YouTube overhauls its app-to-TV experience, shared Wi-Fi network no longer required
Casting from YouTube to your television has been a thing since, well, since Google first rolled out its Cast protocol well over a decade ago, and though the site’s default TV interface is pretty good these days, casting remains the preference of Chromecast veterans everywhere. If you count yourself among that crowd, good news: Google is overhauling how the app-to-TV experience works with YouTube.…
Google is revamping the way YouTube app content is cast to televisions, eliminating the need for a shared Wi-Fi network. The company has announced significant changes to the smartphone-to-television interaction, rebranding devices as "companions" and removing the classic Cast icon. This update, which has been in testing since early 2026, aims to simplify the casting process and reduce friction when sharing videos from a phone to a TV screen.
The main change involves shifting away from account-based management and introducing a more streamlined approach to casting. While the benefits of this update are clear, there are some concerns about the potential removal of Wi-Fi casting functionality, which could hinder group viewing experiences. The new "Play on different device" option appears to be similar to the current casting menu but eliminates the requirement to start playing a video on the phone before casting it to the TV.
It remains to be seen when the changes will be fully rolled out, but it is expected to be implemented soon on mobile devices.
Written by urgent.news from 9to5Google's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
