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General
What can I do with a Chromecast?
Read Google's walkthrough, it's much better than the Chromecast product page: https://support.google.com/chromecas..._topic=2995192
How can Chromecast keep playing when I disconnect/shut down/reboot my phone/tablet/computer?
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...03&postcount=2
How is Chromecast different from Apple AirPlay?
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8#post48168448
Can I use Chromecast outside of the United States?
Yes, but region-aware applications like Netflix and Hulu will require using a different DNS.
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=243557
Also see Can I use a DNS other than Google? below.
Capabilities
What official apps and sites does Chromecast support?
See https://support.google.com/chromecas..._topic=2995192
What media types does Chromecast support?
See https://developers.google.com/cast/s...ed_media_types
Can I cast media stored on my phone/tablet?
Stock
Not at this time
Rooted
Yes, with PwnedCast v1.1 (or newer, or KyoCast mod) and specific version of Allcast (aka AirCast, KoushCast).
KyoCast (now built into PwnedCast v1.1 and newer) - http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2516164
AllCast - http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=98
Can I cast media stored on my computer?
Stock
If it will play in Chrome, you can use the Cast extension to cast it.
Also Plex is coming, in which case you could run Plex Media Server on your computer and Chromecast would be a Plex client. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=101
Rooted
If you have PwnedCast v1.1 (or newer, or KyoCast mod), the fling Java application will let you send media from your computer to Chromecast. Note that Chromecast only supports a limited range of media types.
fling 0.3 http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=86
Also see What media types does Chromecast support?
Can I cast my computer's desktop?
Yes, via the Cast extension for the Chrome browser
Note that there will be some lag between what you see on the computer and what you see on Chromecast as performance will depend greatly on your computer's processing power and your (home) network's bandwidth and latency
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2380302
Can I cast my phone/tablet's screen?
Not at this time.
Can I cast a browser tab?
Yes, via the Cast extension for the Chrome browser
with video?
Yes, though playback performance will depend greatly on the source format of the video, your computer's processing power and your (home) network's bandwidth and latency.
with full screen video?
Yes, subject to above, just full-screen the video and it should appear full-screen on Chromecast as well. You can Alt-Tab (Windows) or Cmd-Tab (Mac OS) to let things play in the background while you do other tasks
Can I use my computer's speakers while casting to Chromecast?
While casting, audio will be redirected to Chromecast, so audio will play out of your TV, not your PC.
Besides, even if you got the PC speakers playing audio, it would be out of sync with the video on your TV because of compression/decompression and network transfer delay between your computer and Chromecast.
Can I use a DNS other than Google?
By default Chromecast uses Google's DNS servers by default, regardless of what your DHCP-supplied DNS is.
Stock
You might be able to have Chromecast "fall back" to DHCP-supplied DNS by using your router to block its requests to the Google DNS servers. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=103
If you have a more-intelligent router, you can set up rules to intercept and re-route DNS requests to a different DNS server. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=104
Rooted
PwnedCast defaults to using the DHCP-supplied DNS servers.
If you are not using PwnedCast, there is a mod to use DHCP-supplied DNS. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2495854
There is also a mod to use the Unlocator DNS service. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2455888
And one to use the UnoTelly DNS service. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=41
Can I specify what output resolution (480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, etc) Chromecast uses?
Not at this time. You can specify streaming resolution for tab casting, but as far as actual output resolution, Chromecast appears to use the HDMI handshake to determine what it should output. This can potentially be a problem for displays that report 1080p support but do not correctly support 1080p input.
Connectivity
Can I connect Chromecast to...
a computer monitor?
Yes, in most cases, as long as the computer monitor supports video (as opposed to computer graphics) over HDMI or DVI.
Note that connecting over DVI may not provide audio, so you may need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input.
a HDTV with VGA?
To be honest, it's probably cheaper and easier to upgrade your TV to one with HDMI.
Yes, but it will require some kind of HDMI-to-VGA or HDMI-to-RGB converter, preferably one with audio output(s) like the HDfury2 or newer.
If the converter does not have audio output(s), you will also need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input.
a HDTV with analog component HD input?
To be honest, it's probably cheaper and easier to upgrade your TV to one with HDMI.
Yes, but it will require some kind of HDMI-to-Component converter, preferably one with audio output(s) like the HDfury2 or newer.
If the converter does not have audio output(s), you will also need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input.
a TV without HD inputs?
To be honest, it's probably cheaper and easier to upgrade to an HDTV with HDMI.
Yes, but it will require some kind of converter to convert HDMI to SD Component, S-Video or Composite video and audio.
Unless your TV automatically handles widescreen input and the converter you choose sets the widescreen flag on output, make sure to get a converter that handles aspect ratio conversion (ARC, not to be confused with Audio Return Channel for HDMI, which is also ARC) as the Chromecast outputs 16:9 widescreen. Otherwise your Chromecast output will be horizontally squashed (people will be extra skinny).
If the converter does not have audio output(s), you will also need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input.
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...40&postcount=6
an UltraHD ("4K") TV?
Sure. The TV will upscale the Chromecast output to the TV's native resolution.
How do I get audio from Chromecast out my...
AV receiver?
If your Chromecast is plugged into your AV receiver, it should pick up the audio automatically.
If Chromecast is connected to your TV and both support ARC (Audio Return Channel), Chromecast's audio should be able to route through the HDMI cable connected between your TV and AV receiver.
If Chromecast is connected to your TV and one or both do not support ARC, then you will need to take the audio output from your TV back to your AV receiver. TVs usually have a Digital output for this purpose, either coax SPDIF or optical TOSlink which you can take back to your receiver. If you TV's output and receiver's input don't match, you can get a Coax-to-Optical or Optical-to-Coax converter box.
If Chromecast is connected to your TV, and one or both do not support ARC, and your TV does not have a digital audio output, then you will need to use analog audio, or get an HDMI audio extractor box to "break out" the audio from the HDMI stream so you can route it to your receiver.
external sound bar or speakers?
If your sound bar or speakers have HDMI input the information above about hooking up to an AV receiver applies.
For other situations, you will need an HDMI audio extractor box to "break out" the audio from the HDMI stream so you can route it to your receiver as either a digital or analog signal.
Root
Which Chromecasts are rootable?
Currently only devices with the original vulnerable bootloader (firmware build 12072) can be rooted.
As newer Chromecasts are already shipping with newer firmware versions (and therefore no vulnerable bootloader), the serial number seems the most reliable way to tell whether an unused, unopened Chromecast can be rooted.
Once set up, a stock Chromecast will automatically update its firmware (OTA updates from Google), so the serial number test is not valid for Chromecasts that have already connected to the Internet, unless you are very lucky and it has not yet downloaded or applied an update.
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2537022
My Chromecast is supposed to be rootable, but it has already downloaded a Google OTA update. Can I still root it?
If Chromecast has not applied any OTA update, and you did not let it perform the update at boot, then you may be able to abort the update and still root it by opening it, jumping some pins and booting a FlashCast USB stick (it will delete the cached OTA update data). Not for the faint of heart! See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2438715
If your Chromecast has already applied any OTA update (your firmware build is no longer 12072), then no. Once an update is applied, the bootloader vulnerability is removed and you can no longer root with FlashCast.
How do I root?
You go from a stock Chromecast to a rooted Chromecast by using FlashCast to write a rooted firmware by using the vulnerability in the original bootloader. The first time you use FlashCast you have to boot it on Chromecast twice - first to prepare the FlashCast stick to accept mods, and the second time to flash a rooted, OTA-disabled firmware so you don't lose root.
Cliff notes version: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=115
FlashCast: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2452838
Video: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2529903
PwnedCast: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2515799
What does root give me?
ADB, Telnet, SSH, protection from Google OTA updates, ability to run unofficial apps (via PwnedCast v1.1 or Kyocast), ability to change default behavior (like use a different DNS than Google) and the power to peek into the dark corners of your device. ;)
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2553531
Unofficial apps
AllCast (aka AirCast/KoushCast) - send video stored on Android phone/tablet to Chromecast
download: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=98
info: https://plus.google.com/110558071969...ts/G3jF2JynLc2
Audiour - free audio sharing
info & download: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...9#post47966999
fling - send video stored on computer to Chromecast
download: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=86
info: http://www.xda-developers.com/androi...ur-chromecast/
Custom firmware (installing one of these is REQUIRED to preserve root!)
PwnedCast (KyoCast and Use DHCP-provided DNS mods built-in, plus automatic PwnedCast OTA updates that upgrade while preserving root)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2515799
Rooted build 13300 (ADB and telnet enabled, OTA updates disabled)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2453097
Mods (apply on top of rooted/custom firmware)
Use DHCP-supplied DNS. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2495854
Use Unlocator DNS service. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2455888
Use UnoTelly DNS service. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=41
Official Apps (Questions pertaining to them, not a comprehensive list of official applications)
YouTube
Can I play live streams?
Not at this time. See https://support.google.com/chromecas.../2995235?hl=en and https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/3285407?hl=en
Can I play paid channels?
Yes. See https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/3285407?hl=en
HBO GO
Does it work outside of the US?
It might with a DNS service that makes it look like you're in the US (like Unlocator and UnoTelly)
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2536892
HBO GO confirmed working without Unotelly: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...4#post48314604