Jul 19, 2018 The latest version of the VLC media player for iOS has added support for 360-degree videos and the Google Chromecast streaming device. Web browser plugin for Mac OS X Support for NPAPI plugins was removed from all modern web browsers, so VLC's plugin is no longer maintained. So, to cast VLC to Chromecast, you should get ready with a Mac or a PC on which an updated version of VLC is installed. Most obviously, you should get your Chromecast device ready. If not, you should get ready with an Android TV device that accepts Chromecast-standard streams.

If you are looking to learn about streaming from VLC to your Chromecast device, this post is specially written to help you. Here, I will guide you on how to stream from VLC to Chromecast. So, you can enjoy the videos playing in the VLC player on the TV screen.

Contents

• 1 Guide to Stream from VLC to Chromecast
  • 1.4 Method-3: Use a Screen-Mirroring Software

Guide to Stream from VLC to Chromecast

The Google Chromecast upped the casting game since its launch. More and more people have left traditional television and started casting videos and streams on their TV screens. VLC Media Player is one of the most used media players on desktops and laptops. You can also cast the videos that you play in VLC onto your tv screen using the Google Chromecast device. I’ll explain how to do that in the step-wise guide below.

VLC introduced support to Chromecast in version 3.0. And since then, using VLC to cast videos and streams to your television screen is a good way to entertain yourself. To do this, you’ll only need a Google Chromecast (any generation), VLC 3.0 or above, and a good WiFi connection. Once you have all these, then you can use either of the three methods available to stream from VLC to Chromecast.

Things to do beforehand

• The first thing you need to do is downloadand installVLC 3.0 on your computer or laptop. If you already have it, then you can skip directly to the methods.
• Next, set up your Google Chromecast device and turn it on. If it is already active, then you can skip directly to the methods. Make sure you have a strong connection to your WiFi router.
• Make sure that both your PC and Chromecast are connected to the sameWiFi network.

Method-1: Stream directly from VLC to Chromecast

The developers introduced support to casting using Chromecast with VLC 3.0. So, you can simply use the built-in feature to cast videos to your TV screen. Follow these instructions properly in order to know what you need to do.

• Launch VLC on your PC and click on Playback present on the top bar.
• Now click on Renderer from the drop-down menu and then click on Scan. The scanning will begin then.
• Next, wait for a couple of minutes and then go back to Renderer and select Chromecast. Whatever the name of your casting device is will appear here.
• You can now stream to Chromecast. Just click on Media and then click on Open File. Choose any media you want to play. Alternatively, you can drag a video file from the File Explorer window into the VLC window to play it.
• A warning window will appear on your screen as you are playing to a network device. There’s nothing to worry about here. Just click on View certificate.
• Once you see the certificate, click on Accept permanently to add the certificate to your computer.
• Your video should be ready to play by now. However, if you are using an unusual format like Microsoft WMV then you’ll see another pop-up box telling you that the video you are trying to play requires conversion before playing. Click on OK, Don’t warn me again. So, VLC will automatically do the conversion wherever required.

Note: Conversion on laptops will consume battery rapidly, while conversion on slow or low-end computers will result in lag while streaming as they won’t be able to convert media at enough speed.

That’s how you stream from VLC to your Google Chromecast directly using the built-in feature. You can control the video playback using the controls of VLC.

Method-2: Stream from VLC to Chromecast using Google Chrome

There is an alternate method to stream from the VLC player to Chromecast by using the Google Chrome browser. I will explain what you exactly need to do. Follow the instructions mentioned below properly.

• Launch VLC, click on Media and then Open File to choose a video file.
• Select the video that you want to cast and pause it.
• Now open the Google Chrome browser.
• Click on the 3-Dots present in the top right corner of your screen and click on Cast from the drop-down menu.
• Chrome will then scan for the available devices. Once the scanning is done, select your Chromecast device here.
• Next, click on Sources and then select Cast Desktop. Don’t select the Cast Tab option. You may select it if you are playing any video in the browser itself.
• Just minimize Chrome, maximize the VLC window and play the video. You can control the video playback by using the VLC controls.

Now you can watch the video playing in the VLC player on your TV screen. This method is a good alternative way if you face any issues while trying to stream directly from VLC. However, you may find a bit lower quality while using this method as the built-in method is optimized to provide the best quality.

Method-3: Use a Screen-Mirroring Software

You can also use a good screen mirroring software in order to stream videos from VLC to your Chromecast. Follow the steps mentioned below in order to learn how to do that.

• Download and install a good screen mirroring software on your PC.
• Launch the program and start casting your screen to Chromecast.
• Now minimize this program and run VLC player.
• Click on Media and then click on Open File.
• Select the video that you want to play and play it.

That’s it. In this manner, you can play any video from VLC on to your TV screen. Choosing the right screen-mirroring software is the most crucial step in this method. You can pick from any of the 5 Screen Mirroring software listed below.

5 Best Screen Mirroring Software for you

1. ScreenStreamMirroring– Compatible to Chromecast, supports network tethering and supports live streaming.
2. TeamViewer– Free to use, supports HD video and sound transmission and easy interface.
3. ApowerMirror– Easy to use, supports HD quality streaming, versatile and easy to use.
4. Reflector3– Supports live streaming, high resolution, and custom quality casting.
5. NCH ScreenStream– Simple to use, lightweight and high compatibility.

Final Thoughts

So that’s how you can stream from VLC to Chromecast. These are the only three methods that you can use for this purpose. I hope this post helps you and you have learned what you were seeking. For any queries or suggestions, feel free to use the comment box. Now grab some popcorn and start casting.

VLC is one of the most popular video players available for all platforms, including Windows and Android. Over the past period, the developers of VLC were taking necessary measures to make it support Chromecast. Finally, their efforts have succeeded, and now it is available in their version 3.0. In other words, now it is possible to stream VLC to Chromecast. That means you can cast VLC to Chromecast and enjoy videos on Chromecast devices connected to the TV.

Please note that this feature is available in the stable version of VLC, but it can cause occasional issues. Some of the users say that they use it without any trouble at all. However, some individuals claim that they had some issues with it, and the process wasn’t smooth. They particularly emphasize that they experience issues with certain types of media files only. In fact, this experience can vary from one user to another. However, it is still worth trying this method on your Chromecast.

PS: here, we have the top VLC alternative for your reference, and also get to know how to use ACE stream, as well as how to turn off Chromecast with ease.

What do you need to cast VLC to Chromecast?

Before anything else, we should remind you that this feature currently works on version 3.0 only. And, it works for Windows and Mac computers. So, to cast VLC to Chromecast, you should get ready with a Mac or a PC on which an updated version of VLC is installed.

Most obviously, you should get your Chromecast device ready. If not, you should get ready with an Android TV device that accepts Chromecast-standard streams. Or, you can use a TV set that runs on Android TV (for instance, new Sony TV sets). Most importantly, the computer you are using and the Chromecast device must be connected to the same local network. No matter if it is a wireless or wired network, the devices should be on the same network.

Besides, we recommend the best MKV to MP4 converter and the best video player for Android for you.

How to Stream VLC to Chromecast

Make sure that you download and install the correct version of VLC. After that, you can go through the process of how to cast VLC to Chromecast. Before everything else, you should check if the Chromecast and the television set are switched on.

You will not find a dedicated icon for casting on VLC. Nevertheless, many individuals expect that they will see such an icon on VLC in the near future. So, to open Chromecast, you should access the menu options. Go to the option labeled ‘Playback‘ and choose ‘Renderer.’ Then, choose the option labeled ‘Scan.’ If you can see Chromecast on the list of options, just click it.

Now, open a video file you intend to play in VLC and click on the button labeled ‘Play.’ You can use the ‘Media‘ menu and go to ‘Open File‘ to do that. If not, you can even drag and drop a video file into VLC’s interface from the file manager.

Once you play the video, you will be warned with a notification saying ‘Insecure Site.’ You should click on the option called ‘View Certification.’ This option will view the security certificate of your Chromecast.

Now, click on ‘Accept Permanently‘ so you will be able to accept the certificate provided by Chromecast. The video will load immediately and start to play on the Chromecast once you agree to the certificate. Also, the Chromecast will stream the file from the VLC player installed on your computer. You can use the controls of the VLC interface to fast forward, stop, pause, rewind. This is a pretty impressive option for any VLC user who prefers to stream VLC to Chromecast.

If you need to stream video, you don’t need to follow the same steps as you did. Go to the ‘Playback‘ option and then go to the ‘Render‘ menu to scan it and connect. Then, you will be able to play the video files, and you don’t need to accept the certificate again.

What we should remind you is that this feature is still developing. That means some advancements will be added to this feature. Our team tried this option on a PC, and the result was not as impressive as we expected. In fact, we noticed plenty of missed frames and wrongfully synchronized audio. As a result, we didn’t have the perfect viewing experience with it. However, there are several other methods for you to try if you need alternatives. For instance, you can load the video file into a flash and play it through smart TV. Such a method doesn’t go wrong unless there is an error in a flash drive or media file. There will never be any delays when using a flash drive.

What if it didn’t work?

If this method doesn’t work, you will have to use another way and watch the local videos. If you need a way to stream a local video to Chromecast, you can use Chrome’s casting tool. To do that, you should launch Chrome to any of the websites and select the Chromecast icon. If not, you can click on the Menu button and click on ‘Cast.’

After that, go to the dropdown menu located next to the option ‘Cast to‘. Change the source (from Chrome tab to ‘Cast Desktop.’ You can then select the ‘Chromecast‘ or the TV device that runs on Android.

Chromecast will start to broadcast the screen now. All you need is to open the VLC and get the respective video played (in full-screen mode). However, please note that the video quality will be significantly dropped with this method. That is because the video streaming protocol of Chromecast comprises the quality of the video over speed.

More on Cast VLC to Chromecast

In this section of our article, we intend to discuss some important things related to streaming videos into Chromecast. The issues we discuss here will be useful for any user to troubleshoot future errors.

01. VLC Chromecast doesn’t work

For some reason or another, your Chromecast may not appear on the list of renderers in VLC. If that is the case with you, you must go to ‘Tools‘ and choose ‘Preferences.’ Then, click on the option labeled ‘Reset Preferences.’ You will have to do it several times to get things back to normal.

02. The battery level should be checked

It is true that VLC is compatible with plenty of file formats. However, Chromecast doesn’t have such compatibility. So, the battery life will be significantly reduced, particularly when you play a file that needs to be converted. However, if you are using a desktop computer, this is not an issue.

03. Change the quality of conversion

When a conversion is completed, your video will take longer to appear on the TV screen. Make sure that you go to ‘Tools‘ and choose ‘Preferences.’ Be sure to check all the radio buttons at the bottom of the screen. Under the option called ‘Stream Output,’ you should choose ‘Stout Stream.’ Choose the option ‘Chromecast‘ and then change the conversion quality according to the requirement you have. “The lower the conversion quality, the faster the loading speed.”

The compatibility of VLC Chromecast on Android

VLC comes with an Android version as well. You can use it to stream the video files that are stored in your smartphone to Chromecast. To do it, all you need is to perform a tap on the Chromecast button on VLC’s main screen.

When you are casting a video, you will be able to do some modifications as well. For instance, you can change its audio track and add subtitles. You can tap the three-dotted icon and manage all those options like syncing subtitles, changing playback speed, etc.

If you press the back button, your casting will stop. Then, you will be able to see the main screen of VLC. As we consider, this is a minor drawback. Still, the file will resume from the previous point if you play the same file.

What are the alternatives ways to cast VLC to Chromecast?

Now you know it is possible to stream VLC to Chromecast, you also know it has some drawbacks. The user experience of this method can vary from one user to another. In general, this is not the perfect way to cast VLC to Chromecast.

Therefore, it is important to see if there are any alternatives to this process. The good news is that there are alternatives, and mentioned below are those alternatives.

Google Chrome

Chrome Cast From Vlc Machine

It is a no-brainer to stream your computer’s video files into Chromecast through Google Chrome. Go to ‘Cast‘ and choose ‘Cast to.’ Then, choose ‘Cast file.’ You can then browse for the desired file. Nevertheless, you should note that this process supports limited types of files.

Videostream

Chrome Cast From Vlc Mac Os

This is a very impressive solution to use as an alternative to streaming VLC to Chromecast. Just install the extension from the Chrome Store and start watching the movies and other stuff. It has an Android and iOS app, as well.

If necessary, you can upload external subtitles as a change. Also, you can change the quality of streaming output if required.

Chrome Video Player Extension

Well, that is how to cast VLC to Chromecast and the available alternatives to it. With that said, please share your thoughts in the comments section below.