Chromecast devices have changed our lives, just add a phone, an HDMI port and a decent WiFi connection and you have all you need to enjoy the ultimate home cinema experience. The challenge comes in when your WiFi connection is either down or just playing up – but don’t worry, fortunately, you have options.
There are 2 ways to get around your lost WiFi connection, the first is by using guest mode and the second option is with an ethernet connection.
How to stream from your phone without WiFi using Guest Mode
To be able to stream without WiFi, you will need to enable Guest Mode. When you enable Guest Mode, your Chromecast device emits its own WiFi signal. This basically means that guests can connect to the Chromecast from an Apple or Android phone without using the host’s WiFi or even knowing their password.
The only challenge is that the host needs to be connected to their WiFi to be able to turn on the Guest Mode. If you intend to stream without WiFi or have a weak signal and anticipate that this could become an issue, it’s advisable to enable guest mode on your primary device. This means that you can use a second device to connect to the internet via mobile data, hot-spotting, or even through a different WiFi network.
Enabling Guest Mode as a host
Only the host can enable guest mode and it’s pretty simple to do. So head off to your Google Home App and go to Settings. The Settings icon can be found in the top right-hand corner and select Recognition and Sharing. Select Guest Mode and you will then be able to see the guest mode pin, you will then need to click On to enable the guest mode.
Enabling Guest Mode as a guest
As the guest, you will need to turn on Chromecast Guest Mode if your phone is an Android. Simply go to Settings, click on Google, then Devices & Sharing, followed by Cast Options, and finally Guest Mode. iPhone users can skip this step and go straight to Casting.
You can now open a cast-enabled app like YouTUbe and click on the Cast icon, followed by Nearby Devices. Now all you have to do is follow the instructions on your phone’s screen. If your phone doesn’t pair with the Chromecast, you may need to manually enter the PIN (this is the 4-digit guest mode pin that the host was able to see when enabling guest mode.)
How to stream from your phone without WiFi using an Ethernet Connection
An Ethernet connection is a great option if you are having WiFi problems. You are going to need a Chromecast Ethernet adapter and an Ethernet cable. On a side note, according to Google support, they are only selling Ethernet adapters for Chromecast with Google TV but you can find unofficial Chromecast adapters. Because they aren’t official adapters there is a risk that they may not work with some models.
Getting your ethernet connection up and running is pretty simple. Firstly, make sure that your Chromecast is plugged into your TV’s HDMI port. You will then need to connect the Ethernet adapter cable to the USB port on the Chromecast and then run an Ethernet cable from the Ethernet adapter to your router.
Once everything has been connected, you can plug the Ethernet adapter into the power socket you would usually use for your Chromecast device. Your Chromecast device is now set up to the Ethernet connection as opposed to your WiFi network and you can go ahead and stream from any Chromecast app.
If you run into challenges, you may need to restore the factory settings on your Chromecast. This will involve setting up Chromecast again.
Can You Use Chromecast With Mobile Data
You will be happy to know that this is definitely an option with a few caveats. As long as the guest mode has been enabled and you’re the guest, you can use Chromecast with your mobile data.
However, you won’t be able to set up your Chromecast with mobile data, as you need to be on the same WiFi network but you can get around this by using an Ethernet cable.
Can you mirror your phone to Chromecast without WiFi
You will be pleased to know that you can mirror your phone without WiFi.
To mirror your screen from your Android device you will need to open the Google Home app and go to the Account tab and then scroll down until you find Mirror device. Once you have clicked on Mirror device, you will then need to click on the Cast Screen/Audio button. You can then go ahead and select your destination device.
iPhones, unfortunately, don’t have this functionality and you will need to download a third-party mirroring app like Replica to mirror your phone to your Chromecast device.
Being prepared
Unfortunately, neither of the above solutions will work in one of those emergencies, unless you are prepared. Guest mode needs to have been enabled on your primary device and you will need to have an Ethernet adapter and an Ethernet cable long enough to reach your router.
