Can't get Chromecast controls on my android phone.

Forums › Online streaming services › Can't get Chromecast controls on my android phone.

Moahunter

120 posts

Master Geek

#228658 16-Jan-2018 15:00

Hi everyone.

Tried a search for this topic but gave up. Therefore my apologies to Mods. if I didn't try harder. If my Q. has been answered before would appreciate a redirect...tia.

I bought a Chromecast standard dongle last week for my 5 yr old Panasonic Viera tv. After a few hiccups its up and running and I even solved the prob. with some VOD (like TVNZ) where the Fullscreen option disappears when you Cast or going Fullscreen first obscures the Cast button on GoogleChrome toolbar. [Its a fairly obscure setting in GoogleChrome].

But I've failed to get any controls showing up on my android (Vodafone Smart Prime 6) apart from Volume. I should also get Pause and Play, everything I've read tells me they should appear. Since I generally access sites via my laptop which isn't in the same room as my TV it would be really handy to be able to use my phone as a remote.

1 | 2

7611 posts

Uber Geek

#1939797 16-Jan-2018 15:06

Have you got google home installed on your phone? Installing it made cause my chrome casting trouble free.

Mike

Sharesies kids

Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

ripdog

548 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1939809 16-Jan-2018 15:23

AFAIK the only way to send next/previous commands to the chromecast is with the app which was used to cast. Some apps, like Youtube, let multiple phones cast at the same time, and control playback/queued videos simultaneously. However, with apps like netflix or spotify, I don't think it's possible for others to select next/previous. Sorry.

KrazyKid

1197 posts

Uber Geek

#1939876 16-Jan-2018 16:13

I generally cast directly from the App rather than a chrome tab. Try that for TVNZ etc

Edit - That is the app on my phone

Moahunter

120 posts

Master Geek

#1939943 16-Jan-2018 17:05

Thanks for the replies.

I do have Google Home app installed.

I would much prefer to use my laptop as the browse, at 81 my fingers/eyes prefer that to faffing around on my smartphone.

ripdog

548 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1941214 16-Jan-2018 22:09

Oh, if you're casting a Chrome tab, then the only way to control it is to click the controls on the webpage you're casting. Phones can't do anything.

Moahunter

120 posts

Master Geek

#1941273 17-Jan-2018 08:34

ripdog said "Oh, if you're casting a Chrome tab, then the only way to control it is to click the controls on the webpage you're casting. Phones can't do anything."

So am I misunderstanding this item?

Cast media control notifications

Control media that's playing on Chromecast (Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast Audio, TVs and speakers with Chromecast built-in) and Google Home devices directly from Cast media control notifications on Android.

support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7206638?hl=en

itxtme

2050 posts

Uber Geek

#1941325 17-Jan-2018 10:00

Yes you are, if you cast from Youtube in Android you get full controls like these

This appears because you choose the Casting icon from within the youtube app -> .

If you cast the screen its a mirror of the phone, and therefore no media controls.

Kiwifruta

1422 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1941675 17-Jan-2018 20:38

Moahunter:

ripdog said "Oh, if you're casting a Chrome tab, then the only way to control it is to click the controls on the webpage you're casting. Phones can't do anything."

So am I misunderstanding this item?

Cast media control notifications Control media that's playing on Chromecast (Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast Audio, TVs and speakers with Chromecast built-in) and Google Home devices directly from Cast media control notifications on Android. support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7206638?hl=en

Hi MoaHunter I had a smart prime 6, until I broke it 2 weeks ago, and used it with a chromecast successfully.

There are two ways to cast with these phones to the chromecast, these are (and in preferred order)

1. Cast directly from the app by clicking on the cast symbol as noted above. The chromecast will then directly communicate with your modem/router to stream the service. Your phone will simply become the controller of the chromecast.

2. The other option, for apps that don't have native chromecast support, is to swipe down the screen on your phone and click on the icon that is named something like 'cast screen', then click on your chromecast name and finally click 'done' once your phone is connected to your chromecast. Your phone will then stream to the chromecast so your performance will depend a lot on the quality of your router and wifi. This is good for viewing your own photos and videos on to your telly, you can also cast websites from chrome and other non-chromecast supported apps.

Where possible use method 1.

Moahunter

120 posts

Master Geek

#1941958 18-Jan-2018 12:03

Thanks again for replies.

I suspect there is a glitch in my Chromecast via Google Chrome browser.

I checked using the same on demand video on TVNZ....National Treasure starring Robbie Coltrane (not Nicholas Cage).

1. Using my smartphone, downloaded the TVNZ app, pleased to see that TVNZ is Chromecast enabled (the button appears at the bottom of the video)... viewed the video on my tv, controls (pause/start and volume) appearing on my smartphone.

So far so good.

But I would prefer using my laptop as browser so

2. Browsed using GoogleChrome, selected National Treasure....there is no Chromecast button appearing on the inset video (unlike the phone) so use the one on browser toolbar, select "Cast tab"...bugger...get Chrome mirroring. Try again, same result.

3. Go to Microsoft apps, surprised to find there is a TVNZ app there, download it. Go through the steps to watch National Treasure (noting that there still no sign of it being Chromecast enabled) again use cast button on toolbar...bugger...same as result in 2.

One other oddity. In both 2. and 3. I had the video paused but the audio continued playing.

Kiwifruta

1422 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1941964 18-Jan-2018 12:19

Moahunter:

Thanks again for replies.

I suspect there is a glitch in my Chromecast via Google Chrome browser.

I checked using the same on demand video on TVNZ....National Treasure starring Robbie Coltrane (not Nicholas Cage).

1. Using my smartphone, downloaded the TVNZ app, pleased to see that TVNZ is Chromecast enabled (the button appears at the bottom of the video)... viewed the video on my tv, controls (pause/start and volume) appearing on my smartphone.

So far so good.

But I would prefer using my laptop as browser so

2. Browsed using GoogleChrome, selected National Treasure....there is no Chromecast button appearing on the inset video (unlike the phone) so use the one on browser toolbar, select "Cast tab"...bugger...get Chrome mirroring. Try again, same result.

3. Go to Microsoft apps, surprised to find there is a TVNZ app there, download it. Go through the steps to watch National Treasure (noting that there still no sign of it being Chromecast enabled) again use cast button on toolbar...bugger...same as result in 2.

One other oddity. In both 2. and 3. I had the video paused but the audio continued playing.

2 & 3 are typical for a service/website that doesn't support chromecast, so you have to use the workaround of 'cast tab'. I found when I upgraded my router and network the ability to 'cast tab' improved.

Can I ask the reason you prefer to use the laptop as the browser over a phone app that natively supports chromecast?

Moahunter

120 posts

Master Geek

#1941997 18-Jan-2018 13:21

Thanks Kiwifruta.

"2 & 3 are typical for a service/website that doesn't support chromecast, so you have to use the workaround of 'cast tab'. I found when I upgraded my router and network the ability to 'cast tab' improved."

The TVNZ on demand site does support Chromecast, as I said in my last post the Chromecast button appears on the videos when I use my smartphone. Why should this not also appear when I use my laptop browser?

What is the workaround that you refer to?

The reason I prefer using my laptop is because it's a lot easier at the age of 81 than peering at the screen of my phone and fumbling with my fingers. It'll happen to you one day DV...lol

Jase2985

12348 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1942103 18-Jan-2018 17:31

no the TVNZ on demand app supports chromecast, the website doesn't. you can cast from chrome but its not the same as using a chromecast enabled app.

the workaround mentioned is the cast tab option that you are using, there are some websites, youtube for instance that has the chromecast cast button on the video player so its like casting from an app on your phone. the video is cast directly to the chromecast from the internet and bypasses your phone/computer.

dazhann

461 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1942107 18-Jan-2018 17:51

Have you considered buying a tablet to cast and control your streaming. Its a lot easier than a phone. As others have mentioned casting from apps is the way to go.

Moahunter

120 posts

Master Geek

#1942169 18-Jan-2018 21:03

I had been thinking that a tablet might be the answer.

But I'm still bugged by the fact that using the Cast button on the browser toolbar gives me the choice of either "Chrome mirroring" or "Cast tab". But choosing the "Cast tab" always ends up as Mirroring.

Can someone please tell me whether or not its possible to cast tab from the browser bar? Or is it only possible to cast either from a site like YouTube or using an app.

ripdog

548 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1943221 19-Jan-2018 04:53

"Chrome Mirroring" and "Cast Tab" are the same thing.

When a website has native Chromecast support (very rare, basically only Youtube and Netflix), that is used by default. I'm not sure it's even possible to mirror a youtube tab to chromecast.

1 | 2