7 votes

[SOLVED] How to cast internet videos to my Chromecast? (It's not as simple as it seems!)

Recently, I've been posting here about all sorts of theatre that's available for streaming during the pandemic lockdown. Sounds like fun! But when I actually try to watch some of it... I'm having technical problems.

My Lenovo Yoga tablet won't cast from Chrome. At all. The option just doesn't exist in the Chrome browser on the tablet. The only way to cast anything is to open an app - but the videos I want to watch are on a webpage. In Chrome. Which doesn't have a casting option. Not helpful!

So I go to my desktop computer. It can cast from Chrome to Chromecast. But the result is video only, because "casting tab audio is not supported on this device." I tried Googling that error message, but I ended up getting flummoxed. The Google Help pages don't even mention this error, and other tech blogs are too complex for me to understand.

The Chromecast works fine. It accepts input (with sound) from other sources. It's just webpages (like YouTube.com and Vimeo.com) I'm having trouble with. I managed to watch one video last week, but I had to resort to installing the YouTube app to make it work. But not all the videos are on YouTube.

Any ideas?

17 comments

  1. Macil
    (edited )
    Link
    Try catt. When you cast from the desktop on a site that doesn't have specific Chromecast support, I believe Chrome defaults to capturing the video of the tab on your screen (without audio) and...

    Try catt.

    When you cast from the desktop on a site that doesn't have specific Chromecast support, I believe Chrome defaults to capturing the video of the tab on your screen (without audio) and sending that. Catt instead just sends the URL to your Chromecast, which I think is more likely to work well. It also has the benefit that it will run at the Chromecast's native resolution and aspect ratio, and will keep running even if your computer falls asleep or you close your browser.

    Firefox for Android can also cast video URLs like this which might also be worth trying.

    6 votes
  2. [2]
    Greg
    Link
    A workaround may be to cast the entire browser tab or your whole desktop: https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/3228332 It's likely to lose a little quality compared to streaming the video...
    • Exemplary

    A workaround may be to cast the entire browser tab or your whole desktop: https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/3228332

    It's likely to lose a little quality compared to streaming the video directly, so I'd suggest @Macil's option first, but worth a try if you're still having trouble.

    As a last resort, it looks like Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables are less than £10 on Amazon if you just want to hook the tablet straight to the TV and be done with it.

    3 votes
    1. Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      That works. Thank you!

      A workaround may be to cast the entire browser tab or your whole desktop:

      That works. Thank you!

      3 votes
  3. [8]
    Adys
    Link
    Wait, seriously? If you're on the same wifi as the Chromecast, if the app supports casting, it should detect the chromecast and offer the option. Is it possible your device or app has a setup...

    Wait, seriously? If you're on the same wifi as the Chromecast, if the app supports casting, it should detect the chromecast and offer the option.

    Is it possible your device or app has a setup issue preventing it from finding the Chromecast? It uses mDNS to find the device (or if it's a very old model, DIAL). There are apps to test these things, I would probably start there, enumerate what does work and what exactly doesn't.

    If it's in the browser only, maybe it has to do with browser config?

    3 votes
    1. [7]
      Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      I'm not talking about apps, though. I'm talking about the Chrome browser. Apps like Netflix work fine. The problem happens when I try to cast from a webpage like this one. As for the rest of your...

      if the app supports casting,

      I'm not talking about apps, though. I'm talking about the Chrome browser. Apps like Netflix work fine. The problem happens when I try to cast from a webpage like this one.

      As for the rest of your reply, I don't understand anything you've mentioned. (I'm not an IT person, not by any stretch of the imagination. If something doesn't plug-and-play, I don't know how to make it work.)

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Adys
        Link Parent
        The browser itself is still an app, and it should support casting.

        I'm talking about the Chrome browser.

        The browser itself is still an app, and it should support casting.

        2 votes
        1. Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          My desktop computer's Chrome has this option (but with the aforementioned "casting tab audio is not supported on this device" error. My tablet's Chrome simply does not have this option.

          My desktop computer's Chrome has this option (but with the aforementioned "casting tab audio is not supported on this device" error. My tablet's Chrome simply does not have this option.

          1 vote
      2. [2]
        Icarus
        Link Parent
        When you right click the video in Chrome, what options do you see? This is what I have

        When you right click the video in Chrome, what options do you see?

        This is what I have

        1 vote
        1. Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          I can't right-click on the tablet. When I right-click on my desktop computer, I get a Cast option like you do. However, when I use that Cast option, I get the aforementioned "casting tab audio is...

          I can't right-click on the tablet.

          When I right-click on my desktop computer, I get a Cast option like you do. However, when I use that Cast option, I get the aforementioned "casting tab audio is not supported on this device" error.

          1 vote
      3. [2]
        wexx
        Link Parent
        The Chrome browser should have a "Cast..." option in the main menu if you have a valid device on the same network, down near "Print..."

        The Chrome browser should have a "Cast..." option in the main menu if you have a valid device on the same network, down near "Print..."

        1. Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          My desktop computer's Chrome has this option (but with the aforementioned "casting tab audio is not supported on this device" error. My tablet's Chrome simply does not have this option.

          The Chrome browser should have a "Cast..." option in the main menu if you have a valid device on the same network, down near "Print..."

          My desktop computer's Chrome has this option (but with the aforementioned "casting tab audio is not supported on this device" error. My tablet's Chrome simply does not have this option.

  4. blake
    Link
    Honestly sounds like something wrong with your operating system/chrome install/network. All of those things should work perfectly fine. Youtube in Chrome supports casting, should be a button next...

    Honestly sounds like something wrong with your operating system/chrome install/network.

    All of those things should work perfectly fine. Youtube in Chrome supports casting, should be a button next to the full screen button. Every other web video you should be able to cast via casting the tab.

    Try creating a different user profile on your PC and see if it works. Something is bjorked somewhere.

    1 vote
  5. mrbig
    Link
    Try clicking on the “...” and look for “Cast”. Or a button to cast the tab. I don’t think you’ll able to cast just the video stream without a dedicated app. It will cast the entire tab.

    Try clicking on the “...” and look for “Cast”.

    Or a button to cast the tab. I don’t think you’ll able to cast just the video stream without a dedicated app. It will cast the entire tab.

  6. [4]
    moocow1452
    Link
    If Chrome isn't letting you cast, you could try using VLC if you are able to play the video within it.

    If Chrome isn't letting you cast, you could try using VLC if you are able to play the video within it.

    1. [3]
      Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      How would I play a webpage like this in VLC?

      How would I play a webpage like this in VLC?

      1. [2]
        moocow1452
        Link Parent
        According to this, opening a network stream and putting in the URL should work, but this could also be helpful.

        According to this, opening a network stream and putting in the URL should work, but this could also be helpful.

        1 vote
        1. Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          That first option is gibberish to me (I'm not a programmer), and the second option also seems too complicated for me. But thanks anyway.

          That first option is gibberish to me (I'm not a programmer), and the second option also seems too complicated for me. But thanks anyway.