Chromecast devices are nifty when you want to cast a YouTube video from your phone to your TV. But you don’t always want your Chromecast enabled; sometimes, you want to turn it off entirely. Can you do that? This article will tell you how to stop casting in the middle of a stream and how to disable Chromecast when you’re not using it.
Chromecast with Google TV
The latest Chromecast has Android TV built-in...and a remote!
The Chromecast with Google TV is not just a Chromecast. It's a full-on Android TV streamer with a Google Assistant-powered voice remote!
THE QUICK ANSWER
You can tap the Cast icon on your app and then tap the Disconnect button to end casting on your television. Another way to do this is to open the Google Home app, access the selected device, and hit Stop Casting. You can also disable the Chromecast from within the Google Home app.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
- How to stop casting to the TV
- How to turn off Chromecast
- How to disable Chromecast
Editor’s note: We used a Google Pixel 7 running Android 14, a Chromecast Ultra, and a Chromecast with Google TV to formulate these instructions. Some steps may vary slightly, depending on your hardware and software.
How to stop casting to the TV
If you want to stop a cast that’s currently running, that’s easy. You can do this one of two ways.
How to stop casting from an Android app:
- Launch the app you are using to cast.
- You should see the Cast button. Tap on it.
- Select Disconnect.
Second, you can stop the cast through the Google Home app.
How to stop casting from the Google Home app:
- Launch the Google Home app.
- Go into the Devices tab.
- Tap on the Chromecast you want to stop casting to.
- Hit Stop Casting.
These options will accomplish the same goal and instantly stop casting from your phone to your TV. You’ll be able to resume where you left off on the device you were casting from.
How to turn off Chromecast
Unfortunately, it’s not simple to turn Chromecast devices on and off. There’s no on/off switch you can toggle.
You can disconnect the power completely. You can either disconnect the Chromecast device or your TV from its power source. And if you don’t want to worry about unplugging something every night, you could invest in some smart plugs and turn things off from your phone.
If you decide to unplug your TV every night with a Chromecast device still plugged in, your Chromecast device will still appear active on your network. You can try casting to it, but obviously, nothing will appear on the TV.
If you’re using a Chromecast with Google TV, it’s possible to turn off the Google TV part of the device. This will turn the signal off and stop the UI from showing up. The Cast function will still work, though.
How to turn off a Chromecast with Google TV:
- Launch the Google Home app.
- Tap on the Chromecast with Google TV device.
- This will only turn off the Google TV part of the device. You can still cast to it.
Additionally, you can press the power button on the Chromecast with Google TV remote.
How to disable Chromecast
If you want to disable Chromecast for yourself, you’ll have to use one of the above options to turn it off. However, if you’re trying to disable who can affect your video while casting, there’s an easy option you can use.
How to stop guests from accessing your Chromecast:
- Launch the Google Home app.
- Access your Chromecast device.
- Hit the Settings gear icon.
- Go into Recognition & sharing.
- Where it says Let others control your cast media, toggle the option off. If you have a Chromecast with Google TV, select Never.
You can also prevent notifications from showing up on your phone for Cast devices.
How to stop Cast notifications from showing up on your phone:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go into Google.
- Select Devices & sharing.
- Tap on Cast options.
- Toggle off Media controls for Cast devices.
FAQs
There is no real way to turn off a Chromecast device. Those who want to accomplish this will need to unplug it from the power source. The Chromecast with Google TV has a power-off option, but it doesn’t really turn it off, as you can still cast to it.
You can’t really turn off a Chromecast with Google TV. You can still cast to it as long as the unit is connected. You can, however, turn off the Google TV UI. Go to Google Home and tap on the Chromecast with Google TV device to do this. You can also press the power button on the remote.
No. Chromecast will stay active as long as the power source stays connected, even if you unplug the HDMI. This means you can still cast to it, and the device will show up in your network. Of course, you will be essentially casting to nothing, but the device will stay awake.
Plugging and unplugging a Chromecast to turn it on and off can get annoying real soon. You’ll be glad to know it’s possible to use a simple smart plug. Chromecast devices simply turn on when they have power, so cutting its power source will turn it off. A smart plug will let you control the power source from your phone or voice assistant, and you can even do it remotely.
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