Chromecasts are becoming more popular these days as a way to easily access content on your television.
They require a Wi-Fi network to function, but you may be wondering if your Chromecast can work on multiple Wi-Fi networks.
A Chromecast can work on multiple Wi-Fi networks but can only work on one Wi-Fi network at a time. If you want to change the Wi-Fi network your Chromecast is connected to, you can use the Google Home app to reconfigure your device to the new Wi-Fi network.
Keep reading to find out more about what a Chromecast is and how it works, plus how to set it up to work on different Wi-Fi networks.
What Is a Chromecast, and How Does It Work?
A Chromecast is a small device used to stream content from your smartphone or computer onto your television. It plugs into an HDMI port and connects to your Wi-Fi network so that it can access the Internet and be controlled by your smartphone or computer.
Your smartphone or computer can control your Chromecast to play videos from YouTube, Netflix, and other media applications.
It does this by having your device send a special link to the content to the Chromecast, which will then access the media and play it.
This means that your device is essentially a remote control for your Chromecast, telling it what to display and allowing you to control your content.
Can a Chromecast Be Used on Multiple Wi-Fi Networks?
You can use your Chromecast on multiple Wi-Fi networks, but not all at the same time. If you want to switch to using a different Wi-Fi network, you will need to reconfigure your Chromecast’s Wi-Fi settings.
You can allow Chromecast to remember your WiFi passwords, making it easier to switch between them.
If you have multiple devices connected via Chromecast, they’ll switch to a new WiFi network with your account.
In other words, you don’t have to reconfigure the settings for each device every time you switch to a different WiFi network.
How To Change Which Wi-Fi Network Your Chromecast Connects To
You can move your Chromecast to another Wi-Fi network in your home through the device configuration.
You could be setting up a new Wi-Fi network on a new router, in which case the process is pretty simple, according to Google’s Chromecast help support page:
- Make sure your smartphone or tablet is on the same Wi-Fi network that your Chromecast is on
- Find the Google Home app and open it.
- Tap on your Chromecast device.
- Tap ‘settings.’ You will find this in the top-right corner.
- Choose Wi-Fi and then “forget this network.” This will make your Chromecast forget the current Wi-Fi network it is configured for. Doing this will then return you to the Home screen.
- Tap the + icon in the top left corner, then ‘Set up device>New device.’
- Follow the instructions as they are presented.
For further instructions about changing the Wi-Fi network on your Chromecast, visit the Google Chromecast support article here.
Can I Use My Chromecast in Another House?
You can use your Chromecast in another house outside the range of your existing Wi-Fi network (like another house if you are moving or just having a movie night at your friend’s place), by doing a factory reset of the device to restore it to a blank slate.
The reason why you need to factory reset your Chromecast device if you’re taking it somewhere else to use is because the Wi-Fi network it’s currently connected to won’t be there.
This means that the Chromecast will be trying to connect to your old network and won’t be able to be controlled through the Google Home app to be reconfigured to the new network.
If you’re trying to change which Wi-Fi network it is connected to at home, you won’t need to factory reset it.
This is because it’s still connected to the old network as it moves to the new one, so it still has Wi-Fi access to be controlled by the Google Home app.
Keep in mind that this will delete any data on the device and cannot be undone.
To factory reset most Chromecast devices:
- Make sure the device is connected to a TV and powered on.
- Press and hold the button on the device until the light begins flashing. Each generation of Chromecast has a different color LED, but the behavior is the same for each.
- Keep holding until the LED goes white, then release the button, and it will begin to reboot.
- From here, follow the initial setup instructions.
For more information on factory resetting your Chromecast to join it to a new Wi-Fi network, visit the Google Chromecast support article here.
Can I Use My Chromecast With a Portable Hotspot or Hotspot Mode on My Phone?
You can use your Chromecast with a portable hotspot or hotspot function on your phone if you are in a situation where your normal Wi-Fi network isn’t working, or you’ve taken your Chromecast somewhere where there is no Wi-Fi.
Keep in mind many mobile hotspots don’t produce the same speed as a home router.
You can connect your Chromecast to them, but don’t expect high-speed data or perfect downloads.
Lowering the number of devices connected via Chromecast will improve your internet speed from the portable hotspot.
See the instructions above on factory resets for more information.
You may also wonder: Does Chromecast work with an iPhone hotspot?
Can My Chromecast Use Multiple Wi-Fi Networks at Once?
Your Chromecast devices can only connect to one Wi-Fi network at a time, even though they can use both 2.4GHz and 5GHz connection. While some modern devices can use multiple different Wi-Fi networks at once for more speed or redundancy, Chromecast devices cannot do this.
Note: 2.4GHz is better for long-distance connections at lower speeds, whereas 5GHz is ideal for short-distance connections at higher speeds.
What Do I Do if My Chromecast Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi?
If you’re having trouble connecting your Chromecast to your Wi-Fi network, there are a few things you can try, according to the Google support article for the Chromecast:
- Power cycle the Chromecast by unplugging the power cable for 10 seconds and plugging it back in.
- Check that the LED on the side is white.
- Double-check the Wi-Fi password you are entering is correct.
- Try updating the Google Home app on your mobile device.
- Move your mobile device closer to the Chromecast (it’s recommended that there is no more than 20ft (6.09 m) between the devices).
- Try rebooting your Wi-Fi access point or router.
- Try connecting to only the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band, and if that doesn’t work, then try the 5GHz Wi-Fi band. This depends on your wireless network setup and could mean that there is some interference on either band.
- Try factory resetting the Chromecast to start with a clean slate, but only as a last resort.
For more help with diagnosing issues connecting your Chromecast to Wi-Fi, visit the Google support article here.
Reading recommendation: 9 Reasons Why Your Chromecast Only Works With YouTube
Final Words
A Chromecast can’t use multiple Wi-Fi networks at once, but you can change which Wi-Fi network it uses with ease.
Changing between Wi-Fi networks in your home will not mean that you have to factory reset your device.
However, if you are taking your Chromecast somewhere else and connecting it to a new Wi-Fi network, you will need to factory reset it.
Hopefully, you should not have any issues when changing your Chromecast’s Wi-Fi network and can continue using the device with ease.
Check out: Does Chromecast Support Screen Mirroring? 33 Simple Steps