If you often find yourself wishing that you could view your iPhone’s screen on a larger screen, then you might have wondered if it’s possible to view it on your TV with a Chromecast device.
While the Google Home app allows you to cast media from compatible apps, it doesn’t support screen mirroring.
Fortunately, there are third-party apps you can use for that purpose. In this article, we’ve reviewed three such apps that let you mirror iPhone screen to Chromecast, along with step-by-step instructions on how to use them.
Does Chromecast Work with iPhone?
Yes, Chromecast works with iPhone just as well as with any other device. You have to set it up using the Google Home app, after which you can cast photos and videos using compatible apps such as YouTube, Google Photos, and Spotify.
You must be on iOS 14, which means you can’t make Chromecast cast screen from iPhone 6 and below.
Unlike with Android, you can’t mirror your iPhone’s screen since Chromecast doesn’t support it natively. You have to use a third-party iPhone Chromecast app to do that.
How to Use Google Home to Cast iPhone to Chromecast
Setting up Chromecast on iOS with Google Home is a straightforward process that doesn’t involve too many steps. Just make sure your iPhone and your TV are on the same Wi-Fi network before you start this process. You can download the app from the App Store.
Here’s how to use Google Home to cast iPhone to Chromecast:
1. After turning the Chromecast device on, launch Google Home on your iPhone.
2. Log into Google Home with your Google account and choose your Home. This can either be the default one or you can create a new one with a custom name.
3. The app will then ask you to provide permission to access your location. Tap either Allow Once or Allow While Using App.
4. Give the app some time to search for your Chromecast device. In case it can’t find it, you can manually choose it by tapping Chromecast/Google TV.
5. A QR code will appear on your TV. Scan it with your iPhone to connect the device to the same Wi-Fi as your phone.
6. Now open any app that’s compatible with Chromecast. You can see the full list of Chromecast-compatible apps by clicking here. For this guide, we’ll be using YouTube.
7. Open any video on YouTube.
8. Tap the casting icon in the corner.
9. Pick the Chromecast device you just set up with Google Home.
10. Enjoy the video on your TV!
How to Mirror iPhone to Chromecast Using Third-Party App
The above-mentioned process doesn’t allow you to mirror your iPhone’s screen and the number of apps you can use to cast videos/photos is also limited. For example, you can’t cast media content that’s stored in the Photos app.
If you want less restrictions and screen mirroring capabilities, then we recommend using one of the three third-party apps mentioned below:
1. Replica
With Replica, screen mirroring to Chromecast wirelessly is a breeze. The main screen isn’t cluttered with too many options, which makes it easy to navigate through the app.
You can use it for screen mirroring, casting offline photos and videos, and online content through its built-in web browser.
On the free version of the app, you can mirror your phone’s screen for 15 minutes. The premium version, which includes unlimited screen mirroring, is available for $2.50 per month. You can try out the 3-day trial version before you decide to make any commitment.
If you enjoy using apps that have a minimalistic UI, then we recommend Replica.
Here’s how you can use Replica for screen mirroring:
1. First, download Replica from the App Store.
2. Launch the app and wait for it to find your Chromecast device. Make sure it’s on the same Wi-Fi as your iPhone.
3. Tap the Chromecast device you want to connect to.
4. Tap Screen Mirroring.
5. Tap Start Broadcast to start mirroring your phone’s screen.
2. TV Mirror+
TV Mirror+ is another app that has a minimalistic app design. The main screen displays just four tiles, two of which take you to the main features of the app – screen mirroring and web video casting.
You can’t cast offline content as you can with Replica, but we have no qualms about using the app for screen mirroring iPhone to Chromecast. It works quite well and all you have to do is connect the app to your Chromecast to get it working.
The only downside is that you have to watch ads on the free version of the app, but if you’re getting the premium version, then you won’t have to deal with any of that.
Here’s a quick overview of how you can use TV Mirror+ to mirror your phone’s screen:
1. Launch the app after downloading it from the App Store.
2. Let it look for your Chromecast device.
3. Connect to the streaming device once it’s been located.
4. Tap TV Mirror after the app takes you to the main dashboard.
5. Tap Start Broadcast and you’ll begin to see your phone’s screen on your TV.
3. iWebTV
iWebTV is a bit different from the other two apps. It serves only one function – to help you cast online videos from any video streaming site. There’s no option to mirror your phone’s entire screen.
The difference between this app and other screen mirroring ones is that instead of just sending the URL of the video, it transmits the video itself, which results in better quality. Even on the free version, you can cast videos to your Chromecast TV in 1080p.
You can create a playlist of the videos you want to watch so they automatically start playing on the TV. Moreover, you get playback controls on your iPhone’s screen. Once your video starts playing on the TV, you can do anything on your phone without disrupting the connection.
Here’s how to cast videos using iWebTV:
1. Download the app from the App Store.
2. Open the app and tap the casting icon in the upper corner.
3. Tap your Chromecast device.
4. Now open any video streaming site using iWebTV’s built-in browser.
5. When you play a video, a small window will pop up at the bottom. Tap Cast. The casting icon will turn green, indicating that the video is now playing on your TV.
6. The casting section will enlarge and you can then change the quality of the video.
Is It Worth Using a Mirroring App?
Yes, it’s definitely worth using a mirroring app if you only have a Chromecast device and no Apple TV. Since Chromecast and AirPlay mirroring are two different technologies, you can’t directly mirror your iPhone’s screen to your TV if it’s not AirPlay 2-compatible. Using a third-party app with Chromecast is the best alternative.
It’s affordable, easy to set up, and free in most cases. Just pick one of the apps we’ve described above and connect it to your Chromecast.
Keep in mind that some apps may show ads and limit the amount of time you can mirror your iPhone’s screen if you’re on the free plan.
Another problem is that since these apps use the iPhone’s screen recording feature to connect to the TV, you won’t be able to mirror DRM-protected apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can cast photos and videos from Chromecast-compatible apps such as YouTube and Google Photos, but mirroring your phone’s screen is only possible with the help of a third-party app.
First, make sure that your iPhone and Chromecast/TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, and then use one of the apps we’ve mentioned above.
We’ve found Replica to be an excellent solution for iPhone screen mirroring Chromecast because of its remarkable ease of use. Yes, its free version is a bit limited, but you can get unlimited screen mirroring duration at a very affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
The reason why iPhone can’t screen mirror to Chromecast is because the protocols used by Apple and Google are different. The former uses AirPlay, which isn’t supported by Chromecast natively. The latter will only let you stream videos from compatible apps.
To mirror your iPhone to Chromecast, you have to use a third-party app like the ones we’ve mentioned above. These apps use the iPhone’s native screen broadcasting feature to display its screen on your TV.
You can connect your iPhone to Chromecast using the Google Home app. It searches for nearby Chromecast devices and then connects it to the same Wi-Fi as your iPhone. Once paired, you can start casting videos from apps such as YouTube and Spotify.