How to Stream Any Video Format to Google Chromecast

Google Chromecast is a digital media player that allows you to stream MP4, WebM, MPEG-DASH, Smooth Streaming, and HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video formats on your High Definition Television (HDTV). It requires a wireless connection using the Internet or a network-connected computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can play various multimedia content, but only Google Cast supported formats can be streamed directly.

If you would like to play unsupported formats, such as MKV, MOV, VOB, FLV, and AVI, you will need to get an application like Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) to convert unsupported formats to the compatible format, such as converting MKV to mp4, or MOV to Webm. This article will learn about supported and unsupported video formats and how you can stream them using your Chromecast media player.

• Part 1. Chromecast Supported and Unsupported Video Formats
• Part 2. 3 Ways to Stream Supported Videos
• Part 3. The Comparison of the 3 Methods for Streaming Supported Videos
• Part 4. 3 Ways to Stream Unsupported Videos
• Part 5. The Comparison of the 3 Methods for Streaming Unsupported Videos

Part 1. Chromecast Supported and Unsupported Video Formats

The default Chromecast video formats are MP4 and WebM. It also supports MPEG-DASH, Smooth Streaming, and HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video files. All other video formats are unsupported. The following information provides a brief introduction of supported and unsupported formats.

1. Standard Supported Chromecast Video Formats

• MP4 - MPEG 4 or MP4 video files use the standard .mp4 extension. It is most commonly used to store video and audio files.
• WebM – An open video format for the web that allows everyone to stream video and audio codecs.

2. Some Unsupported Video Formats

• AVI – AVI (Audio Video Interleave), the most common format for audio/video data on the PC, is a multimedia container format with video and audio.
• MKV – The Matroska Multimedia Container holds video, audio, picture, or subtitle tracks in one file.
• FLV – Flash video formats are video files streamed over the Internet using the Adobe Flash Player.
• MOV – MOV is a multimedia file format that contains one and more tracks of data, such as audio, video, or text.
• VOB – VOB (Video Object) files are DVD-Video file formats that contain digital video audio, audio, and subtitles relevant to DVDs.
• 3G2 – This is a video container file for audio, video, and text that is an extension of MP4.

Since Chromecast only supports a few video formats, it is highly recommended that you get a video streaming application that allows you to stream unsupported formats, such as M2TS, 3GP, DIVX, RM, RMVB, ASF, TS, DV, F4V, OGV, TOD. For example, Wondershare UniConverter allows you to use Chromecast to stream unsupported formats through your Windows computer to your television.

Part 2. 3 Ways to Stream Supported Videos.

There are various ways that you can stream supported videos using your Chromecast media player, but here you will learn three of the most commonly-used methods. You will learn how to connect using a computer, a mobile device, and a YouTube app.

Method 1 - Connect with your Mobile device

To stream videos using your mobile device, you will need to download and open the Chromecast app on your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet using Google Play or the App Store. The Chromecast app is available for Android tablets and smartphones through Google Play and for iPhones and iPads in the App store.

Note: You should ensure that your mobile device is connected to your Wi-Fi and not your mobile network. You must also have the latest app installed and be on the same network as your Chromecast digital media player.

Method 2 - Connect with your Computer

Chromecast allows you to stream videos on your TV using your Mac or PC running the Chrome browser. This is the only browser that Chromecast is compatible with. Follow the instructions below to connect with your computer.

Step 1 Open the Chrome browser on your computer and then navigate to this page to see how to set up Chromecast.

Step 2 Download the Chromecast app to your computer.

Step 3 Select the instruction below that applies to your computer.

• On your Windows computer, save the file, run the Chromecast app, and follow the prompts to complete setting up Chromecast.
• On your Mac OS X computer, drag and drop the Chromecast app into your Applications folder. You will need to open the folder, run the application, and then select the Chromecast device. Follow the instructions to complete the setup process.

Method 3 - Connect with YouTube

Follow the instructions below to download and set up YouTube to watch videos on your TV using your Chromecast device.

Step 1 Insert your Chromecast device to an available HDMI slot on your HDTV.

Step 2 When your Chromecast digital media player is securely connected to your TV, you will see the Chromecast Home screen with your Wi-Fi name at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3 Now, download the YouTube app on your Android or Apple tablet or smartphone.

Step 4 Connect your Android or Apple device to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device.

Step 5 Open the YouTube app on your Android or Apple device and click the Cast button to start streaming videos.

Part 3. The Comparison of the 3 Methods for Streaming Supported Videos

The following chart provides a list of requirements for streaming supported videos using a computer, YouTube, and a mobile device.

Part 4. 2 Ways to Stream Unsupported Videos

1. Wondershare DreamStream Application

DreamStream allows HD streaming from PC and tablet to TV through Chromecast. It allows you to stream TV shows, movies, and music videos with your TV's video format.

2. RealPlayer Cloud

The Real Player Cloud app allows you to stream unsupported videos to your TV with your computer or mobile device.

Part 5. The Comparison of the 2 Methods for Streaming Unsupported Videos

The following chart provides a list of requirements for streaming unsupported videos to your TV using the RealPlayer Cloud app and Wondershare DreamStream.

At the end of the day, streaming supported and unsupported video formats to your TV with Chromecast are easy to accomplish with any of the methods and tools discussed above.

Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate)

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