You connect a Chromecast to Wi-Fi during setup in the Google Home app. Plug the Chromecast into your TV and power, make sure your phone is on the Wi-Fi network you want to use, open Google Home, tap + > Add device (or Set up device) > New device, and follow the prompts. When asked, pick your Wi-Fi network and enter its password. To switch an already set-up Chromecast to a new network, it depends on the model: on Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer, change it from the TV’s Settings > Network & Internet. On older Chromecasts, you’ll need to forget the network or factory reset, then set it up again.
Which Chromecast do you have?
| Model | How to connect or change Wi-Fi |
|---|---|
| Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer | On the TV: Settings > Network & Internet |
| Chromecast (3rd gen and earlier), Chromecast Ultra | Google Home app setup; forget network or reset to change it |
If you see a home screen with apps and a remote, you have a Google TV model. If your TV just shows a background image and the time, it’s an older casting-only Chromecast.
How to set up a Chromecast on Wi-Fi (first time)
- Plug the Chromecast into an HDMI port on your TV and connect its power adapter to a wall outlet (not the TV’s USB port, which may not provide enough power).
- Switch your TV to that HDMI input.
- Connect your phone or tablet to the Wi-Fi network you want the Chromecast to use. Turn on Bluetooth.
- Open the Google Home app and sign in with your Google account.
- Tap + > Add device or Set up device > New device, and choose your home.
- Follow the prompts. Confirm the code shown on your TV matches the one in the app.
- Choose your Wi-Fi network, enter the password, and tap Connect.
Google TV models may also let you set up Wi-Fi with the remote directly on the TV screen.
How to change Wi-Fi on Chromecast with Google TV or Google TV Streamer
- On the TV’s home screen, select your profile picture or the gear icon, then Settings.
- Select Network & Internet.
- Choose the new network and enter the password with the remote.
How to change Wi-Fi on an older Chromecast
- If the Chromecast is still connected to your old network, open Google Home, tap the Chromecast, then the Settings gear > Device information > Wi-Fi, and tap Forget this network.
- If the old network is gone, factory reset the Chromecast: with it plugged in, press and hold the button on the device for about 25 seconds, until the light blinks and the TV goes blank.
- Set it up again with the steps above, choosing your new network.
If Chromecast won’t connect to Wi-Fi
- Restart everything. Unplug the Chromecast for a minute, restart your router, and try again.
- Get closer to the router. Behind-the-TV placement can weaken the signal. An HDMI extender cable often helps.
- Check the network type. Hotel, school, and public Wi-Fi with a sign-in page usually won’t work with older Chromecasts. Guest networks with “device isolation” also block setup.
- Try the 2.4 GHz band. If your router has separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz names, try the other one.
- Turn off VPN on your phone during setup.
- Update the Google Home app and make sure location and Bluetooth permissions are allowed.
Hotel, dorm, and work Wi-Fi
Networks that make you sign in on a web page (common in hotels, dorms, and offices) usually won’t work with a Chromecast, because it has no browser to complete the sign-in. Networks that need a username as well as a password (WPA2-Enterprise) aren’t supported either. Workarounds:
- Use a travel router: it signs in to the hotel network once and creates a private network for the Chromecast.
- Use a phone’s mobile hotspot. The device you cast from must join the same hotspot, and streaming uses mobile data.
- Ask your dorm or office IT team whether they offer a device network for streaming gadgets.
Keep the connection strong
- Plug the Chromecast into a TV’s HDMI port that isn’t hidden behind metal brackets or the TV itself; if your model came with a short HDMI extender, use it.
- Power it from the included adapter rather than a TV’s USB port, which may not supply enough power.
- If your router supports both bands, try the 5 GHz network for faster streaming when the router is nearby, or 2.4 GHz for better range through walls.
- Restart the router and Chromecast after changing router settings.
Frequently asked questions
Can Chromecast work without Wi-Fi?
Google TV models can use an optional Ethernet adapter. Older Chromecasts need Wi-Fi, though you can use a phone’s hotspot as the network.
Can I use my phone’s hotspot with Chromecast?
Yes, but you’ll need a second device to cast from, since the phone sharing the hotspot often can’t cast to itself reliably. Hotspot data limits apply.
Do I need to set up Chromecast again after changing my router?
On older models, yes, unless you give the new router the same network name and password. Google TV models let you pick the new network in Settings.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.