As an owner of a Chromecast device, I was recently frustrated when I realized I couldn’t use it without the HDMI port. After a bit of research, I was relieved to find out that there are actually several ways to use a Chromecast without HDMI. In this blog post, I’m going to share my experience of finding a solution to this issue, as well as other possible solutions I discovered in my research. So, if you’re wondering if it’s possible to use a Chromecast without HDMI, then this post is for you!
The simple answer to this question is yes. Even if your TV is too old or doesn’t have any HDMI ports available to connect the device, there are several workarounds that you can use to enjoy casting your screens on TVs and bypass the lack of HDMI and USB ports. This includes using splitters or HDMI adapters to any compatible ports in your TV.
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| Chromecast can be used without an HDMI port by using adapters and splitters to connect the HDMI cable to other compatible ports in your TV. |
| To connect a Chromecast to a TV with no HDMI port, you can use an HDMI splitter, HDMI to AV converter, HDMI to DVI converter, or HDMI to VGA converter. |
| If your TV lacks a USB port, you can use the power adapter that comes with the Chromecast to connect it to the wall. |
Table of Contents
Can Chromecast Work on a TV That Lacks an HDMI Port?
Chromecast requires two cable connections in order to work. Those connections are HDMI and USB. The first one is necessary for video output while the second is necessary for powering up the Chromecast device itself.
However, this means that Chromecast only relays the video signal in HDMI format, so it’s not necessary that the signal reaches the TV as a digital HDMI one.
In other words, you can easily use adapters to adjust the video output signal to be compatible with your TV.
How to Connect Chromecast to a TV with No HDMI Port
As previously mentioned, a Chromecast connection with a TV that has no HDMI port is possible. However, you’ll need to use adapters for this connection to work.
In this section, we’ll walk you through different workaround options that you can consider and how they perform.
1. HDMI Splitter (Extender)
If your TV has an HDMI port but it’s always in use, it doesn’t mean that you can use the TV for Google Chromecast.
Instead, you can simply buy an HDMI Splitter, which is a small box that connects one HDMI cable in and provides two or more HDMI ports out.
A reliable HDMI splitter works by amplifying the signal of the HDMI connection allowing for more ports to connect, which will require a power adapter to work.
2. HDMI to AV Converters
If you have an old TV, chances are that the TV has the standard AV connection, also known as “Audio/Video connection“. This one uses standard RCA cables to conduct the output signal to the TV.
HDMI to AV converters allow you to plug in the HDMI cable of the Chromecast on one side and use regular RCA connections for the TV. This adapter is usually powered by USB cables for convenience.
3. HDMI to DVI Converters
Unlike the RCA connections, DVI already uses digital signals rather than analog, which is similar to the ones in HDMI cables.
Yet, you’ll still need an audio separator in order to use this one properly with Chromecast. To use it, you should do the following:
- Connect the Chromecast HDMI to an audio separator
- Connect a regular 3.5 mm audio cable directly to the screen or to a speaker
- Connect the audio separator’s HDMI cable (HDMI Out) to a DVI Male to HDMI female connector, and plug the DVI end into its port on the TV or monitor.
4. HDMI to VGA Converters
This one is much simpler than the previous one, but it uses a similar concept, and also requires audio separation.
To use it, you’ll need to connect the Chromecast HDMI cable to an HDMI Female to VGA Male adapter, then connect a regular 3.5 mm cable directly to the screen or to a speaker for the audio.
Read more: Can I connect Chromecast to USB?
Can Chromecast Work on a TV without USB Ports?
Luckily, when it comes to USB ports, you don’t have to worry. All Google Chromecast devices come with a power adapter, similar to a USB brick, that allows you to connect the device directly to the wall, even if the TV doesn’t have a USB port.
Wrap Up
With that said, our guide about using Chromecast without HDMI comes to the end. As you can see, Chromecast will work best with a TV that has an HDMI port, as it helps you make the most out of the TV and ensure the maximum viewing quality without any distortion to the audio or video signal.
Read more: Does Chromecast Audio have Bluetooth?
However, if you have an old monitor or TV with a spare Chromecast that you want to put to good use, you can easily connect it to your Chromecast using an HDMI adapter. The connections are usually pretty easy and they work well with different Chromecast devices!
As for lacking USB ports, Google Chromecast already comes with power adapters straight out of the box, and you can use them to connect the device to the TV if it doesn’t have USB ports.