
Before I got a Smart TV…
I used Chromecast to cast Netflix from my phone to the TV.
But then, 1 night, I accidentally dropped my phone, and it stopped working.
So I had to find different ways to use Chromecast without my phone.
And fortunately, I figured out 3 simple methods to do so.
Continue reading to find out:
- How to cast your PC/iMac to the TV.
- 3 easy ways to use Chromecast without a phone.
- Which Chromecast doesn’t need an external device to work.
- And much, much more…
Can you use Chromecast without a phone?
You can use Chromecast without a phone. And to do so, you need to use a tablet or a PC. But if you want to use Chromecast without any external device, you should buy a Chromecast with Google TV.
How to use Chromecast without a phone – 3 ways
#1: Use a tablet/iPad
No phone? No problem.
You can still use Chromecast with your tablet.
See, most apps that you can use on your phone can also be used on Android tablets.
And likewise, they’re also compatible with iPads.
With that said, if you’re interested in having this kind of setup…
Follow these 11 simple steps to use Chromecast on your tablet
Step 1: Ensure that you have all the equipment needed
For this setup, you need to have a:
- TV.
- Tablet/iPad.
- Google account.
- Chromecast device.
- Reliable Wifi network.
And once you have all of these prepared, proceed to…
Step 2: Plug your Chromecast into its power source
Connect the power cable of your Chromecast to its USB port.
Then plug its adapter into a functioning wall outlet.
After that…
Step 3: Connect the Chromecast to your TV
Connect the built-in HDMI cord from your Chromecast to the HDMI IN port of your TV.
With that said, ensure that the HDMI connector fits nicely into the port.
Or else, you’ll get a low-quality audio/visual on your TV.
Step 4: Turn ON your TV
Plug your TV into its power source (if you haven’t already).
And then turn it ON using its physical power button or the remote.
Step 5: Change your input settings
Can you see the Chromecast welcome screen? If you can, proceed to the next step.
But if you can’t, you should change your TV’s input to the correct 1.
To do this:
- Check which HDMI port your Chromecast is connected to.
- Tap Input/Source on your TV’s remote.
- From the list of available inputs, select the 1 for your Chromecast.
And once your TV displays the welcome screen of your device…
Step 6: Download the Google Home app

For iPad users:
- Turn ON your device and open the App Store.
- Click the search icon at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
- Type and search Google Home.
- Select the app.
- Click the blue GET button.
- Input your credentials if needed and select Install.
To access the app directly, you may also click here.
For Android tablet users:
- Turn ON your tablet and head to the Google PlayStore.
- Click the search tab on your screen.
- Type in Google Play Home and hit search.
- From the results, click the Google Home app.
- Tap Install.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Note: Exacts steps may vary depending on the brand or model of your Android tablet.
But if you want to download the app directly, simply click here.
Step 7: Sign in to your Google Home app
Launch the app on your mobile device.
And select the Google account you want to use for the Chromecast.
After that, create a home in the app (if you don’t have 1 already).
And proceed to…
Step 8: Connect your app to the TV
Ensure that your tablet or iPad’s Bluetooth is enabled.
And you should be able to see the list of nearby Google devices on your app.
With that said, check the code on your TV screen…
And select that same number on the list of devices on your Google Home screen.
After doing so…
Step 9: Connect your tablet and Chromecast to the same Wifi
Your app will now prompt you to connect your Chromecast to the Wifi.
So simply follow the on-screen instructions.
And make sure that your tablet/iPad is also connected to the network your Chromecast is using.
Once you see the “Almost done!” sentence on your screen…
Step 10: Launch a Chromecast-enabled app
There are hundreds of Chromecast-enabled apps on the App Store and Google Play Store.
But if you’re unfamiliar with apps that you can cast to your TV yet…
I recommend visiting this Google page.
See, on this site, you’ll see all Chromecast-enabled apps that fall under the categories:
- Sports.
- Games.
- TV & Movies.
- Music & Audio.
- Photos & Videos.
So simply install and launch the app that you want, and then…
Step 11: Cast from your tablet/iPad to your Chromecast
Simply follow these steps:
- Launch your Chromecast-enabled app.
- Click the Cast icon on your screen.
- Select the name of your Google Chromecast from the list.
- Wait for the Cast icon to change its color.
- Your tablet’s app will now be cast to the TV screen.
You might also want to know: 9 Reasons Why Your Chromecast Only Works With YouTube
#2: Use a PC or an iMac
You can still use Chromecast even if you don’t want to use a mobile device.
And you can do this by using a PC or an iMac to cast to your TV.
With that said, here are the…
9 easy steps to use Chromecast with a PC/iMac
Step 1: Ensure that your device is compatible with Chromecast
For PCs with the Windows OS, make sure that it has:
- Core i3 or higher.
- Windows 7 or later.
For those with the Apple OS, ensure that your device is:
- Running on OS X 10.9 or later.
- Released after 2010 if it’s a Macbook Air.
- Released after 2009 if it’s a Macbook Pro.
Does your device fit these requirements? Then proceed to the next step.
But if it doesn’t, then, unfortunately, you can’t use it to cast to your TV.
Step 2: Turn ON your devices
Plug your PC and TV into their power sources.
And turn both of these devices ON.
Step 3: Connect your Chromecast to the TV
Connect your Chromecast to its power cable.
And plug its adapter head into a power source.
After doing so…
Insert the HDMI connector from your Chromecast and plug it into an HDMI IN slot on your TV.
Now, take note of which HDMI port you connected your Chromecast to and…
Step 4: Change the input settings of your TV
If you can already see the welcome screen of your Chromecast device, skip to the next step.
But if you’re seeing a black/gray screen, or your TV is projecting another input source…
With that, change your TV’s input by following these steps:
- Grab the remote control of your TV.
- Press its Input/Source button.
- The list of available inputs will appear on your TV screen.
- Select the HDMI port you connected your Chromecast into.
Once you see the welcome screen of your Chromecast, go ahead and…
Step 5: Set up the Chromecast device on your TV
For this, you need to:
- Install the Google Home app on a mobile device.
- Follow its setup instructions.
- Connect the app to the Wifi.
Note: You may refer to steps 6 to 9 of the previous section for a detailed guide to this process.
Step 6: Ensure that your PC and Chromecast are connected to the same Wifi
That’s because if they aren’t, you won’t be able to cast media to your TV.
Step 7: Open the Google Chrome browser on your PC
While you can use other browsers to cast from a PC to the TV…
I highly recommend using Google Chrome for this process.
That’s because it has the most stable connection with Chromecast.
Pro tip: Ensure that your browser is up to date to avoid interruptions with this setup.
Step 8: Head to a website you want to cast
Since you can cast your PC’s whole screen/page to the TV…
There aren’t any limitations to which websites you can cast from your PC.
So simply head to any site you want to see on the bigger screen, and then…
Step 9: Click the Cast option in Google
On your Google Chrome browser:
- Click the 3 vertical dots at the upper-right corner of your screen.
- From the window that appears, select Cast.
- Select the name of your Chromecast device.
And just like that, you can now enjoy the contents of your PC on your TV screen.
You might also be interested in: Is Chromecast Better Than Screen Mirroring? Key Differences
#3: Use the Chromecast with Google TV
If you want to use your Chromecast without a phone or any external devices at all…
Then you might want to consider getting a Chromecast with Google TV.
See, unlike the traditional Chromecasts…
This device doesn’t need a PC or a mobile device to work.
That’s because it already has its own built-in apps and software.
And you can treat it like other streaming devices, such as:
With that said, if you’re curious about what this model offers, here are…
Chromecast with Google TV features that aren’t available in other Chromecast models:
- Dolby Vision.
- 4K video quality.
- A remote control.
- 6500 Android apps.
Now, despite its added functionality…
You can still use the Chromecast with Google TV like a regular Chromecast if you want to.
With that said, using this device, you can still:
- Use the Google Home app as a remote.
- Cast from your mobile devices/PC to your TV.
So really, you won’t be missing out on any features that come with the regular Chromecasts.
Even if you were to buy this Chromecast with Google TV.
With that said…
If you’re interested in knowing more about what this device can do, watch this video:
Can Chromecast be used without WiFi?
You can use Chromecast without Wifi. That’s because you can also use your mobile data’s hotspot for this connection. Just ensure that both your TV and tablet/PC use the same hotspot network. And you’ll be able to cast to your TV screen like usual.