How to Use Built-in Chromecast on TCL TVs, With Troubleshooting Tips

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Facing issues with the Chromecast feature on your TCL TV?

You’re not alone. Many rely on this built-in feature to cast content seamlessly, but sometimes it stops working.

Dive in as we explore solutions to get your TCL TV Chromecast up and running again.

How to Know Whether My TCL TV Supports Built-In Chromecast?

TCL TVs fitted with Android TV support the built-in Chromecast feature. Additionally, TVs with Google TV will also support this feature since Google TV is Android TV’s successor.

If you’re not sure which TV OS your TV has or want to double-check its compatibility, simply use your TV’s Search function.

Enter “built-in Chromecast” into the search bar and notice if the feature appears in the results, as shown below. If it does, you’re in luck! The TV supports the built-in Chromecast feature.

You might also see an Install button, which you can press to download the feature onto your TV and start using it.

How to Use Built-In Chromecast on a TCL TV

Now that you’ve verified that your TCL TV supports built-in Chromecast, it’s time to start casting!

You can cast from your mobile device or laptop, depending on what kind of media you want to display on your TV.

Let’s learn how to use your TCL TV’s built-in Chromecast!

Smartphone/Tablet

Follow the steps below to cast content from your smartphone or tablet.

Step 1: Check that your smartphone/tablet and TCL TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Chromecast will not work otherwise.

Step 2: Launch a Chromecast-enabled app (e.g. YouTube, Google TV, Netflix, etc.) on your smartphone/tablet. These apps all have a Cast icon.

Step 3: Play a video in the app.

Step 4: Then, find and click on the Cast icon (shown below), usually found in the upper right corner.

Step 5: In the pop-up window, tap your TCL TV name from the device list to cast said video to your TV.

Now you should see the video playing on your TV. You can also close the app and navigate other apps on your phone without interrupting the casting.

Laptop/Computer

If casting mobile apps isn’t your cup of tea, you can cast content from your laptop or computer instead.

You have two options when casting from your laptop: casting a tab/screen or casting a specific file. Which option is right for you depends on what kind of media you want to display on your TV.

Cast Tab/Screen

When casting content from your Chrome browser on your laptop to your TCL TV, you have two main casting options:

• Cast Tab: Displays your current Chrome tab on your TCL TV screen.
• Cast Screen: Turns your TCL TV into a big version of your laptop screen, similar to how you might mirror your laptop screen using an HDMI or VGA cable.

Follow the instructions below to enable Cast Tab or Cast Screen on your laptop’s Chrome browser and display media on your TCL TV.

Step 1: Ensure your laptop and TCL TV are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 2: Launch a Chrome browser on your laptop. This process is not applicable to other browsers.

Step 3: Open the Kebab menu (marked by three vertical dots) in the upper right corner of the browser. Then, click on Cast.

Step 4: Head to Sources. Then, either click on Cast tab or Cast screen.

Step 5: In the device list, select your TCL TV name to begin casting the tab or screen to your TV.

Cast File

Do you have a movie downloaded on your laptop that you’d like to watch on the big screen? If so, you can use the Cast File option to play specific media files on your TCL TV.

Follow the steps below to cast files from your laptop to your TCL TV.

Step 1: Connect your laptop and TCL TV to the same Wi-Fi network, which will allow them to pair.

Step 2: Find the file you want to cast and right-click on its name.

Step 3: Select Cast to Device from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Click on your TCL TV name from the device list and watch your file appear on the TV screen!

How to Troubleshoot When The Casting Feature Is Not Working

While casting should be an easy and straightforward process, things may not go as planned if all the components aren’t correctly set up.

Problems with your TV’s software, network settings, or firmware can make casting impossible, leading to a lot of confusion and frustration on the user’s part.

While these discrepancies may sound technical, they’re extremely easy (and fast!) to fix.

Let’s go over a few reasons why the casting feature may not be working and how to fix them.

Check If Your Devices Support Built-In Chromecast

Naturally, you will not be able to cast from any of your devices if they do not support this feature.

Make sure you’ve double-checked that your TCL TV supports built-in Chromecast by following the steps in the above section.

If you cannot find the Chromecast app on your TV, you’ll have to cast to it using an external device (such as Chromecast with Google TV streaming device).

Last update on 2024-04-11 / Paid Link.

If you’re certain your TV supports built-in Chromecast, but you’re still struggling to cast, it’s a good idea to confirm if your personal device supports it as well. Casting is not available on every smartphone or laptop, especially if they’re on the older side.

Your smartphone/tablet or laptop/computer should support casting if:

• Your Android smartphone/tablet has Android 8.0 or later.
• Your iPhone/iPad has iOS 14.0 or later.
• Your laptop or computer must meet these minimum system requirements to cast from Chrome, which will vary depending on which OS you’re using (Windows, Apple, Chrome, or Linux).

If all of your devices support Chromecast, then there may be another problem preventing you from casting.

Check Whether the Built-In Chromecast Is Enabled or Disabled

Even if your TV supports built-in Chromecast, it must be enabled for it to work. Your personal device will not be able to “discover” your TV if this feature is disabled.

Follow the instructions below to check if your TCL TV’s built-in Chromecast is enabled or not.

Step 1: Navigate to your TCL TV’s Settings. Then, go to System, followed by About.

Step 2: Find and open Android TV OS Build.

Step 3: On your remote, hit the OK button seven times to enter Developer mode. (Feel free to skip this step if you’ve already entered this mode). You must be in Developer mode to see your TV’s System Apps.

Step 4: Head back to the Settings menu before opening Apps.

Step 5: Go to See All Apps before selecting Show System Apps.

Step 6: Click on Chromecast built-in.

If you see Enable listed in this option’s settings, then the feature is disabled, and vice versa.

Click on Enable to re-enable your TV’s built-in Chromecast feature.

Once you’ve re-enabled the built-in Chromecast feature, you must soft reset your TV by leaving it unplugged for 30 seconds before plugging it back in and turning it on.

Check Whether Your TV and Casting Device Are on a Same Wi-Fi Network

You cannot cast if your casting device (e.g. smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer) and TCL TV are not connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

So, double-check that both devices are connected to the same network by heading to their network settings. If you suspect your router may be working incorrectly, soft reset it before reconnecting all the devices to it.

Update Firmware for Built-In Chromecast

TCL TVs with outdated firmware may not be able to properly use their built-in Chromecast feature. So, it’s a good idea to ensure your built-in Chromecast’s firmware is updated to version 1.33 or higher.

Follow the directions below to update your built-in Chromecast’s firmware:

Step 1: Go to the Search tool on your TCL TV and look for “built-in Chromecast”.

Step 2: If you see an Update option, select it to update the feature. Otherwise, this feature is up-to-date.

Wrapping Things Up

Several TCL TVs have a built-in Chromecast feature, which makes casting media from your personal devices an absolute breeze.

You can cast content from your smartphone/tablet or laptop/computer via its Chrome browser. You can also cast specific files if you want to watch a movie you’ve downloaded onto your computer.

If your Chromecast feature isn’t working, ensure all the devices you’re using support this feature, that built-in Chromecast is enabled on your TCL TV, and that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You may also need to update the feature’s firmware.

What’s your experience using built-in Chromecast on a TCL TV?

Let us know in the comments below!

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