Chromecast without WiFi: use and configuration
Google Chromecast is a device that has managed to expand the functions that can be enjoyed on a TV, serving as a connection point between the TV and a smart mobile device. However, the mandatory use of the device with the home WiFi connection is a limitation. Fortunately, there is a way around this, you just need to know what to do.
All industries, in order to stay relevant and remain profitable, need to be subject to different types of advances, which help improve devices so that they continue to adapt to user needs, which change over time.
However, although this happens in all areas, the technology industry is the one that usually has more drastic changes. There is always something new to try and these technologies soon become new needs for users, who run to acquire the latest device that the company has launched on the market. The competition is fierce, so to stay in the game, you need to constantly update and offer more.
Google is a company that is aware of this constant innovation, because, although it used to be a simple search engine, it now offers a large number of services and products that have become standards in people’s lives. Since 2013, many have wondered how to use Chromecast, for example, as this small device has gone from being a novelty to becoming a bestseller and a device that is used daily in millions of homes.
What is Google Chromecast?
Chromecast, also known as Google Cast, is a media playback device that allows you to connect mobile devices to a television. In this way, the content of these devices can be displayed on the big screen, since it will be possible to share the screen between Chromecast and the content transmitter. You can connect Chromecast to PC, tablet, mobile phones, etc.
The best thing is that, despite being a Google product, the device is also compatible with electronic devices created by Apple. The only requirement is that they have an operating system of 7.0 or more.
How does Chromecast work?
At the time of connecting the device to the television, this product will start the Google Cast protocol that combines the Miracast and DLNA systems; These allow the connection of devices under the same Wi-Fi network and the transmission of information between two devices with a minimum delay time. All wirelessly.
In order to use Chromecast, it is necessary that both it and the emitting device are connected to the same WiFi router. However, there is a little trick that can prevent this from being a requirement, which will give you more freedom when using the product.
How to use Chromecast without WiFi?
Some people, not knowing how to set up Chromecast without a WiFi connection, miss a lot when they leave home. They cannot take the device with them so they can enjoy on-demand content, in real time, on the TV wherever they are.
Because of this, some choose to download the things they think they will need onto a USB stick in order to view it. However, this is subject to the storage capacity of said device and, additionally, it is impossible to view more content than is stored there, which can be annoying.
However, there is a way to “trick” Chromecast settings into thinking that it is connected to your home WiFi network. For this, you only need a mobile phone that can work as a WiFi access point and a SIM card with unlimited data, or enough to view the content you want.
- Have your router data at hand
All routers come with a default name and password, most of the time, written on the back of the router. If this is your case, write down all the necessary data and save it.
If you have changed this information, then find it and save it, as it will be needed for the next step.
- Connect the Chromecast to the new TV
If you don’t know how to install the Chromecast, then don’t worry, since this is really simple. The device is compatible with HDMI ports, so you will need to connect it and, in turn, plug its power cable into a power source in order to use it.
It will not be necessary to configure it again, because we will make you believe that nothing has changed. For that reason, now that you know how to connect the Chromecast to the TV, we can move on to the next step.
- Modify your hotspot data
If you have an Android device, go to Android settings and search until you find the “ Network and Internet ” option. There you will find the connection sharing alternatives.
When you access the Wi-Fi hotspot, the phone will give you the opportunity to change the name and password for this feature. Therefore, modify this information using the data from your home router, without changing a single character.
On the other hand, if you own an iPhone or an iPad, the setup will be a bit different. Instead of changing the name of the network, you should change the name to the device itself, so that the connection uses the same identifier.
To achieve this, access “Settings”, then click on “General” and you will enter “Information”. There you can change the name of the phone to use the name of your ADSL router. After that, access the connectivity options and click on the Internet sharing function to be able to change the password.
When you’re done with this setup, on Android or iOS, turn on Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Turn on the Chromecast
When you turn on your Chromecast, it will seek to connect automatically and, by recognizing the name and access data of your router, it will be able to make an instant connection to your mobile phone, as if it were your home network.
That way, you can enjoy all the content you want without any problem, whether you have a connection to your home WiFi or not.
