How To Connect Google Chromecast To Iphone Hotspot

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Chromecast has enhanced my TV experience altogether, and I absolutely love it.

As a streaming gadget, the sharp and crisp picture quality, the audio, and the abundance of amazing personalized content have definitely checked off everything on my list.

A few days back, I told my Google Assistant that I wanted to 'watch Lucifer', which took me to Netflix.

I didn't even have to specify which app I wanted to go to.

However, it got stuck mid-way because my Wi-Fi got disconnected all of a sudden.

There was a service outage, and I really wanted to watch the rest of the episode.

I knew I had to create my own Wi-Fi. So, I turned on my mobile hotspot. But that didn't help at all.

So, I googled it, went through so many different articles, and finally found the right solution.

You can cast to Chromecast with your mobile hotspot, although it isn't an officially supported feature. You need a separate phone to set up the Chromecast.

I know how frustrating it is to get interrupted during a movie or an episode.

So, here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Chromecast with your mobile hotspot.

Start a Hotspot on your smartphone

First, make sure you have an active 3G or 4G connection on your phone network.

If you do, drag down the top bar on your phone and tap the hotspot icon.

If you've got an iPhone and your personal hotspot isn't working, try restarting it,

Now, you have provided the device with the internet connection that it needs to operate properly.

In addition, you can now see the name of the hotspot in the list of available networks.

Setup the Chromecast and Power it On

You need another device to configure your Chromecast since you are using your phone as the internet source.

Now plug one end of the USB power cable into your Chromecast and the other end into your power supply.

Then plug in your Chromecast to any available HDMI input to your TV.

Make sure the power is on, and you're good to go.

Open Google Home app on A Separate Phone

Get a separate phone and open the Google Home app. You can follow the steps on the screen to set it up.

If you are having trouble, follow the procedure given below.

On the top left of your Google Home app, you will see a '+' button. Tap the button.
Go to Setup device🠆New device.
The setup is done.

After these initial steps, the app will ask you if you want to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

You can choose your phone's hotspot here, and it will get connected after you enter your password if there is an active internet connection on your phone network.

You should now be able to use your Chromecast without any problems.

Major Concerns For Using Chromecast on a Mobile Hotspot

Although it is possible to connect your mobile hotspot to cast, there are many factors that you need to be aware of.

I have listed some of the major concerns you might encounter when you use your mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi.

Data Charges

Most of us have a limited data plan which is not best suited for streaming HD media. Using your mobile hotspot can add a huge amount to your data charges.

The casting device just tells Chromecast where to find the content from the various sources online.

It doesn't send the media to your TV, which is why Chromecast needs to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

If the loading was done on your phone, that could help in cutting costs.

If you want to get an idea of how much Chromecast is eating into your mobile plan, go to the data usage app.

Mostly, you can view the usage if you go to Settings on your smartphone. You can get a detailed report on which app has been consuming the most data and how much.

Firmware updates

Chromecast doesn't just use your internet connection for streaming videos. Several background processes will also be using your mobile plan once connected.

Another major factor that weighs in here is firmware updates which consume a lot of data.

If you have an unlimited mobile plan, you have nothing to worry about.

Otherwise, it will approximately use about 15 GB of data every month. You can decide for yourself if that will give you an excessive amount of phone bills.

Mobile Network Speed

Most probably, the reason you would want to switch to the mobile hotspot is when your Wi-Fi crashes.

However, Chromecast needs at least 5 Mbps or greater in terms of internet speed to work.

So you might be going to all this trouble just to find that the video just keeps buffering or doesn't load at all.

If you have a 4G or 5G connection, this shouldn't be a problem. But, it primarily depends on your location and network coverage.

No official support

The Chromecast team has never officially supported using your mobile hotspot to stream videos. This is just a workaround that a lot of users have come up with.

So there is really no guarantee that this will work or get disabled all of a sudden.

Also, you might not even need a separate phone for the process to work. All of it depends on your specific phone model and the Chromecast.

Final Thoughts on Chromecast From Mobile Hotspot

I have really enjoyed the ease at which the voice remote can find the best quality of any movie or show I want from the many apps that I have subscribed to.

It is possible to use your mobile hotspot to cast to Chromecast. All you need is a stable internet connection on your smartphone and a second phone to cast.

But I would advise that you use this feature only if it is an absolute necessity because you will have to pay a big sum as data charges.

Otherwise, you can get an unlimited data plan and watch your shows without getting stressed about your bills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cast to chromecast without Wi-Fi?

Yes, you can cast to Chromecast without Wi-Fi. You can either use the guest mode on your Google Home App or use a mobile hotspot.

How much data does it take to cast to Chromecast?

The data usage varies depending on your usage. But, even when it is idle, Chromecast uses about 15 GB of data every month.

Does Chromecast track what you cast?

Google collects system activity, crash reports, and usage data when you use Chromecast. But, you can control them through your devices' settings.

Does Chromecast stream from phone or internet?

Initially, your mobile device is used to discover what content you want to stream.

After that, Chromecast uses your Wi-Fi to connect to the internet and stream data instead of depending on your phone.