How to use Chromecast without Wi-Fi
Google’s streaming stick is a great travelling companion, but how can you use Chromecast without Wi-Fi?
Google's Chromecast is a global favourite among consumers but it's also supremely useful as a business device too. It can help deliver presentations on different devices found in various meeting rooms, which may or may not have adequate connectivity. An added benefit is that there are numerous ways to use a Chromecast without the need for a Wi-Fi connection, making it an ideal companion for mobile workers.
A huge bonus is that Chromecasts are also compatible with a wide range of devices, offering special functionality to those in the Android ecosystem, such as screen mirroring, but other devices will work with them just fine as well. Smartphones, tablets, laptops - whatever device is most easy for you to deliver that all-important deck to potential clients and investors, the Chromecast can probably handle it.
Connections are usually more reliable when they can be facilitated by a strong network, but using a Chromecast without Wi-Fi is easily done through a variety of means. Not being able to get a decent signal in a meeting room is an unwelcome occurrence most businesses have encountered at least once in recent memory; using a Chromecast could be the solution in these scenarios.
How to use Chromecast without Wi-Fi using guest mode
The first thing to do is verify your Chromecast is running the latest version of its firmware. This will ensure it's compatible with as many devices as possible, maximising the connectivity options and minimising the occurrence of any potential bugs.
Activating ‘guest mode’ — which is not available in the oldest versions of the firmware — will open up the Chromecast to guest access without the need for a Wi-Fi connection to have been established.
To activate guest mode:
Open the settings menu on your Android phone, and navigate to the 'Google' section.
Select 'Devices and sharing' from the list.
Select 'Cast options' from the subsequent list.
Tap the switch for 'Guest mode' into the 'on' position.
This activates a Wi-Fi beacon contained within the Chromecast, discoverable by apps which are compatible with Chromecast streaming. Once the device running the app has connected to the Chromecast, the user will be presented with the option ‘Cast to Chromecast’, exactly the same as when casting across a network.
This automatic pairing is made possible through the emission of a short audio signal, inaudible to humans, which contains a four-digit code that is picked up by nearby devices. However, this can prove an unreliable method of connecting, and if it does not work then guests can still manually connect by typing in the code displayed on the TV or monitor to which they are attempting to cast.
How to use Chromecast without Wi-Fi using the Google Home app
Another way to use a Chromecast without Wi-Fi is to stream the display feed of an Android device directly to the streaming stick using the Google Home app.
To stream an Android device to Chromecast using the Google Home app:
Touch and hold on the icon of the desired Chromecast.
Tap 'Cast', then 'Cast screen'.
Screen mirroring works differently from wireless display (which has been part of Android since Jelly Bean 4.2, as the resultant output is less laggy and choppy than wireless display). Screen mirroring with Chromecast requires Android 8.0 or later, but as this is beyond the oldest supported build of Android, it's likely that Android users will be using a compatible version anyway.
How to use Chromecast without Wi-Fi with Ethernet cable and adaptor
If you find your Chromecast is connected to a TV in Wi-Fi blackspot, then a wired connection can do the trick. Locating a compatible Ethernet cable in the middle of a business meeting may not be the most practical thing, so it's a good idea to have one prepared if you know the Chromecast could need one. It's worth noting that the Chromecast requires a special Ethernet adapter, one that supports both power delivery and a connection to a network access point, such as a router or Ethernet module located around the room.
This wired connection will create a fast and reliable link for the Chromecast device.
To connect Chromecast to the internet with an ethernet cable:
Connect the USB end of the Ethernet adaptor to your Chromecast.
Connect an Ethernet cable to the port of the adaptor, and run it to your router or another type of access point.
Ensure the adaptor is plugged into an electrical socket.
Once all this is done, the Chromecast device will automatically be set up to use an Ethernet connection instead of a Wi-Fi network.
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