My team has been working remotely since March 2020, and it wasn’t easy coordinating work across different apps initially.
But after two years, we’ve gotten pretty comfortable with it.
Back then, I faced a lot of difficulties conducting meetings over Zoom.
I was used to having meetings in a conference room with a projector blaring on the wall.
And so, I found it tough to review all the sales data the team presented on my little laptop screen.
One of my tech-savvy friends suggested casting Zoom from my laptop to a TV with a much bigger screen.
However, my TV didn’t have the screen mirroring feature.
So, after consulting Google and several gadget forums, I got a Google Chromecast from Amazon.
Surprisingly, casting Zoom to Chromecast was much easier than I had thought, and I was able to set up meetings on my TV screen within minutes.
To cast Zoom to Chromecast from a computer, open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, select Cast from its menu, choose your Chromecast and click on Cast desktop. To cast Zoom to Chromecast from a smartphone, tap on the Cast icon from the phone’s notification panel and select your Chromecast.
Setup Chromecast on a TV
Google Chromecast allows you to stream content from one device (usually with a smaller screen) onto another having a large screen.
You can connect this device to any TV via an HDMI port fulfilling the following requirements:
- A TV with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 1.3 or higher built-in
- HDCP 2.2 to support 4K videos
To setup Chromecast on your TV:
- Connect Chromecast to a power socket.
- Plug it into one of your TV’s HDMI ports.
- Press the Source or Input button on the TV’s remote.
- Choose the HDMI input in which you plugged in the Chromecast.
Once connected, your Chromecast is ready to receive video streams from your phone or computer.
Note: Before you start casting Zoom to Chromecast, make sure that your phone or computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as Chromecast.
Also, since the Zoom meeting app doesn’t have a native screencast option yet, you will need to cast it using your device features or an additional app.
Cast Zoom to Chromecast From a Computer via Google Chrome
Irrespective of whether you’re using a Windows or Mac computer, you can easily cast Zoom to Chromecast using your Google Chrome browser.
You can either download the Zoom app on your computer or use Zoom from the browser itself. You will be able to cast your meeting in either case.
To cast Zoom to Chromecast using Google Chrome:
- Launch Google Chrome on your computer.
- Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
- Select the Cast option.
- Click on the name of your Chromecast.
- If you’re using the Zoom app, click on Cast Desktop.
- If you’re using Zoom in your browser, select Cast Tab and click on the Zoom tab.
You can then open your Zoom app or the browser tab with an ongoing Zoom meeting, and the conference will be visible on your TV.
You can also use Microsoft Edge to cast Zoom to Chromecast by following the same steps.
Cast Zoom to Chromecast From an Android Device
Android phones and tablets have an in-built cast feature that can be used to cast Zoom to Chromecast easily.
To start casting:
- Drag down the notification panel on your Android device.
- Tap on the Cast icon. You can also find this option under the Connected Devices or Connection and Sharing tab in your Device settings.
- Click on the name of your Chromecast from the list of available devices.
- Your Android device’s screen will now be displayed on the TV. Once done, open the Zoom app on your phone (or tablet) and continue with the meeting.
Cast Zoom to Chromecast From an iOS Device
Since Chromecast is a Google product, the native screen-sharing feature of iOS devices is not compatible with it.
You will need to use Google Home or a third-party app to cast Zoom to your Chromecast from an iOS device.
- Download and install Google Home or another casting app (like Chromecaster)from the App Store.
- Launch the app and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.
- Once done, look for the Cast option (or icon) and click on it.
- Select your Chromecast from the list of available devices and Connect to it.
- If a pop-up appears, select Screen Cast or Screen Mirror.
- Your device’s screen will now be visible on your TV. Open Zoom and start your meeting.
Tips to Use Zoom Effectively on TV
The Zoom app is optimized for use on a phone or computer based on its in-built features.
When you cast Zoom to your TV, only the video output is displayed on the TV.
Zoom will still use your casting device’s camera for video input and its microphone for audio input.
Here are some tips to follow to use Zoom on a TV effectively:
- Always keep your phone or laptop in front of you.
- Look into the device’s camera while speaking to look natural.
- While casting from a phone, turn the phone to landscape mode so that the video appears on full screen on the TV.
Additionally, you can also connect headphones to your device for enhanced audio output during Zoom meetings.
Move Your Zoom Calls to a Bigger Screen
Conducting Zoom meetings on a small laptop screen can be challenging, as I found out during lockdowns.
Fortunately, getting a Chromecast solved most of those problems, and it’s by far the best gadget I’ve got in my home office setup.
On top of that, it costs less than $50 and is pretty simple to use.
Once I connect Chromecast to my TV, all I need to do is enable screencasting on my laptop.
Additionally, it connects easily with my Android and iOS mobile devices too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Zoom on my Smart TV?
Yes, Zoom offers native apps for Google TV and some other Smart TVs.
What is the minimum Internet speed to cast Zoom on TV?
Zoom requires a stable Internet connection to cast video calls on TV.
- For a medium-quality video call, you must have 600 Kbps Internet speed.
- For 720p video calls, you need a speed of 1.2 Mbps.
- For 1080p HD video calls, your Internet speed must be 1.8 Mbps or higher.
How do I cast from my laptop to a TV without Chromecast?
You can cast your laptop’s screen onto a TV using an HDMI cable. First, connect the HDMI cable to your laptop and TV.
Then, from the TV’s settings, change the ‘Input source’ to select the HDMI port you connected the laptop in, and you are good to go.
