Six Ways to Use Your Old Chromecast (Beyond Streaming Movies and TV Shows)
The Chromecast was one of the most useful little gadgets Google ever created, so naturally, the company decided to retire the product line. Google Cast functionality remains in the Google TV Streamer and Google TV devices, as well as in televisions, but sadly, we won’t see the Chromecast for sale again .
If you have an old Chromecast lying around, it’s still perfectly fine for now. However, you might soon be upgrading to a newer streaming device—or perhaps you already have—and now you’re wondering what to do with your old gear. In fact, these little adapters are much more versatile than you might imagine.
While the primary purpose of these devices for most users will be streaming content from services like Netflix and Apple TV, you can do much more with them thanks to the casting support that Google and other developers have built into their apps.
Keep an eye on your property.
If you have a Chromecast-compatible security camera (including Google’s Nest cameras), you can view the live feed on your Chromecast, making it easy to create a mini surveillance hub if you have a spare small monitor or TV.
Sharing an image is easy: just say, “Hey Google, show me…” followed by the camera’s name (as it appears in the Google Home app). On Chromecast with Google TV, you can also open the Google Home widget, which appears in the main settings panel.
Set up a second screen wirelessly.
Another way to quickly cast to Chromecast: open any Google Chrome tab on your laptop or desktop computer. Simply click the three dots in the upper-right corner of the tab, then select “Cast, save, and share” > “Cast.”
This means you can use the monitor or TV your Chromecast is connected to as a second screen, without any cables—just a Wi-Fi connection.
Listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks online.
When it comes to casting content to your TV, you probably first think of movies and TV shows, but the Google Cast standard also works with audio apps, including Spotify, Pocket Casts , and Audible.
This is especially true if you have a soundbar or high-quality speaker system connected to your TV, as this allows you to enjoy the audio stream at a much higher volume and with much higher quality compared to your phone.
Play simple games.
This device requires a Chromecast with local storage installed, so I’m mainly talking about Chromecast with Google TV . This device supports local apps, meaning you can set up games to launch using the remote control or a connected Bluetooth controller.
See what you can find by browsing the Google Play Store, but Super Macro 64 offers 25 different games you can easily play, and the guys at XDA Developers have put together a detailed guide on how to build a retro gaming emulator using RetroArch .
Displaying photos and wallpapers
Chromecast is great for creating a cozy atmosphere in your room when you’re not watching anything on the TV or monitor. You can show your personal photos, a selection of nature shots, or practically anything you want.
You can cast an image via Google Photos (open an album, tap the three dots in the upper right corner, then select “Cast” ) or set up a screensaver via the Google Home app. Select your Chromecast, tap the gear icon (in the upper right corner), then select “Ambiend” mode .
Keep in touch
Making video calls—whether with family during the holidays or with colleagues during a meeting—isn’t always easy on a phone or even a laptop screen, so why not take advantage of a larger monitor or TV with a Chromecast connected to it?
To do this, you’ll need to use Google Meet in your computer’s web browser. You can either select “Broadcast this meeting” before it starts, or click the three dots during the meeting (Google’s full instructions are available online).