To cast your desktop to a Chromecast, open Chrome’s three-dot menu, choose Cast, set the Source dropdown to Cast desktop, and pick your device. Your whole screen appears on the TV, not just the browser. It works the same way on a Google TV Streamer or any TV with Chromecast built in.
Before you start
- Applies to: Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS, casting to a Chromecast, a Google TV device, or a TV with Chromecast built in.
- You need: The computer and the TV device on the same Wi-Fi network. This is the single most common thing people get wrong.
- Good to know: Casting the desktop is different from casting a tab. A tab sends one page, the desktop sends everything on your screen.
What is the difference between casting a tab and casting the desktop?
Casting a tab sends the contents of one browser tab, and it is the sharper of the two because Chrome only has one page to send. Casting the desktop mirrors your entire screen, including other apps, your taskbar, and any notification that pops up while you are presenting.
Use tab casting for a video or a web page. Use desktop casting for slides, photos in a desktop app, or anything that does not live in Chrome.
How do I cast my desktop from a computer?
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu at the top right.
- Choose Cast. In newer Chrome this sits inside the Cast, save, and share submenu.
- Click the Source dropdown.
- Choose Cast desktop.
- Select your Chromecast or Google TV device from the list.
- Pick the screen you want to share, tick Also share system audio if you want sound, then click Share.
If you have two monitors, Chrome asks which one to send. Only the screen you pick is mirrored, so the other stays private.
How do I stop casting?
The cast icon in Chrome’s toolbar turns blue while you are casting. Click it and choose Stop casting. On a Chromebook you can also click Stop in the notification that stays in the tray for the whole session.
Closing Chrome ends the cast as well, since the browser is doing the work.
Why is there no sound when I cast my desktop?
Two reasons cover nearly every case.
- The audio box was not ticked. Stop casting, start again, and tick Also share system audio in the screen picker before clicking Share.
- You are on a Mac. macOS does not let Chrome capture system audio when mirroring the whole desktop. Cast a tab instead, which does carry sound, or route the audio to the TV separately.
How do I mirror my screen from an Android phone?
Android does this without Chrome, through its own screen cast tile.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings panel.
- Tap the Screen cast tile. If it is not there, tap the pencil or edit icon and drag the tile in.
- Choose your Chromecast or Google TV device.
- Read the warning about sensitive information, then tap Start now.
The warning is worth taking seriously. Every notification that arrives during the session appears on the TV.
Why can’t Chrome find my Chromecast?
An empty device list is the most common complaint, and it is nearly always the network rather than the hardware.
- Different networks. Many routers run separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz names, or a guest network. The computer and the TV device must be on the same one.
- A VPN is running. A VPN on your computer hides the local network from Chrome. Turn it off and look again.
- A work or school network. These usually block the local discovery traffic casting depends on, and there is no way around it from your end.
- The device needs a restart. Unplug the Chromecast for ten seconds and plug it back in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cast my desktop without Chrome?
Not to a Chromecast from a computer. Desktop mirroring is built into Chrome, so the browser has to be open, though it can sit minimised while you cast.
Does casting the desktop drain my laptop battery?
Yes, noticeably. Your computer encodes and streams the video the whole time, so plug in for anything longer than a short presentation.
Why is the picture laggy or blurry when casting the desktop?
Desktop mirroring is sensitive to Wi-Fi quality because the whole screen is being encoded live. Move closer to the router, use the 5GHz network, and close other tabs. Casting a tab instead is sharper when the content allows it.
Does this still work now that Chromecast is discontinued?
Yes. Existing Chromecast devices still work, and the same Cast menu reaches the Google TV Streamer and any TV with Chromecast built in.
The short version
Cast, then Source, then Cast desktop is the whole procedure. Tick the system audio box if you need sound, and remember that everything on the chosen screen goes to the TV, notifications included. If no device shows up, check that both are on the same Wi-Fi network before anything else.
Related guides
- Failed to Cast, Please Try Again: How to Fix It
- Chromecast Picture Zoomed In? How to Fix Overscan
- How to Cast Videos from VLC to Chromecast
- 50 Chromebook Tips and Tricks
Last verified: 15 August 2026
