# Can Win PC or Mac Cast content to a Smart TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294 "2022-07-21T00:49:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/1 "2022-07-21T00:49:56Z")
I use my my Android phone constantly Casting content from YouTube,A&E, and movies played on VLC media player. I’ve noticed content from YouTube and Paramount+ etc. doesn’t seem to reach my phone. I think it’s a networking feature where the data goes directly from Youtube or other Servers to the smart tv. The movies are stored on my SD card. I haven’t found cloud storage that offers casting. My Vizio tv does support playing media from a Thumb drive. Is Casting available on Win PC or Mac? I still use Win 7. That came out long before Smart Tvs. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/2 "2022-07-21T01:16:08Z")
A Mac can cast to an Apple TV connected screen. AirPlay will work with a compatible Smart TV. There’s other ways but those are the easiest. Windows 7 can use Miracast, but it will take a little doing: > **[Miracast in Windows 7 - Everything You Need to Know - Driver Easy](https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/miracast-in-windows-7-everything-you-need-to-know/)** > > Want to use Miracast in Windows 7? You've come to the right place! This post shows you everything you need to know about Miracast on Windows 7. Otherwise, simplest thing to do is just connect it to the TV with an HDMI cable. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/3 "2022-07-21T01:55:04Z")
I have some movies on my pc. Used Handbreak to Rip from my own dvds and laserdiscs. I have wondered how to watch on my tv. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/4 "2022-07-21T01:57:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I think it’s a networking feature where the data goes directly from Youtube or other Servers to the smart tv. Yes. I believe the feature you’re describing basically has YouTube know that you have a YouTube app on your TV and so it selects the TV app to play the video. As you say, it doesn’t actually go via your phone at all, your phone is just like a command centre. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/5 "2022-07-21T02:01:38Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Windows 7 can use Miracast, but it will take a little doing: Or just use Windows 10/11, where Miracast is already built-in. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/6 "2022-07-21T02:04:35Z")
Correct. But OP specified he’s still on 7. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/7 "2022-07-21T02:06:45Z")
I’ll install Miracast using the article you linked. It’s a pc that I built in 2010. I doubt it would be fully supported by win 11. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/8 "2022-07-21T02:19:28Z")
Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/9 "2022-07-21T16:08:21Z")
When I used to own a Chromecast I could cast YouTube and other video sources from my PC to my TV that had the Chromecast installed, as long as I had YouTube open in a Chrome browser. I think I had to download a Chromecast app to Chrome or something in order to do it. It’s been a couple years since my Chromecast died and I switched to Firestick, so I don’t remember the exact details of how I did it. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/10 "2022-07-21T16:30:27Z")
There’s not a simple answer. The casting landscape depends a lot on what support is in the TV and what device you are casting from. I don’t have much experience with Vizio TVs, but I think they have a less-supported smart platform and you won’t be able to cast to it. If the smart platform in your TV is: - Google/Android: You can cast from Android devices or Chrome browser - Roku 4K: Cast from Apple devices - Fire: Not sure. I think there are Fire apps which can do AirPlay. Not sure about Android Cast - Other: Depends on that platform. May need to download specific app (e.g. Samsung Cast) If you want to do casting, the simplest option is often to get an external streaming device which supports the type of casting you want to do. And as a bonus, the external streaming device will often give you a better, faster, and more stable streaming experience than whatever is in your TV. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/11 "2022-07-21T17:16:10Z")
I just run a free Plex server on my PC, then install the Plex app on my smart tv, then I can watch everything. Easy peasy ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/12 "2022-07-21T18:48:59Z")
I was typing that 🖕 at a doctor’s appointment, just came home. If the OP is interested and can stick that SD card into a PC/Mac, here’s the [Plex website](https://www.plex.tv/) and a [wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plex_(company)) about the company. I stream 4k movies from my PC to my TV over wifi, no sweat. I’ve used Plex for years and years, it’s great. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/13 "2022-07-21T18:52:08Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Roku 4K: Cast from Apple devices Roku can also pull from any computer on the same network via their [Media Player.](https://support.roku.com/article/208754908) Not sure if that would work with an SD card, though; all my stuff is on a huge HD. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/14 "2022-07-21T19:04:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s a pc that I built in 2010. I doubt it would be fully supported by win 11. My main television is a PC I built in 2010 not too long after Windows 7 came out. I haven’t bothered to try Windows 11 but it supports 10 no problem. I don’t have a Roku or anything on this TV, it’s just a computer with a non-SmartTV as the monitor. All my viewing is done through the browser (streaming channels) or Plex (my own files). I have a wireless keyboard and mouse hooked up to it but I mostly use a [Remote Wonder](http://www.remotecentral.com/wonder/) IR remote to control it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/15 "2022-07-21T19:53:45Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Roku can also pull from any computer on the same network via their [Media Player.](https://support.roku.com/article/208754908) From that link > [@](#): > > ## Playing content on your local area network > > DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a standard technology that enables sharing of content between devices connected over a network. To play content stored on another device or computer on your Roku device using DLNA, the other device must be running DLNA server software Plex is a free DLNA server, so you’d need that or similar. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/16 "2022-07-21T20:43:58Z")
My Vizio tv lists Airplay and Smartcast under inputs. I’ve only used Smartcast with my Android devices. I need to update Chrome on my pc. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/17 "2022-07-21T21:17:16Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I just run a free Plex server on my PC, then install the Plex app on my smart tv, then I can watch everything. Easy peasy I do this too. Relatively easy. I know there are Airplay apps out there that might work on a Smart TV to let it work with Airplay. I have one on one of my Firesticks, and it’s hit-and-miss. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-win-pc-or-mac-cast-content-to-a-smart-tv/968294/18 "2022-07-22T04:03:27Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > so you’d need that or similar. Like Windows Media Player. 🙂