As a user of both Chrome and an Apple TV, I was frustrated when I first learned that I couldn’t directly stream content from Chrome to my Apple TV. After doing some research and testing out different solutions, I’m excited to share with you how I was able to stream content from Chrome to my Apple TV using Airplay and some other useful solutions I discovered along the way. In this blog post, I’ll be discussing how to use Chrome to Apple TV with Airplay and the various tools available for doing this.
Their vision is to make users stick to the apps on the TV or use their phones for easier navigation. Bear in mind that using a browser on a smart TV can get pretty troublesome, as they aren’t designed for this purpose.
| Tips |
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| AirPlay is a protocol for wireless communication native to Apple devices, and it can be used to stream audio, video, device screens, and photos between two Apple devices. |
| You can cast Chrome to Apple TV with AirPlay by connecting both devices to the same Wi-Fi network, going to the web page or video you want to cast, and searching for the “AirPlay” icon. |
| Alternatives to AirPlay include AirBrowser and AirWeb, both of which are available on the App Store. |
| You can also use an HDMI cable connection to mirror content from your device to your Apple TV. |
| AirPlay 2 is compatible with some Smart TVs from major manufacturers. |
Table of Contents
How to Use Chrome to Apple TV with AirPlay?
First things first, let’s establish that AirPlay isn’t a web browser and isn’t an app you can download from the App Store.
In fact, it’s a protocol for wireless communication that’s native to Apple devices. You can use it to stream audio, video, device screens, and photos between two Apple devices, with all the metadata included.
You can activate AirPlay within different apps like Netflix, HBO Max, or YouTube by simply tapping the AirPlay icon and selecting the device you want to cast on.
How to Cast Chrome to Apple TV with AirPlay?
In order to utilize AirPlay to cast a screen to your Apple TV, here’s what you have to do:
- Connect both your Apple TV and iOS device (iPad, iPhone, MacBook) to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Go to the web page or video you want to cast and search for the “AirPlay” icon, then tap it. In this case, you’ll have your Chrome browser on with whatever content you’re trying to cast from the browser.
- A menu should pop up (on the device you’ll be casting from) that lists all the compatible devices around you. Find your Apple TV on that list and select it.
- A list of compatible streaming devices should appear on your Apple TV. From that list, choose the device your other device.
It’s worth mentioning that you can cast from any other web browser like Safari and Opera.
Alternative Web Browsing Experiences on Apple TV
Sometimes, you won’t be able to find the “AirPlay” icon, and casting won’t be so seamless. No worries, though, as there are alternatives to using this protocol:
- AirBrowser
You can install AirBrowser from the App Store and use its free trial, then buy it for less than $5. It basically gives you a desktop browser experience using iOS devices coupled with Apple TV.
You simply use your Apple device (iPhone or iPad) as a tracking pad, with all the gestures supported, like scrolling, reverting to the previous page, and zooming.
Moreover, you can play videos from any website in full-screen, even if your iPhone or iPad are locked. You can also use it to surf the web or check your social media accounts.
There’s also an option for bookmarking and browsing multiple tabs at once, just as you would on a desktop browser.
- AirWeb
AirWeb is another app that you can use to cast a browser from an iOS device to an Apple TV. It turns your iPhone or iPad into a remote control while casting its screen to the ATV.
All you need is for your device to support AirPlay mirroring, and you’re good to go. However, it’s not as effective and smooth as AirBrowser, but evidently, it’s cheaper at less than $2.
- Connecting an HDMI Cable to Mirror the Screen
The final option is to simply go back to the roots and use a good old HDMI cable connection. In fact, this is the best option if you’re looking for the fastest response times when casting Chrome to Apple TV.
Naturally, it gives you the ability to mirror anything on your connected device to the screen of your Apple TV, be it a browser, e-mails, photos, etc.
Not to mention, an HDMI connection is your best bet if you want the fastest data transfer. So, it’s a safe bet if your Wi-Fi connection isn’t very stable or reliable.
If your device doesn’t have an HDMI port, you can simply use a USB-C to HDMI adapter to connect both devices.
Read more: Connect Apple TV to Xfinity Hotspot
Can I Use Apple AirPlay with Other Smart TVs?
Yes, a lot of the big TV manufacturers are beginning to add AirPlay 2 to their TVs. So, if your smart TV is AirPlay 2-enabled, you can directly cast or mirror content from your iOS or macOS devices.
Moreover, AirPlay 2-enabled speakers would also be compatible with different devices that have the feature integrated into them, like the more recent Samsung and LG Smart TVs.
Simply look for the “Work with Apple AirPlay” sticker on a device to ensure that it’s AirPlay-enabled.
Read more: Does Apple TV upscale to 4k
Final Words
So, How to Chrome to Apple TV with Airplay? All you have to do is to connect both devices to the same network and choose the AirPlay option when it’s available.
While being unable to use a browser on Apple TV can be a little frustrating, there’s always a workaround or two.
Hopefully, the Chrome to Apple TV with AirPlay method will do the trick for you, but even if not, there are some reliable alternatives.
