Note: There is a printable Cheat Sheet attached to this document (scroll down) if you want a reference on-hand.


Google Chromecasts at MAC are actually no different from those you might use at home. One upside to this is all of Google's own help and troubleshooting is relevant here as well (so Google-able!) but in the interest of saving time:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

To Connect:

  1. Open Google Chrome & Click the 3 Dots up the Top-Right (options) 
  2. Click Cast
  3. Choose Your Source (Most will want to choose "Desktop" Here, but Try Tab for multitasking!)
  4. Choose Your Destination (Each TV/Projector is named after the room they're in, ie MAC RM35)

To Disconnect:

  1. Click the new blue "Cast" Icon at the top right of Google Chrome again
  2. Find the display you're connected to and Click "Stop Casting"

Things to Remember/Tips:

  • If you have a MacBook, you'll need special software to cast Audio from your Desktop (like when watching a DVD/Powerpoint). See IT to get it sorted. That said, it works the same way as a PC for "Tab Casting", or "Desktop" without audio!
  • Try not to accidentally "Stop" someone else's cast! It will interrupt theirs, and they'll need to connect again
  • Students cannot cast at school. To display student content, they should send it to a staff member to show for them.
  • If your TV/Projector isn't displayed in the list, make sure the screen is on and it shows the MAC Background (or another pretty picture). If it is and still does not appear, restart Chrome (often there will be updates waiting to happen in Chrome, it pays to restart often!)
  • Many websites (Like TVNZ/Youtube/All Google Media sites/etc) have casting built in! Look for the "Cast" icon, often at the bottom right of the video you're playing. This actually uses less data, looks better AND is more stable than Desktop/Tabbed casting, so give it a go. It also doesn't require your laptop/device to stay online, so useful for longer videos/presentations.