How to Chromecast From Mac
Before you get started, make sure you’ve already set up your Chromecast. Then, follow these instructions to start using it with your Mac computer.
Do I Need Install An Extension from the Chrome Store?
No. The ability to cast without an extension has been built into Chrome for Mac since August 2016. So if you’ve updated Chrome anytime within the past few years, Chrome should handle casting exactly as we’ve outlined here. Then adjust the volume slider on the same window. Note that this volume control is separate from your TV’s volume. You may need to adjust both your cast’s volume and that of your TV to get the best sound level.
What Can I Do If Video Playback Isn’t Ideal?
For best results, close all the open tabs, especially if they’re doing any streaming. You might also consider closing any inactive apps on your Mac. The fewer things your Mac’s processor has to distract it, the more energy it can put into making your cast content buttery smooth.
A Quick Note On Performance
As long as you’re running Mac OS X 10.9, you should be able to cast just about anything Chrome can display. Google’s guidance on minimum system requirements is accurate. Even a bone-stock 2011 MacBook Air should be able to cast streaming video without hiccups. Casting from a late 2008 13” MacBook Core 2 Duo with maxed-out RAM, we found the MacBook struggled to send video of an acceptable quality. Even scaling back Prime Video’s Video Quality to Good barely smoothed out the relatively modest motion processing demands of our test video, rendering picture quality that was only passable at best. Net-net, pay attention to Google’s system requirements and you should be good to go.
