The Google Chromecast is one of our favorite ways to watch movies, TV shows, and other content directly from your phone, tablet, or laptop. Instead of having to worry about a remote and an interface on your TV, Chromecast lets you stream content directly from your device via the web from almost any Android app (and some iOS), including including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Google Play Movies.
Since everything you play is done directly from your phone, you don't have to worry about dealing with menu systems and other hard-to-navigate services. And with current-gen Chromecast devices costing just $35, it's one of the cheapest ways to access video and music streaming on your devices.
If you recently purchased a Chromecast but are having trouble hearing audio from your TV while watching or listening to your favorite shows and movies, this article is for you.
Checking your TV settings
Let's start with some basic sound solutions to get things started. Technology can be buggy and flawed, but some basic troubleshooting knowledge can save the day.
Make sure the sound problem isn't your TV by checking your volume level and testing another device for audio output (like a game console or set-top box). Also, make sure you've turned on your TV speakers and set your audio output to "fixed".
Most modern televisions have a built-in option to disable the TV speakers in order to use a home theater or surround sound system. You can also try turning off and unplugging your TV for a few minutes, as well as factory resetting it from the settings menu. Finally, if you're using a stereo system to power the audio side of your home theater, make sure your audio system isn't malfunctioning.
Once you've checked your TV, try switching your Chromecast to another HDMI port.
There are a few things you should consider checking about your Chromecast:
- Make sure your Chromecast is plugged into a fully functional USB port and getting enough power.
- Your Chromecast is powered by a micro USB cable, plugging it into the TV's built-in USB port will not make it work.
- The 4K-supported Chromecast Ultra, meanwhile, uses a dedicated power adapter, which means you might want to try a different outlet to get it working properly.
Troubleshooting your Chromecast
Once you have ensured that your device has enough power to function properly, you can also try restarting your device to clear any bugs that may arise. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Home app on your mobile device.
- Select your device.
- Tap the Settings cog in the top right corner.
- Tap More to view additional settings.
- Tap Restart.
These steps will restart your Chromecast and should resolve any visual and sound issues. Alternatively, you can simply unplug the device from its power source, forcing a reset.
If audio from your device persists, make sure your phone's volume is turned up for Chromecast. While you can control the volume of your Chromecast streams with your standard volume control on your TV remote, you can also control the volume through your mobile device.
Just make sure you have some type of content playing from your phone or tablet on your Chromecast, and use the volume rocker on your device to increase the volume as you normally would.
If not, try stopping the stream from your mobile device and restarting the stream. If the sound issue appears from the app, restarting the stream will force Chromecast to reload the URL from where it is accessing the video or audio stream.
You can also try force quitting the app on your device to see if the problem is with the app itself as opposed to the Chromecast device or the connection between the app and Chromecast. If you are streaming from
Chrome on your Chromebook or other computer, you can use the built-in Chromecast extension to ensure audio is optimized for sound. Tap the extension in Chrome, select your Chromecast device and select "Cast this tab (optimize for audio)".
Finally, you might want to try factory resetting your device. The primary method of resetting the device is through the Google Home app, as we've discussed before. To reset your device using the app on your phone, tap the device icon in the app and select the Chromecast device in your app.
After opening the settings menu of your device, click on the three dots icon in the settings to select the factory reset option. Google Home will ask you to make sure you want to reset your device. Once you confirm your selection, you can completely reset your device with preferences to test the audio again.
If you're still having issues with your Chromecast after trying these solutions and making sure it's not another A/V device in your setup, the next step is to contact Google for a replacement. under warranty.
Repair Chromecast audio devices
It's also worth mentioning some Chromecast Audio-specific tips to fix your audio streams. The Chromecast Audio is less popular than its video-enabled older sibling, but it's no less of a great device. This can be ideal for those who have great sound systems and are looking for something that performs better than a Bluetooth device.
If, in any case, you're having trouble with your Chromecast Audio device, here are some tips that might help.
First, we need to dive back into your device's settings menu in Google Home. Open your Chromecast Audio settings as described in our previous section and find the Sounds section. Unlike a traditional Chromecast device, Chromecast Audio gives you a new setting you've never seen before: full dynamic range.
If you are unsure whether or not you want to enable this setting, you should disable it. Full Dynamic Range is designed for high-end audio equipment, such as Hi-Fi audio systems and AV receivers. If you're trying to pump sound through a pair of $30 computer speakers from Amazon, this setting may actually cause distortion and inappropriate volume boosts on your device. If you're having trouble listening to your music, make sure this setting is turned off.
If you're still having sound issues on your Chromecast Audio, check that the 3,5mm cable the device is using is working properly. Unlike typical Chromecasts, Chromecast Audio uses a modular 3,5mm analog plug and cable that can be damaged.
However, it is usually easy to replace. Make sure the cable is inserted into both your receiver or speaker and the Chromecast Audio unit. It would also be best to try testing the unit with another aux cable. If you can't get sound from the device, you may need to consider replacing the device, as the 3,5mm jack may be dead or damaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
My sound still doesn't work. What else can I do?
If you have tried the above methods and your Chromecast sound is still not working, you can contact the Chromecast support team with this link.
Some issues are rare or device-specific, so you may need personalized help from the link above.
Like most tech, Google's Chromecast has its issues, including occasional hiccups and glitches while streaming media. Typically, most of these issues can be fixed by simply turning your device off and on, or switching the USB port powering your Chromecast, but of course these issues can often have all sorts of causes and fixes, so keep going. to try our solutions above. until you have solved the problem. There's a lot you can do with your Chromecast once it's working properly, let us know which fixes worked for you in the comments below.
