- It’s easy to Chromecast from a Mac computer to stream media to your television or projector.
- You can also use Chromecast on a Mac to share the contents of your desktop screen or any Google Chrome tab.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Google Chromecast is a convenient little device: cheap, easy to set up, and able to stream content from a variety of sources.
Most will use Chromecast on a phone or tablet, but to get the most versatility out of the device, you’re going to want to know how to cast from your Mac computer. Here’s how.
Check out the products mentioned in this article:
MacBook Pro (From $1,299.99 at Best Buy)
Google Chromecast (For $69.99 at Best Buy)
How to Chromecast from a Mac computer
Once you plug your Chromecast into the HDMI-capable television or projector of your choice, you need to set up the device by downloading Google Home on either your smartphone or tablet and following the instructions to set up the device.
You’ll also want to download the Google Chrome web browser. It is called "Chromecast" for a reason, after all.
From there, click the three dots in the right hand side of the browser and click the "Cast" button.
Christopher Curley/Business Insider
Then, keep the Chromecast icon in your toolbar by selecting "Always show icon."
How to Chromecast streaming services
Casting from most streaming video sites – Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. – is simple.
Just click the Cast button, select your chromecast, and Chromecast should stream to the device of your choice.
Otherwise, you can also click the Chromecast icon that will show up in the corner of Chromecast-compatible websites like Netflix and YouTube. Either works just as well.
Christopher Curley/Business Insider
How to Chromecast your Mac’s desktop or any Google Chrome tab
If a streaming site isn’t natively Chrome-compatible – or you just want to cast the contents of your Chrome tab, it’s as simple as selecting the drop-down arrow from the "Cast to" dialogue box.
Christopher Curley/Business Insider
It will then turn into a "Select source" dialogue with options for what you can cast.
Christopher Curley/Business Insider
Likewise, you can easily cast your desktop contents. This makes the Chromecast a superb device for presentations. No more worrying about long cords to a projector or other dongles – a Wi-Fi connection will do the trick.
Christopher Curley/Business Insider
How to Chromecast local video and audio files
Because Chromecast is usually thought of more as a device for playing content from tablets or phones, the fact it can play local video and audio files from your computer is often overlooked.
Select "play local content" from the dropdown and select either an audio file (MP3) or video file (MP4, MPG, and M4V files, among others). The content will launch in a Chrome tab and cast from there.
Christopher Curley/Business Insider
That’s a good general rule of Chromecast: Whatever you can open and use in Google Chrome you can usually cast on your Mac.
Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:
-
How to use Google Chromecast on your iPhone, for streaming video, audio, and images to your TV or another display
-
‘What is Google Chromecast?’: How to use Google’s smart device for TVs and monitors
-
All the ways you can watch Amazon Prime Video on your TV
-
How to connect your Roku device to a TV and set it up for streaming
NOW WATCH: Watch SpaceX’s ‘most difficult launch ever’
See Also:
- ‘Why won’t my iPad connect to Wi-Fi?’: How to fix your iPad’s Wi-Fi connection in 4 different ways
- How to sync a calendar from your Mac computer to an iPhone, to access calendar updates on both devices
- How to make custom thumbnails for your YouTube videos and upload them
SEE ALSO: The best Macbooks you can buy
Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Christopher Curley)