How to Cast Google Photos Using Chromecast

This guide covers all of the steps for casting Google Photos images and albums to a TV via Chromecast. It includes instructions for casting from a computer running Windows or macOS and also features steps for casting Google Photos to a TV from an iPhone, iPad, or Android smart device.

How to Cast Google Photos to TV From a Computer

The easiest way to cast Google Photos content from a Windows or Mac computer is with the Google Chrome web browser. Here’s how to use this free app for casting content with Chromecast.

1. Open the Google Chrome web browser on your computer and go to the official Google Photos website.

2. Click Go to Google Photos.

3. Sign in if you’re not already.

4. Click the ellipsis icon in the top-right corner of the Google Chrome browser to open the menu.

5. Click Cast.

6. Click the name of your Chromecast-enabled device when it appears.

   If your TV or device doesn't appear, turn it on and make sure it's connected to your Wi-Fi network.

7. The Google Photos web page will now appear on your TV screen.

8. To stop the casting of the website, click the ellipsis again and select Cast > Stop casting.

How to Cast Google Photos to TV From iOS and Android

Images from Google Photos can also be cast to a smart TV or other Chromecast-enabled device from an iPhone, iPad, or an Android smartphone or tablet by using the official Google Photos app.

Download Google Photos For:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your iOS or Android smart device and tap Change setting.

2. Tap Allow Access to All Photos.

3. Tap Allow access to all photos.

   You need to grant full access to your local photos to proceed further with the app.

4. Tap the Back up option to upload all of your device’s photos to the Google Photo cloud servers. Tap Do not back up if you don’t want to upload any photos.

5. Tap Library to access the images in your Google Photos cloud account.

6. Tap a photo album to open it.

7. Tap the Chromecast icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

   The Chromecast icon is the one which looks like a TV with a wireless signal in its lower-left corner.

8. Tap OK.

   You’ll only need to grant permission the first time you cast to your Chromecast device.

9. Tap the Chromecast icon again.

10. Tap the name of the device you want to cast your Google Photos content to.

11. The Google Photos logo should appear on your TV. Tap an individual photo on the Google Photos app on your smartphone or tablet to cast it to the TV screen.

    Only individual photos will appear on the screen via Chromecast.

12. To stop the casting, tap the highlighted Chromecast icon.

13. Tap Disconnect.

Can You Cast a Slideshow From Google Photos?

To cast a photo slideshow from Google Photos to your TV from a computer or the Android app, open a photo in an album, select the ellipsis icon, and click Slideshow.

A slideshow of the current album will immediately begin playing. To exit the slideshow, press Esc on your keyboard or tap the screen and select the Back arrow.

The slideshow functionality is unavailable on the iOS Google Photos app though you can still manually swipe through photos in an album once you open one to create the illusion of a slideshow.

How Do I Cast Photos From Google Drive to My TV?

Unfortunately, neither the Google Drive website nor its apps support Chromecast so there’s no direct way to cast photos or videos from it to a TV with Chromecast.

The easiest solution to this problem is to copy or move your files to Google Photos and cast them to your TV via one of the above methods. Another option is to use another wireless method for mirroring your device on your TV such as Apple’s AirPlay or to mirror your computer or laptop on a TV screen by connecting your TV and computer via an HDMI cable.

Yet another way to access Google Drive on a TV is to use a web browser app to log into your account directly. Most smart TVs come with a web browser pre-installed. Some video game consoles such as Sony’s PS4 and PS5 and Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox Series X also support web browsing apps.

Can You Cast iPhone Photos to Chromecast?

In addition to letting you cast your Google Photos images to your TV, the Google Photos iOS app also supports Chromecast casting for photos stored locally on your iPhone and iPad as well.

Whether you’ve given Google Photos access to your smartphone’s images or not, your iPhone’s photos are still viewable within the app via the main Photos tab. To cast an iPhone photo via Chromecast, all you need to do is tap on a photo, then tap the Chromecast icon, and select your TV or other device from the list.

How Can I Play My Photos on My TV Without Chromecast?

There are several ways to view your photographs on a television if it or your smart device doesn’t support Chromecast.

• Use an HDMI cable. You can use a wired connection to output your Windows or Mac computer to a TV screen. This method can also work with iOS and Android devices.
• Apple AirPlay. If you have an Apple TV and an iPhone, you can use Apple’s own AirPlay technology to cast your photos to your TV or mirror your phone’s display entirely. If you have an Xbox, there are a number of paid apps that can add AirPlay support to the gaming console.
• Miracast. Miracast is a wireless casting technology supported by a wide range of smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. Its name can vary but it’s usually called something like mirroring, projecting, or screen sharing.