If you've got a shiny new Chromecast right at present, y'all're likely wondering what this lilliputian gadget can attain. Not simply is information technology easy to apply, only it has a lot of handy functions to make your life easier.

Casting your Chrome browser or duplicating your desktop to another brandish is 1 of its productivity tricks. Here's how you tin turn your Chromecast-enabled TV into a second computer monitor.

Is It Possible to Use Chromecast every bit a Real Second Monitor?

You may be wondering if information technology's possible to use a Chromecast and extend your desktop to a TV every bit the second monitor. That is, can you set up a Boob tube as a wireless dual monitor for your operating arrangement and then drag windows and open apps betwixt the PC and the idiot box screen?

This was possible before. A workaround fooled Windows into believing the Chromecast was a second monitor. Unfortunately, with Windows 10, the fob no longer works.

Now, it's best to utilise the casting methods listed beneath to become the same effect as a second monitor without the benefits of extending the display.

How to Cast Browser Tabs

Setting up your Chromecast with a Tv set isn't difficult to do, as the to a higher place guide shows you. Later on that stride, yous can cast a browser tab to your Chromecast telly equally if you had moved it to a second monitor.

Doing this is easy on Chrome. Look at the top-correct of your browser window and notice what looks like a Wi-Fi betoken beaming toward a screen. Click this, and you'll come across all the devices that can cast your tab. Click on the one you want, and you'll see the tab appear on the television.

Casting a browser tab via Chromecast

When it comes to Chromecast on Firefox, still, things aren't so simple. At the time of writing, the just way to become Chromecast functionality is via a third-party application called fx_cast.

Just after installing and trying it, it didn't seem to be functioning anymore. It's worth keeping tabs on it in example it does evolve over the coming months.

How to Bandage Your Entire Desktop

Casting your desktop isn't every bit intuitive as casting a tab, but it's not difficult either.

As above, find the Chromecast icon at the top right of your browser and click it. However, this time, don't click the screen y'all desire to cast to; instead, click on Sources beneath the displays.

And then, click Cast Desktop. Once selected, you can then click the screen you want equally usual.

Casting a desktop via Chromecast

If you use more than one screen, it'll ask which 1 y'all want to cast. It'll also inquire if you're going to bandage the audio, as well. Choose the options you like, then click the Share button.

Selecting a screen to cast to a TV

Your entire screen volition cast to the TV via the Chromecast. This cast will include operating system elements such as the taskbar. This handy feature makes information technology a practiced option for giving demonstrations on how to perform specific actions.

Do note that you mirror your desktop with Chromecast and non employ it to move actress open windows, open programs, and applications between your desktop and Goggle box screen.

How to Cast From a Video Service

Sometimes you want to cast a video on a webpage without casting the whole page. For case, if you're going to put a video from YouTube through your Chromecast, you may not desire the balance of the folio to show—just the video.

In this state of affairs, await for the Chromecast icon on the video player itself. You may demand to hover over the video with your mouse to get the controls to appear. And so, look for the Chromecast icon and click it if yous run into it.

The Chromecast button on the YouTube web player

If you don't see it, you may still exist able to work around it. For example, you could try casting the tab, then making the video full screen if the player lets you lot exercise so.

How to Bandage a Local Video or Music File

What if you want to bandage a media file located on your calculator? Thankfully, Chromecast tin handle that, besides.

Once you lot accept the file gear up, click on the Chromecast icon in Chrome, then click Sources. In the dropdown box that appears, click on Bandage File.

Casting a file on Chromecast

You'll run into a pop-upwards window asking yous for the file. At time of writing, Chromecast supports .ogm, .webm, .ogv, .mp4, .m4v, .opus, .flac, .webm, .weba, .wav, .ogg, .m4a, .mp3, and .oga files. This should be more than enough to back up the media file you want to bandage!

Selecting a file from the computer to cast

How to Bandage From a Video Player

If y'all're lucky, you lot'll find that your favorite video player supports Chromecast natively. Apps such as VLC have adopted Google's streaming device, allowing you to cast any you're watching to the TV immediately.

If you're using a contempo version of VLC, you tin cast to Chromecast past clicking on Playback, then hovering over Renderer.

Your Chromecast should appear on the list of renderers if it's currently on and running. If it doesn't, try restarting your computer's Wi-Fi connexion and trying once again.

Setting up a Chromecast in VLC via the Playback menu

If it does announced, click on the Chromecast. And then, open the video you want to play.

It'due south all-time to connect to the Chromecast earlier you play the video. During testing, I plant that if VLC played a video before connecting to Chromecast, the resulting cast wouldn't play the audio. This problem immediately stock-still itself if we set the cast up first.

If you lot're interested in enhancing VLC further, be sure to read about VLC's top-clandestine features.

How to Cast Music and Podcasts

It's piece of cake to assume Chromecast is but suitable for videos, but this isn't true. Some music apps fully support Chromecast, which allows you to plow your boob tube into a music media centre.

This feature is excellent if you lot want to play some music around the business firm and have a good sound organisation on your Television. For instance, if you have an excellent Spotify playlist you want to play around the house, you can cast it directly onto your Chromecast.

Go to the Spotify playlist page. To the correct of the music progress bar, you should come across a screen with a speaker in front of it.

Setting up a Chromecast in Spotify

If you're playing music on your PC, you'll meet your Chromecast device in the popup window when you click this icon. Click on your device, and Spotify will begin playing on your Chromecast.

If you similar listening to Spotify on an Android device, why not supercharge Spotify with an Android app too?

Become the Most Out of Your Chromecast

It'due south easy to assume Chromecast is only suitable for showing tabs, but it tin do much more. It can brandish your desktop, stream video files, and even act equally a music actor!

Did you lot know that you can fifty-fifty play games with your Chromecast? In that location are apps and games that y'all tin can cast on the big screen for a more enjoyable feel.