I’m trying to cast videos from my iPad to my TV using Chromecast but it’s not working. I’ve followed the setup instructions and both devices are on the same WiFi network. Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know a fix? I’d appreciate any tips to get my iPad casting to Chromecast properly.
If your iPad suddenly stopped casting to Chromecast, here are a few things you can try:
Double-Check the Wi-Fi Enemy (Every. Single. Time.)
Not even kidding, nine out of ten times it’s the Wi-Fi gremlin. iPad and Chromecast both need to be on the exact same network. If you’ve got one on “Living Room Wi-Fi” and the other hanging out on “5G” or “Guest,” nothing is gonna work. I once spent half an hour cursing before realizing my iPad auto-switched to a neighbor’s signal. Oops.
Turn It Off and On Again—Yes, Literally Everything
If you haven’t already, reboot EVERY device in the chain:
- iPad
- Chromecast
- Wi-Fi router
Don’t half-bake it—give ‘em the full power cycle. It’s embarrassing how many tech support calls boil down to this, but it works an unreasonable amount of the time.
Keep It Fresh: Updates Matter
When apps or your iPad’s system are out of date, casting breaks like an old remote.
Go into Settings → General → Software Update, and do the deed if there’s a new version. Also, hop over to the App Store and hit “Update All,” especially if it’s the app you’re using to cast (YouTube, Netflix, or whatever). Sometimes the most annoying bugs are fixed in stealthy little app updates.
Apple vs Chromecast: They Don’t Always Play Nice
Nearly everyone misses this at first: iPads love AirPlay, but Chromecast speaks a whole different language. That “Screen Mirroring” toggle you see on your iPad? Totally useless with Chromecast. You can’t just fling your whole home screen to your TV natively without jumping through hoops.
Try a third-party app for Screen Mirroring
Use a mirroring app like DoCast , which is specifically designed to let you mirror your iPad screen to a Chromecast device. It’s an easy workaround when native casting fails.
The Nuclear Option: Reset Chromecast
Still no dice? Time for the big guns: reset your Chromecast to factory settings. You’ll need to re-add it in the Google Home app afterward, but this is often what solves the “nothing works and I’m losing my mind” scenario.
If you’re at the “why did I even get a Chromecast” stage, trust me: these steps cover like 99% of the usual suspects. Got your own workaround or a horror story about iPad casting gone bad? Drop it here—maybe someone else will be spared the pain.
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Not to throw shade on @mikeappsreviewer (solid advice, except I’m not sold on the “reset everything” as step two—sometimes it’s like detonating a nuclear bomb to catch a housefly), but lemme jump in with an angle most folks miss: the app you’re casting from matters way more than you’d expect.
So, here’s the dirty secret: Not all iPad apps support Chromecast by default. Netflix and YouTube? They’re like Chromecast’s BFFs. But Safari? Apple doesn’t want you casting web videos anywhere that’s not AirPlay. (Classic garden wall move.) So if you’re trying to cast from Safari, forget it—it won’t show the Chromecast icon. Harsh, right?
Instead, if you’re watching YouTube, look for that funky rectangle+WiFi symbol. If you don’t see it, try using the official YouTube app instead of the browser. SAME for Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, whatever. In-app casting is waayyy more reliable than attempting to mirror your entire screen.
Screen mirroring natively from iPad isn’t actually supported on Chromecast (as already mentioned), but the DoCast Screen Mirroring app works if you’re desperate to see everything on your TV (photos, games, documents, TikTok fails, etc). That’s honestly the only relatively smooth workaround I’ve found when an app refuses to cooperate.
And quick PSA: Some hotel/guest WiFi networks block device-to-device traffic, which means Chromecast just straight up won’t be discoverable no matter how hard you try. Been there, lost that battle.
So yeah—before going nuclear and factory-resetting or rage-quitting, check if the app has casting support and try a third-party solution specifically designed to bridge the iPad-Chromecast rivalry. Sometimes it’s not your fault, it’s just tech companies beefing.
I totally feel your pain. Chromecast with iPad is like herding cats sometimes. You’ve already gotten some deep dives from @mikeappsreviewer and @shizuka, so let me add a few things I’ve found after way too many “WHY IS THIS NOT WORKING?!” fits.
First off—if you’re absolutely sure both gadgets are chillin’ on the same Wi-Fi (seriously, double check the iPad didn’t sneak to some bonus network), the next big culprit I run into is router settings. Some ISPs have weird options like AP/client isolation or guest protections, which just torpedo casting—worth Googling your router model plus “Chromecast problems.”
Now here’s something everybody kinda side-steps: Bluetooth conflicts. Sometimes if you’ve got a bunch of smart speakers, headphones, or random IoT stuff on, Chromecast just ghosts your iPad. Try toggling Bluetooth off and on both devices, or nuke connections temporarily. It’s random, yes, but it’s worked for me.
As much as folks hype the app thing, don’t sleep on web video. If you want to stream something not in a major app—say, a random website video—neither regular Safari nor Chrome on iOS supports Chromecast natively. I know, right? For that, you have to go third-party, and honestly, the DoCast app has been the smoothest for me (yes, there are others, but most are just ad traps or junky). It lets you show whatever’s on your iPad on the TV via Chromecast, not just what some app supports. You can read more about getting your iPad screen on your TV with Chromecast if you want the technical breakdown.
BTW, I actually disagree with the “factory reset” nuclear option as anything but last resort. It’s like burning your house down to change a light bulb, IMO.
TL;DR:
- Triple-check your WiFi (SSID EXACT match).
- Kill and restart everything (except your sanity).
- Watch out for sneaky router “isolation” settings.
- Kill Bluetooth for a second.
- For non-app streaming (browser, photos, games), try the DoCast app.
- Don’t factory reset Chromecast yet unless you’re really out of options.
It’s not just you—Apple and Google want us boxed in their own little gardens. Keep pushing buttons… sometimes that’s literally the fix.