Chromecast, Google's media streaming service, has dramatically improved how people view their favorite media. It has done the act of watching movies or TV shows on the TV as easy as sending an email or text message. Unfortunately for users, this ease of use is not always matched by how easy it is to set up.
There can be numerous problems in getting your Chromecast to work for you, some within your control and others that aren't. This article will cover how to fix Chromecast not working. Read on to find out.
1. Check Your Wi-Fi Network
The first thing you need to do is check the strength of your Wi-Fi network. Ensure that your Chromecast device is connected to a solid and stable internet connection. Try connecting your Chromecast device to another Wi-Fi network and see if it works.
If so, then it means something wrong with your current Wi-Fi network. You may need to check if there are any other devices connected on the same wireless network and whether or not they are using too much bandwidth. If the Chromecast is connected to Wi-Fi, ensure that the signal strength is muscular enough for streaming.
If you have access to another computer or mobile device, try connecting them to the same Wi-Fi network and see if they show up on their devices. If they do, that means there's nothing wrong with your Wi-Fi settings, and you should be able to get your Chromecast back online.
2. Use the Chromecast Extender
If your Wi-Fi router is too far away from your TV, you might have trouble using your Chromecast. Here, you will need to use a Chromecast extender. The extender helps boost your network's signal strength and extends its reach so that you can enjoy stable and fast internet speeds throughout your home or office.
3. Move Your Modem/Router
If there are any obstacles like walls or thick furniture between your modem/router and Chromecast device, it could cause problems in getting a connection between them. To solve this problem, try moving your modem or router closer to where you want to stream content on the TV screen via a Chromecast device. If possible, put it near the wall sockets so that you don't have any issues connecting with it later on when needed.
4. Reset Your Modem/Router
If your device isn't showing up on your computer, your internet connection may be an issue. When troubleshooting, one of the first things you should do is unplug your modem (if you have one) or router from the power source, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. This will reset any open ports and clear out any potential issues causing interference. If that doesn't work, let's try our next solution.
5. Perform a Factory Data Reset
If the above method doesn't work for you, you can try performing a factory data reset on your phone. This usually fixes issues with Android devices like freezing apps or slow performance. However, keep in mind that this will erase all data from your smartphone, so make sure to back up important files before doing this step.
6. Check Your Network Signal
Wi-Fi networks operate over two frequencies: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. However, Chromecast only uses 2. 4GHz. If you have other devices running on 5Ghz frequency, then the signal strength may be impacted by these devices, so your Chromecast will not work correctly.
7. Update Your Router's Firmware
The firmware update ensures that all the latest security patches are installed on your router, which helps protect against any cyber-attacks or viruses that may affect your home network system, causing problems such as slow internet connection or even disconnection entirely from the internet altogether.
8. Adjust Your Router Channels
If you are using an older router, it might be causing the problem with your Chromecast device. So, check whether your router has channels 1-11 enabled. Also, make sure that channels 1-6 are not overlapping each other.
If there is any overlap in these channels, it will cause problems with your Chromecast device. So if you have any overlapping channels in your router, adjust them accordingly and see if this fixes the problem.
9. Restart Your Chromecast Device
If nothing seems to work for you so far, then restarting your Chromecast device might fix this issue for you as well. To do this,
Step 1: Select your Device
Step 2: Go to settings
Step 3: Tap More Settings
Step 4: Choose Reboot
10. Change Your Power Supply
The first thing you need to check is whether your Chromecast device is getting enough power. The best thing about Chromecast is that it works on any HDMI-compatible TV with a USB port and an internet connection.
It does not require any external power supply so if you're having trouble connecting it, try changing the cable that connects it to your television set. If this doesn't work, then try using another power outlet.
To do this, unplug the cable from the TV and then plug it in again. Make sure that you use a high-quality original power supply. Ideally, use an HDMI cable with gold connectors as they are more reliable than other cables.
Bottom Line
The Chromecast has allowed many users to stream media from various services. If your Chromecast is not showing up, it is likely because the device is experiencing a problem of some sort.
Before you can fix this issue, you will need to narrow down the trouble to find an effective solution to fixing the bug in your Chromecast.
