Apple TV & Chromecast: these are all the options

Apple TV and Chromecast are not an optimal combination. But that doesn’t mean they don’t work together at all. Fortunately, you can bring both things together. We’ll take the guesswork out of the fact that you can’t stream content directly from an iPhone or iPad to a Chromecast.

Apple TV and Chromecast? If you want to stream content from Apple TV to Chromecast, you’ll find that this is difficult to do. Fortunately, there is a workaround to do this, although it is not entirely ideal. To do this you need to open Apple TV in the browser and then send it to the Chromecast using the built-in cast function.

Suppose you want to watch films and series via the video streaming service Apple TV Plus. You will need the Apple TV app for that, as well as the Apple TV media player or a television that supports AirPlay. AirPlay is similar to Chromecast, but with Apple technology.

What if you don’t have a TV with AirPlay and don’t want to invest in an Apple TV media player? Apple TV Plus, the video streaming service, offers some great shows, like Ted Lasso. All the more reason to give that content a shot, even if you’re an avid Chromecast user.

Apple TV and Chromecast: The Basics

Let’s start at the beginning. If you’re an Android (smartphone) user, you’re at a disadvantage because there’s no Apple TV app for your smartphone or tablet. So if you want to cast content from your smartphone to your TV, you’re out of luck. However, you can still download an app specifically for your Android TV or media player.

apple-tv-plus
Via: Apple (press)

If you want to cast content from your iPhone or iPad to an Android TV without an Apple TV app or Apple TV media player, you’ll have to rely on third-party apps like AirReceiverLite or AirBeam. These apps are unattractive and very basic, but they do add AirPlay functionality to your TV.

After installation, your television with Android TV installed should pop up as an AirPlay playback device option. Please note that things can go wrong as this is not an official playback option, and the app was not created and maintained by Apple.

Apple TV and Chromecast: casting from your browser

A more elegant solution is to bring Apple TV and Chromecast together using the browser on your computer. When using the Google Chrome browser, you can cast a tab directly to a device with a Chromecast or with built-in Chromecast functionality.

Here’s how it works. Go to the Apple TV Plus website, sign in, and play the film, series or documentary you want to watch. Then use the built-in Chromecast features, which make the opened content appear on your television.

Chromecast pc
(Image: Wesley Akkerman)

Although this option is available to most people, it does have its drawbacks. You may not get access to the highest image quality. In addition, you have to control all content from your computer or laptop, so you have to keep it close by while watching.

Apple TV and Chromecast: the Apple device

Then there is another option you need to consider. For example, you can connect an Apple device directly to your television. It doesn’t matter if it’s a MacBook, iPad, or iPhone. The easiest option is of course an Apple TV media player, but that is just a side note.

The main drawback, of course, is that you have to have an Apple device. And chances are you do, since you’re looking for an option to play the video streaming service’s content. If that’s not the case, then you can leave this option out.

In some cases, connecting an Apple device is not a simple matter. If you want to connect an iPhone or iPad, you need an HDMI adapter, for example. A MacBook is easier to connect. And the same goes for the media player.

apple-tv
Via: Apple

Apple TV and Chromecast: the differences

After reading this, are you considering getting an Apple TV media player to use alongside your Chromecast? Then it’s good to know what you’re buying. If you’d rather not, that’s no problem: many Android TVs and media players support the app, fortunately.

Such an Apple TV media player is actually only useful for those people who have already invested in the ecosystem of the Cupertino-based company. The media player does not work with Android or with Android apps and actually only works with the company’s other products, like an iPhone.

Furthermore, the Apple TV and Chromecast differ little from Google TV in use and functionality. In both cases, you play content from content providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and others. In addition, both players make use of a physical remote control.

Compared to the older Chromecast or Chromecast Ultra, there are more differences. Those devices do not offer their own software interface and only let you cast content to a TV, while the Apple TV has its own operating system and capabilities.

Apple TV and Chromecast: in conclusion

So if you want to watch content via Apple TV and Chromecast, you’re out of luck. That functionality unfortunately does not exist, without unofficial bypasses. If you still want to watch the available content, download the Apple TV app on your smart TV or get an Apple TV media player.

The iPhone and Chromecast are not the best of friends either, but fortunately they work together a little better.

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