromecast built-in is a technology that lets you cast your favorite entertainment and apps from your phone, tablet or laptop right to your TV or speakers.
Getting Chromecast for Mac:
The initial set up shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes tops, if all goes well that is. Once that is done you’re all set to play around with it.
But a little preemptive measures first- You should already have your Chromecast connected to your TV via the HDMI cable. This you can connect using the USB port or the power cube included in the box. After all this take a look at the following:
- Open up Chrome on your Mac and enter goolge.com/chromecast/setup on your web browser.
- You’ll then be directed to download Google Home for iPhone or the iPad. This you can do so from the app store.
- As long as you have your Chromecast plugged in it will always open up in the Google home app.
- Connect your Chromecast to the WiFi of your choosing and follow all the steps to pair it.
Finally your Chromecast device is ready to be used by all devices around and connected to the same WiFi network. That means you can now connect it to your Mac, iPad, iPhone and everything else that you have lying around, provided that is it is a smart device.
This so much easier than connecting it using a computer which involves a lengthy process of downloading an extension and using codes to pair the device. This is no longer used by the way.
Using Chromecast for Mac in an Optimal Manner:
The next step is actually getting your Chromecast onto your TV via the Mac. To get what’s playing on your Mac’s screen onto your TV the simplest way is to mirror the two screens. In the past this would be a cumbersome process of installing an extension and then mirroring both screens, but all that’s in the past now. If you have an updated version of Chromecast then you need not worry about downloading an extension.
While in Chrome, select the view the cast option. The other option is to select the three dots at the right of the toolbar to access cast. From there you’ll get three drop down options:
- Cast the tab you have open
- And Cast your desktop
- Cast a particular file
If you happen to be watching a video on YouTube then you must’ve noticed a box like symbol with a sideways WiFi symbol next to it. This symbol allows you to cast what you see onto a TV. This is another option in which you can cast media from your Mac onto a much larger screen. Now you know how to cast what’s on your screen onto your TV.
At this point the media, video call or photo you’re currently watching will appear on your TV screen. If all goes to plan you may be able to do this in a jiffy and without much trouble. But there may be occasions when things don’t go just as smoothly in that case we have a fix for that as well.
Optimizing Chromecast For Mac:
When it comes to using Chromecast for Mac things aren’t that smooth sailing sometimes. There are times when your screen might flicker or stutter or the video you’re watching may play in low quality. Here we’ll be showing you how to get the best out what you’re watching within a few extra steps.
The main problems faced when using Chromecast for Mac is bad video, audio and stuttering issues, like we mentioned earlier. This could be because of one or more reasons given below:
- Lack of RAM and or processing power on your Mac
- Bad internet connection or low speed on the WiFi
- Hardware limitations or configurations
How to Utilize Apps to Enhance the Video Quality
When using Chromecast for Mac, things may not be smooth sailing for the simple reason that Chromecast takes a lot from the Mac. This is especially so in older and more cluttered models. A tip for getting over this problem is to use an app such as CleanMyMac X. what this app does is to scan your computer for malware, clutter on the hardware and unnecessary apps.
Now coming to a WiFi issue- if you happen to have a newer less clutterd model and are still facing issues with the quality of your video, it could be because of your WiFi connection. If this is your problem then WiFiExplorer is the answer. This app is a one stop solution to monitoring, and checking that all is fine with your WiFi. Simply open the app to know if your WiFi is the problem.
By looking at the real time scan of networks in the area, you can know if your channel is overcrowded or has poor signal strength. Sometimes it’s not really the Wifi that’s the problem but the channel that you’re using. If you happen to face this issue then you could try connecting your Mac to your router via a cable or moving the router from its current location.
These are a few ways in which you can get Chromecast for Mac.
What is Chromecast?
Google’s Chromecast allows you to stream video from the likes of YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu, as well as audio, and even your Mac’s entire screen to your TV. It’s a great way of showing slideshows from Photos or movies in QuickTime Player on your TV if you don’t have an Apple TV to use with Airplay. In this article, we’ll show you how to get started with Chromecast from your Mac.
How to set up Chromecast
Here’s what you’ll need.
- A Chromecast device
- A Mac with Google Chrome installed.
- A TV with a free HDMI socket
- A plug socket or a powered USB socket on your TV.
- A Wi-Fi network.
- An iOS device
In order to Chromecast from your Mac to your TV, your Mac and Chromecast will need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. So, the first step is to connect your Chromecast to Wi-Fi.
Casting from your Mac to your TV uses a lot of resources. That’s especially true if you cast, say, a Netflix show or movie while doing other work on your Mac. For better results, remove from your Mac everything that may slow it down. We mean old files, junk, and memory-hogging apps. So run the cleanup tool, like CleanMyMac X, at least once before you start high-quality Chromecasting.
Preliminary steps:
- Plug the Chromecast into the free HDMI socket on your TV and also into a USB port or into the power plug, which should be plugged into a wall socket.
- Download the Google Home app to your iOS device.
- You may be prompted to turn on Bluetooth on the iOS device, if it’s not already turned on. This will make the setup process easier, but if you don’t want to turn on Bluetooth, just tap No Thanks.
- On your iOS device, tap the Settings app then Wi-Fi. Tap the Chromecast network to connect to it.
- Close Settings and tap on the Google Home app.
- You should be prompted to follow steps to complete the setup process. If not, at the top left of the screen, tap ‘Add’ then Set up device > Set up new device.
- Follow the steps.
- Once the setup is complete, your Chromecast and iOS device will both be connected to your regular Wi-Fi network.
How to Chromecast from your Mac
Now your Chromecast and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network, your Mac should be able to ‘see’ the Chromecast and stream to it. It’s time to try it out. Here’s how to use Chromecast.
- Download Chrome if you haven’t done so already.
- If you already have Chrome on your Mac, make sure it’s up to date by clicking on the More button at the top right of the window (three vertical dots) and choosing Update Google Chrome.
- Wait for Chrome to restart.
- On your TV, use the remote control to choose the HDMI input that has the Chromecast connected to it.
- In Chrome on your Mac, click on the More button again and this time, choose Cast. That will send the current tab to your TV screen. If you have more than one Chromecast connected to your Wi-Fi network, you will need to select which one you want to cast to.
- To cast your entire screen, click on Cast, then Sources, and choose Cast desktop.
If you are running macOS Catalina, you will see a message on your Desktop telling you that Chrome wants to access Screen Recording. If you agree, you will be sent to System Preferences and will have to Check the box next to Chrome in the Screen Recording section of the Privacy tab in Security & Privacy. You will then have to restart Chrome and select Cast>Sources>Cast desktop again. You will see another warning, but this time you can just click ‘Ok.’
To cast a specific file to your Chromecast, choose Cast file from Sources instead.
CleanMyMac X also has an Optimization module that can suggest ways in which you can make your Mac run faster or more smoothly. It works like this:
- Download CleanMyMac X free version and launch it.
- Choose Optimization in the sidebar.
- Click View all Items
- Review each section in turn and check if there is anything running that you don’t need. Pay particular attention to Hung Applications and Heavy Consumers.
- Check the box next to anything that looks like it could be causing a problem.
- Press Remove.
But why we are telling you this? Because you don’t want your Mac to freeze up during the cast.
How to use Chromecast to cast Netflix and YouTube from your Mac
Some websites allow you to cast content from them directly to your Chromecast, without casting the content of the whole browser tab. That means you can continue to use your Mac as normal while you cast. To cast directly, you will need to visit the websites in Chrome, as you would if you were casting a tab or your screen. Here’s how to do it on YouTube.
Chromecast Setup Pc To Tv
- Go to YouTube.com in Chrome.
- Choose a video to play.
- In the toolbar at the bottom of the video, you’ll see a cast button. Click on it.
- Choose where you want to cast the video to.
- The video will now start playing on your TV, but not on your Mac and you can now use your Mac for other things.
It works exactly the same way on Netflix and other video streaming sites that support casting. Look for a cast button near the play controls on the video, then click on it and choose your Chromecast.
How to cast a Photos slideshow from your Mac
- Launch Photos and press the green button in the top left corner to make it full screen.
- Choose a Memory from the Memories tab.
- Launch Chrome, press the More button and choose Cast.
- Click on Sources and choose Cast desktop
- Go back to Photos, double-click on the memory you want to play, and press the Play button in the bottom right corner. The slideshow will now play on your TV.
How to turn off Chromecast
Download Google Chromecast For Mac
There’s no need to turn off Chromecast. It will turn off when your TV turns off, or sleep after a period of inactivity.
How to reset Chromecast
Google Chromecast Setup For Mac
If you run into problems and need to reset your Chromecast, here’s what to do. While it’s plugged into your TV, hold down the button on the back of the Chromecast for 25 seconds or until the green LED flashes. The TV will go blank and the reboot sequence will begin.
Chromecast For Mac Setup Software
Now that you’ve set up your Chromecast to work with your Mac, you will be able to cast from Chrome whenever your Mac and TV are switched on. Turning on your TV will power up the Chromecast automatically, as long as it’s connected to either a USB port on your TV or a separate power source. All you have to do is select the input with the Chromecast connected to it.
Chromecast Setup Mac Address
Google’s Chromecast is a great piece of kit for streaming from your Mac to a TV. You can, of course, do the same thing with AirPlay and an Apple TV, but that means buying an Apple TV box or a TV that supports AirPlay, both of which are more expensive than a Chromecast. Once you’ve set it up, all you have to do is launch Chrome and use the Cast command in the More menu to choose what to cast. Casting and using your Mac for other things at the same time can consume lots of resources, so to make sure your Mac is running at optimum performance, it’s worthwhile using CleanMyMac X to scan your Mac and make sure nothing is slowing it down.