Cast option not showing or working in Chrome

In this article, we will look at why the cast option is not showing or working in Chrome, how to enable it, and how to fix the issue. The cast button should appear next to the address bar and Chrome extensions area. If the cast option is not showing in Chrome, it is either not enabled, pinned or has some other issues that need to be fixed.

Chromecast is a great tool that allows you to cast Chrome to a device such as a TV through a Chromecast device connected to the TV using HDMI. If the cast option is not working or showing on Chrome, it means that you won’t enjoy watching the latest movie or TV show cast from your PC to your TV screen or monitor.

How do I enable the cast option in the Chrome toolbar?

To enable the cast option and show it on the toolbar in Chrome, follow the steps below:

Open Chrome and click the three dots next to your profile picture.
Towards the bottom, locate and click on Cast.
A new small prompt will show up, showing that their device has not been detected, and the cast button will appear on the toolbar.
Right-click on the Cast button next to the extension button and select Always show icon.

The cast option should permanently show up if you have enabled it. If not, it means there is an issue with it that needs to be resolved.

Why is the cast option not showing or working on Chrome?

There are several reasons why Chromecast or the cast option is not showing or working on Chrome. For instance, the cast option will not work if the two devices are not connected to that same Wi-Fi network, the browser is outdated, or you have extensions interfering with how Chrome works. Also, the cast option may not show if you removed it while resetting Chrome, or if the button is in the overflow area.

Fix Cast option not showing or working in Chrome

If you can’t see the cast option in the Chrome toolbar on your PC or desktop, or it’s not working properly, try the following solutions to successfully fix the problem;

Start with preliminary steps
Update Chrome browser
Temporarily disable the extensions
Reset Chrome settings and Chromecast device
Disconnect VPN temporarily

Let us delve into these solutions one by one

1] Start with preliminary steps

You can resolve Chromecast or cast option not working or showing by doing simple procedures. Below are some of the preliminary workarounds that have proven to work and it’s worth trying before going to more complex solutions.

Restart your computer and Chromecast device. Restarting the two devices ensures that if there were bugs or temporary issues causing the error are fixed.
Connect your computer and Chromestart device to the same Wi-Fi network.
Check all connections are intact. Check the connection between the Chromecast device and the TV is properly connected.
If the cast button is missing on the Chrome toolbar, enable it as we did above, or check it in the overflow area on the toolbar. This is so if you have many extensions on the toolbar.

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, try the following solution to fix the cast option issues.

2] Update Chrome browser

If you enabled the automatic Chrome updates, you can manually update the browser. The most recent Chrome version is free from many issues like bugs, security issues, compatibilities, etc, and the cast option might work after the update.

To update Google Chrome, go to the upper-right side and click the three dots menu and locate Help at the bottom. Hover the cursor over it and select About Google Chrome. Check if there are any available updates and install them.

TIP: Always keep your apps up-to-date. It is a good practice for security reasons, performance, solutions to issues, etc. If the latest app has an issue, you can always install the earlier version.

3] Temporarily disable the extensions

Disabling extensions will help you determine if they are the cause of the issue and remove the problematic ones. You need to disable them one by one as you test if the issue is fixed. To do this, type chrome://extensions/ on the Chrome URL address bar and press Enter. Toggle off the button next to the extensions to disable them temporarily. Most probably, the culprit Chrome extension is the one you installed before the error started occurring.

4] Reset Chrome settings and Chromecast device

Resetting Google Chrome settings ensure that there are no preferences or configuration. It also clears cookies and other site data, which may be the cause for the error. However, when you reset the browser, you may need to enable or add the cast option button in the toolbar. To reset Chrome settings, type chrome://settings/ on the address bar and select Reset settings. Lastly, follow on-screen procedures to complete the process.

Resetting the Chromecast device fixes bugs and other temporary issues that trigger the error. These hitches may cause the cast option not to work. To reset Chromecast, long-press the button at the back of the device until you see the LED light blinking.

5] Disconnect VPN temporarily

VPN software can cause the cast option not to work or show in the Chrome toolbar. To fix this, disable the VPN and see if the issue is fixed. Follow the steps below:

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows button + I, and select Network & Internet.
Finally, on the left side, click VPN and then select the VPN you want to remove and then select Disconnect.

We hope that one of the solutions helps fix the cast option not showing or working on Chrome.

Read: Enable native Cast Support in Google Chrome

How do I change Cast settings in Chrome?

To change the Cast settings click the cast icon on the Chrome toolbar and click the dropdown arrow to change the source settings. Here, you can select what you want to cast. Once you are connected and active the cast icon in the Chrome toolbar will turn blue.