As an owner of a Chromecast, I know the frustration of figuring out how to connect it to my laptop. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share my experience and the solutions I discovered. In this blog post, I’ll provide an overview of the different ways to connect your Chromecast to your laptop, as well as the pros and cons of each method.
Technically, you can plug a Chromecast into a laptop, but only if your computer has an HDMI input port, which isn’t a common feature in most laptops. Only a handful of laptops on the market have both HDMI input and output ports, and that can make connecting a Chromecast to yours quite a challenge.
| Tips |
|---|
| Using a Chromecast with a laptop is possible with an HDMI port |
| Laptop must have an HDMI input port, USB power source, Wi-Fi |
| Compatible laptops include Clevo X8100, Dell Alienware M17x R4, and Dell Alienware 18 |
| Plug Chromecast into HDMI input port, connect USB cable to USB port, download Google Home app |
| Follow on-screen instructions to set up Chromecast on laptop |
| Connecting a Chromecast to a PC is easier as many monitors have HDMI inputs |
Table of Contents
What Do I Need to Be Able to Plug a Chromecast Into a Laptop Successfully?
To establish a steady connection between a laptop and a Chromecast, you’ll need the same things that a TV pairing requires, and these are:
- An HDMI input port
- A USB power source (you can attach the Chromecast to one of the laptop’s USB ports or plug its power adapter into a nearby wall outlet)
- A steady Wi-Fi connection (both the Chromecast device and the laptop must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network)
- Another device to cast its content to your laptop via Chromecast (that could be your smartphone, tablet, another laptop, or even a PC)
Once you check all these items on your list, you should be able to use Chromecast to mirror content from your smart device on your laptop. Yet, the thing is that all these requirements are easy to come by, except for the HDMI in-port.
See, most laptop models on the market only come with an HDMI out-port, while only a rare few have both in and out-ports. So, does your laptop belong to the former or the latter group?
Time to find out!
Which Laptops Have an HDMI Input Port?
On the market, the laptops that have HDMI input and output ports include:
- Clevo X8100 (mySN’s XMG8.c)
- Dell Alienware M17x R4
- Dell Alienware 18
As you can see, it’s not easy to find a laptop that has HDMI input. The reason why it’s an unusual feature to have in laptops is that these devices aren’t designed to receive audio and video signals from an external source but from their own motherboards.
In addition to that, most laptops use LCD screens, which won’t be compatible with video signals that come from HD sources.
Read more: Can I use Chromecast without a phone?
How to Identify an HDMI Input on a Laptop?
If you’ve bought a high-end laptop in the last couple of years and you suspect it might have an HDMI input port, here are a couple of tips on how to discover that feature:
- Check the laptop’s user’s manual for details on its ports
- Take a look at your laptop model’s specifications online
You may think that you can manually check your laptop for an HDMI port, but that will probably be of no help. That’s because HDMI inputs and outputs look exactly the same, so you won’t be able to tell which one your laptop has.
How to Plug a Chromecast Into a Laptop?
If you’re a lucky person who has an HDMI input on their laptop, it might be time to turn your laptop screen into a mini-TV!
These are the steps you’ll need to follow to plug and set up Chromecast on a laptop:
- Plug your Chromecast into the HDMI input port found on your laptop
- Connect the Chromecast’s USB cable to a USB port on the laptop or use the power adapter included
- Get the Google Home app on your smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android)
- Open the app after installation and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to set up Chromecast
- When the setup process is over, you can now cast media to your laptop via your smartphone or tablet
Can I Plug a Chromecast Into a PC?
You’ll probably face more success trying to connect a Chromecast to your PC instead of a laptop. This is because many PC monitors have HDMI inputs, which is basically all you need for a nice Chromecast connection without any issues.
To properly set up a Chromecast on a PC, just follow the same steps that we mentioned in the previous section. Easy peasy!
Read more: Does Chromecast need to be charged?
Wrapping Up
Can I plug a Chromecast into a laptop?
That’s a tricky question because you can definitely connect a Chromecast with a laptop to turn its screen into a tinier version of your HDTV. Yet, the irony is that most laptops don’t have HDMI inputs, which are an integral part of a Chromecast connection.
Still, some unique laptop models have this feature. If yours belongs to the lucky clique, it must feel great to be the Chosen One!