Google's Chromecast is a great way to stream anything in your living room, but mastering its intricacies can really make it shine. There are some hidden Chromecast capabilities many people don't know exist, and here are some of the best ones.


Turn Your TV On Without a Remote


Forget your TV remote—if you have a Chromecast hooked up and always powered on through the usb adapter, you can turn your TV on and even switch to the Chromecast's input with your mobile device. You just need to enable the HDMI-CEC setting on your TV, which allows you to send control commands through an HDMI device—in this case, your Chromecast. Whatever device you use to manage the Chromecast, be it your smartphone, computer, or tablet, would then act as your primary remote control for the TV.

Different TV brands have different names for HDMI-CEC, so you may need to search for yours. Gigaom lists a few for starters:

Samsung calls it Anynet+

Sony calls it Bravia Link or Bravia Sync

LG calls it Simplink

Panasonic calls it Viera Link

Toshiba calls it Regza Link

If yours isn't listed, you can probably find it in your user manual, by checking with the manufacturer, or just by Googling around. As you can see, most of the names have the word "link" or "sync" in them, so looking for that in the TV's settings is a good place to start.

Go Mobile and Use It In Your Hotel Room


If you've tried to use your Chromecast in a hotel before, you probably experienced a block to the Wi-Fi connection. Next time pack a portable wireless router, too. Plug the router into the wall's ethernet port and plug the Chromecast into the HDMI port on the television. Connect your Chromecast to the portable router to bypass the Wi-Fi block and start streaming. Then you can skip the skimp lineup of limited hotel channels and take advantage of your Chromecast, assuming they offer free internet. PCMag recommends the ZyXEL 3-in-1 Wireless N Pocket Travel Router, which runs you $23.45 on Amazon.


This might not be a favorable solution if you don't travel much, considering the extra cost. However, this could make your hotel stays a lot more enjoyable if you're on the road a lot.

Use Guest Mode to Keep Guests Off Your Wi-Fi Connection

Of course you want to keep your wi-fi network secure, but sharing your network with friends and guests can be good too. Chromecast's Guest Mode makes being both safe and generous easy. Open the Chromecast app from your device and select the device you want to cast to. Then just tap to enable guest mode at the top of the screen. Once enabled, your friends can enjoy streaming from their own device without connecting to your network so you don't have to worry about any shady or illegal activity falling back on you later.


Host Group Video Chats on the Big Screen


Video chatting is fun for friends and family and productive for businesses, but no one likes crowding around a tiny screen. With the Chromecast, you can turn a regular video chat into a much more comfortable group chat on your TV. Just mount your webcam or device to a place where it can see everyone, and cast the call to the Chromecast. This is great for business meetings and family gatherings alike.

Chromecast is one of the best streaming sticks with almost a constant stream of improvements and updates. Keep a lookout for more little-known uses and apps for you to take advantage of, but these are some great ones to start.


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