Can’t stream videos using Chromecast properly due to random lagging?
While the latest televisions today have Netflix and other applications built-in, there are still users who own a TV that was released a couple of years back.
If you are among these users, there is a chance that you use Chromecast to watch your favorite movie or series on various streaming platforms. Chromecast is a handy device that gives smart TV capabilities to your standard TV.
Although Chromecast has a lot of great features, it mainly relies on your wireless network for streaming videos which can cause problems, especially if your home network is not that fast.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use Chromecast if you don’t have an ultra-fast network connection.
Today, we are going to show you a few tricks that you can do to improve and fix the issue with Chromecast lagging while streaming videos.
Let’s get started.
- 1. Stream Local Media Files.
- 2. Change the Video Playback Quality.
- 3. Switch to 5 GHz Connection (2nd Gen and Up Only).
- 4. Tweak Your WiFi Signal.
- 5. Close Other Applications.
- 6. Use A Wired Connection.
- 7. Use 50Hz HDMI Mode.
- 8. Restart Your Router and Chromecast.
1. Stream Local Media Files.
The best solution when Chromecast is lagging while streaming videos is to play videos that are downloaded on your device.
Since Chromecast uses your network to display the video from your device, streaming movies from apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+ would only slow down your network further.
To avoid this, try to download the video that you want to watch first, then stream it on Chromecast afterward.
However, if the movie or series that you want to watch is not available for download, you can proceed to the next method below to address the issue.
2. Change the Video Playback Quality.
Streaming HD videos on Chromecast would require more bandwidth for it to run smoothly. If you are experiencing stutters and lags while using Chromecast, you can try lowering the projection quality on your settings. This would lessen the bandwidth required to stream the video on your TV.
To do this, check out the steps below:
- First, click on the Chromecast button on the top-right side of Chrome and select Options.
- Inside Chromecast Settings, scroll down and locate the Projection Quality tab.
- Finally, select a lower resolution like 720P or 480P.
Now, try to stream the video again to see if this improves the performance of Chromecast.
3. Switch to 5GHz Connection (2nd Gen and Up Only).
If your router supports a 5 GHz wireless connection, you can try enabling it to improve the performance of your network. Compared to the standard 2.4 GHz connection, 5 GHz Wi-Fi can transmit data at a faster speed.
To be exact, 2.4 GHz can only transfer up to 75 Mbps data, while 5 GHz can send up to 866 Mbps data. However, a 5 GHz connection has a shorter area coverage compared to 2.4 GHz, so keep that in mind.
4. Tweak Your WiFi Signal.
Related to the method above, having a weak wireless signal on both the Chromecast and source device can cause stutters and lags.
To ensure that your devices are getting a proper connection, keep your source device and Chromecast within 15 feet or 4 meters of each other.
On the other hand, the Chromecast device should also be within 4 meters of your router.
5. Close Other Applications.
Since streaming videos using a wireless connection requires a lot of bandwidth, it is important to ensure that all your bandwidth goes to Chromecast as much as possible.
If you have other applications running on your computer or mobile device, try to close them while using Chromecast.
Also, if you have all the family members gathered to watch a movie, you can ask them to disconnect from your home network while streaming the movie to avoid any of their devices from using your internet bandwidth.
6. Use A Wired Connection.
Being a compact device, the Chromecast lacks essential enhancements like a LAN port except for the Ultra model.
Thankfully, Google provided a dedicated Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast to help counteract against the stuttering and lagging problems with the wireless connection.
On the other hand, you can also upgrade to Chromecast Ultra if you don’t want extra dongles hanging at the back of your TV.
7. Use 50Hz HDMI Mode.
While Chromecast is designed to pick the best display mode for your TV, there are times when you need to tweak the settings for yourself. If you see lags and stutters while streaming sports content, it is possible that it is encoded for 50 Hz.
To fix this, you can manually enable 50 Hz HDMI mode on your Chromecast:
- First, open the Google Home app on the device you are using to stream videos.
- After that, go to ‘Your Devices’ and select Chromecast.
- Finally, open Settings and turn on ‘Use 50 Hz HDMI Mode’.
Exit the settings and try streaming the video once again to check if you would still experience the issue with Chromecast lagging and stuttering.
8. Restart Your Router and Chromecast.
Stutters and lags while streaming videos can also be due to unstable network connections. If your router has been running for quite some time, you can try restarting it. This will allow the router to reload its resources and re-establish a proper connection with your ISP.
First, locate the power cable of your router and remove it. Now, wait for 5 to 10 seconds and plug it back into your router to turn it on again.
Now, restart your Chromecast to ensure that it is running properly. Like the steps above, unplug the power cable of your Chromecast and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before plugging it back in.
Be sure to use a wall adapter to power your Chromecast and avoid using USB ports from other devices. If your Chromecast is not receiving enough power, then it might not perform as it should normally.
After restarting your router and Chromecast, try to stream the video once again to see if you would encounter random lags and stutters.
This sums up our guide on how to fix your Chromecast if it is lagging. If you know other ways to improve the performance of Chromecast, kindly share it in the comment section below. We would be happy to give you credit for the solution once we’ve updated this article.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
