Just about to watch a movie or series, your Chromecast suddenly stops working. This is what you can do about it yourself!
Google Chromecast not working
It is of course possible that your Chromecast has simply broken down completely, but that chance is not very high. It is more likely that there is something going on that you can resolve fairly easily yourself. We’ll show you how to do that.
Reboot
To start, it’s always a good idea to restart your Chromecast if it’s not working. The easiest way to do that is to simply unplug the power plug. Wait a minute and then put it back in. Your Chromecast will now restart automatically.
You can also restart your Chromecast from the Google Home app on your iPhone. It goes like this:
- Open the Google Home app on your iPhone;
- Tap ‘Devices’ at the bottom and then tap your Chromecast;
- Now tap the gear at the top right;
- Tap the three dots and choose ‘Restart’.
Check the WiFi
Check if other devices using the same Wi-Fi network are also experiencing issues. If that is the case, it is best to restart the router. Here too, you simply do this by unplugging it for a minute and then plugging it back in. Please note that starting up the router takes quite some time
If only the Chromecast has connection problems, this may be caused by the fact that it is behind your TV. The WiFi signal there is not optimal. If you suspect that this is the problem, try connecting an HDMI extension cable. This ensures that the Chromecast is no longer hanging behind the TV and the WiFi signal is not disturbed.
See if all devices are using the same network
Your Chromecast will also not work if it is (the only one) connected to another network. To stream to the Chromecast, all devices must use the same network. Therefore, first check which network the Chromecast is connected to. You can also do this easily via the Google Home app:
- Open the Google Home app on your iPhone;
- Tap ‘Devices’ at the bottom and then tap your Chromecast;
- Now tap the gear at the top right;
- Tap ‘Device information’;
- Under ‘Network’ you can see which WiFi network the Chromecast is connected to.
Restart your MacBook or iPhone
Is your Chromecast still not working? Then restart your MacBook or iPhone. If you want to stream from your iPhone, restart your iPhone. And restart your MacBook if you want to connect it to the Chromecast. If you haven’t done that in a long time, it’s a good idea anyway!
Google Chromecast -> Google TV Streamer
Google now has a successor to the Chromecast: the Google TV Streamer. It looks slightly different, but works in practically the same way. The Google TV Streamer costs 149 euros.