In this article, you’ll learn how to adjust Chromecast resolution when you’re casting content to your TV.

What to Know

  • By default, Chromecast devices automatically attempt to adjust to the resolution of the connected TV.You can control the resolution from your mobile device by using a streaming app capable of adjusting the aspect ratio of the video.Control the resolution from your PC by setting your computer’s display resolution to the highest resolution your TV can output.

How Do I Change the Resolution on My Chromecast?

Google Chromecast is a unique casting device: When you stream content to your TV with a Chromecast, the Chromecast device itself connects directly to the internet to obtain that stream. Even if you start the video on your phone or tablet and send it (i.e. cast it) to the Chromecast, the Chromecast won’t be dependent on your smart device to send the stream to the Chromecast.

Because of this, you can’t adjust the Chromecast resolution directly using the Google Home app on your mobile device. Instead, the Chromecast automatically adjusts the aspect ratio depending on the resolution of the connected TV.

This means the easiest way to make sure the Chromecast streams at the correct aspect ratio is to set your television to the highest resolution you’d like to use. If you do this before casting to the Chromecast device, it should automatically adjust the aspect ratio of the stream to the correct resolution.

Adjust Chromecast Resolution From Mobile Apps

If you’re casting content from your mobile device, it may be possible to control Chromecast resolution from the app. This is because Chromecast will first attempt to use your casting device’s set resolution before adjusting to the TV resolution.

Many streaming apps for Chromecast like Netflix and Hulu lack any settings to adjust the aspect ratio for the stream you cast to Chromecast. However, there are some apps which let you stream video files from your mobile device and allow you to adjust the cast resolution in different ways. MX Player and VLC Media Player are two such apps.

For example, adjusting the orientation in VLC will ensure the Chromecast streams to the TV using the correct aspect ratio.

  • Open the VLC Player on your mobile device, tap the More icon at the bottom, and then select the Settings icon at the top of the display.
  • On the Settings menu, select Video screen orientation.
  • Changing the orientation to Automatic (sensor) will let the Chromecast attempt to adjust the aspect ratio to the TV’s resolution. If that doesn’t work, you can try changing this setting to Landscape to ensure the Chromecast uses the correct resolution setting on your VLC app.
  • If you use other video streaming apps on your mobile device, check the app settings for either resolution or orientation video screen settings. These should control the Chromecast device in the same way this setting in VLC does.

Adjust Chromecast Resolution From Your PC

If you’re casting content from your computer, you can control the Chromecast resolution by setting the screen resolution of your PC.

Open the VLC Player on your mobile device, tap the More icon at the bottom, and then select the Settings icon at the top of the display.

On the Settings menu, select Video screen orientation.

Changing the orientation to Automatic (sensor) will let the Chromecast attempt to adjust the aspect ratio to the TV’s resolution. If that doesn’t work, you can try changing this setting to Landscape to ensure the Chromecast uses the correct resolution setting on your VLC app.

If you use other video streaming apps on your mobile device, check the app settings for either resolution or orientation video screen settings. These should control the Chromecast device in the same way this setting in VLC does.

Follow the steps below to adjust your Windows 10 resolution.

  • Select the Start menu, type Settings, and select the Settings app.
  • Select Display from the left navigation field. Scroll down to the Scale and layout section, and adjust the Display resolution to whatever you prefer.
  • Ideally, you should set the resolution setting to the highest resolution the TV you’re casting to is capable of. This will ensure the Chromecast uses the best aspect ratio for your television.
  • Now you’re ready to cast to your Chromecast device. It will use the resolution setting you’ve configured on your PC.

Does Built-In Chromecast Support 4K?

It is possible to cast 4K Ultra HD (Ultra High Definition) content with your Chromecast, but there are a couple of important requirements. You’ll need to own a Chromecast Ultra, since it’s the only Chromecast capable of streaming 4K content.

Select the Start menu, type Settings, and select the Settings app.

Select Display from the left navigation field. Scroll down to the Scale and layout section, and adjust the Display resolution to whatever you prefer.

Ideally, you should set the resolution setting to the highest resolution the TV you’re casting to is capable of. This will ensure the Chromecast uses the best aspect ratio for your television.

Now you’re ready to cast to your Chromecast device. It will use the resolution setting you’ve configured on your PC.

However, it will also work if you have a regular Chromecast connected to a Google TV.

In either case, you’ll need a Wi-Fi network and an internet connection capable of 20 Mbps (mega-bits per second). The HDMI connection on the television will need to be capable of 60 frames per second and support HDCP 2.2.

Of course, you’ll also need subscriptions with content providers like Netflix or Hulu which provide 4K programming.

  • How do I change the resolution on Chromecast for better streaming?
  • While streaming apps don’t offer Chromecast resolution settings, many offer data-saving video quality options to speed up streaming and smooth casting performance. For example, you can adjust data usage on Hulu to optimize streaming from a mobile device. Open the app > select your profile icon > Settings > Cellular Usage > Data Saver.
  • How do I cast fullscreen resolution on Chromecast?
  • One way to optimize fullscreen casting is to use the Cast feature in the Chrome web browser. Launch your content in the browser > select the three vertical dots in the browser menu bar > Cast > and choose the casting device. Then click the Cast icon > Optimize fullscreen videos.

While streaming apps don’t offer Chromecast resolution settings, many offer data-saving video quality options to speed up streaming and smooth casting performance. For example, you can adjust data usage on Hulu to optimize streaming from a mobile device. Open the app > select your profile icon > Settings > Cellular Usage > Data Saver.

One way to optimize fullscreen casting is to use the Cast feature in the Chrome web browser. Launch your content in the browser > select the three vertical dots in the browser menu bar > Cast > and choose the casting device. Then click the Cast icon > Optimize fullscreen videos.

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