How to Cast PC to Chromecast Audio

As a frustrated owner of a Chromecast Audio device, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to cast my PC’s audio to the device. After much research and trial and error, I’ve managed to figure out how to do it, and I’m here to share the tips and tricks I’ve discovered along the way. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to cast PC to Chromecast Audio, so you can enjoy the same audio experience I have.

To cast audio from a PC to a Chromecast-supported speaker, you’ll need a running Chrome browser and a sturdy internet connection. Using third-party media players is optional since you can stream directly from a tab.

Tips:
Chromecast Audio devices require a Chrome browser and a solid internet connection to cast audio from a PC.
To cast audio from a PC to a supported speaker, plug the Chromecast device into a power supply, connect it to a speaker, and ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
You can cast audio from Chrome tabs, Windows Media Player, and VLC to the Chromecast device.
With the right setup, you can enjoy the same audio experience with your PC and Chromecast Audio device.

Table of Contents

How to Cast PC to Chromecast Audio

While you can always use the Google Home app to throw media into the supported devices, it’s still possible to do so on your PC.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can cast from a PC to a speaker using Chromecast devices:

Connect the Chromecast to a Speaker

To start, you’ll need to plug your Chromecast device into a power supply using the USB cable and adapter in the box.

Then, you can hook up the device to any speaker at home that can take in the 3.5 mm output from the Chromecast Audio. Alternatively, you can buy converters to turn that 3.5 mm into an RCA jack.

Keep in mind that Google is no longer producing Chromecast Audio devices, so it might be challenging to find one. However, you can use a regular Chromecast instead with a speaker that’s compatible with HDMI cables and converters.

Of course, if you have a speaker with built-in Chromecast features, you can skip this step entirely and jump right into the next!

Get the Latest Version of Google Chrome

The only thing you really need on your PC to cast audio is an updated Google Chrome browser.

Usually, when you download the browser, you’ll get the latest version at the time, so you don’t have to worry about updates if you’ve just installed Chrome.

Meanwhile, if you already have one downloaded, here’s how you can check for updates:

Find the three dots (they’re usually in the top right corner) and click on them.

Go to Help, then open About Chrome.
From there, you’ll see a prompt to install any available updates.

Set Up the Wi-Fi Network for Both Devices

Once the basic setup is ready on the PC and the Chromecast, you need to link them both through Wi-Fi.

Obviously, they both need to run on the same network to be able to sync streaming data. So, double-check that you’re using the same home Wi-Fi to back up each device.

Choose Chromecast-Enabled Platforms

By now, you should have the setup all synced up and ready to go. All that’s left is picking the content you want to stream to the speakers.

Here are a few different casting methods to consider:

Casting From a Tab

The easiest way to cast audio from a PC is to use the browser itself, and it works for both Windows and macOS.

Here’s how:

Open a tab and head to any Chromecast-enabled site (YouTube, Spotify, etc.).

Look for the cast button on the media webpage. It looks like a small rectangle with three connectivity waves on the bottom left.
In the menu, choose the device from all the detected Chromecasts on the same network.
Confirm that the speaker is playing the same content without significant delay.

The tab should have a glowing drop as long as it’s casting. To swap sources, right-click on any other tab and choose Cast this Tab.

Casting From WMP

If you’d rather cast from the local audio files on your PC, using the Windows Media Player (WMP) might come in handy.

It’s a lot similar to casting from a tab, but with a twist:

Check that you have WMP installed on your Windows PC.
Head to Chrome and click on the three customization dots in the corner.
Choose Cast from the list and click on the Chromecast you’re using.

Wait for the connection, then go to the Source and choose Desktop.
On your desktop, open WMP and start casting any audio file you want to the speakers.

Casting From VLC

VLC is yet another media player that you can use as a media source when you’re casting audio from a PC.

To sync your VLC to Chromecast, check out these steps:

Get the latest version of the VLC and install the player on the PC.
Pick a file on the app and click on Playback from the toolbar.

Choose Renderer to see a list of all the synced casting devices.
Click on the desired Chromecast and confirm that the media is playing through the speakers.

Wrap Up

Figuring out how to cast PC to Chromecast audio is pretty simple once you have a Chrome browser, a compatible speaker, and the right guide.

Depending on your operating system, you might even be able to stream from media players like WMP and VLC!