How do I cast audio from Android to PC?

Audio casting allows you to send audio from your Android phone or tablet to a PC or laptop. This can be useful for listening to music, podcasts, or other audio through the speakers or headphones connected to your computer, even if the files themselves are only stored on your mobile device.

Casting audio to your PC is a convenient way to enjoy your personal audio collection without wires or transferring files back and forth. It turns your computer into a powerful wireless speaker system for Android devices. Audio casting creates a seamless listening experience across multiple devices.

Supported Devices

To cast audio from an Android device, you’ll need an Android phone or tablet running Android 5.0 or higher [1]. Some popular supported Android models include:

  • Samsung Galaxy S7 and newer
  • Google Pixel phones
  • OnePlus phones
  • LG G5 and newer
  • Motorola Moto G4 and newer

On the receiving end, many Windows and Mac PCs support audio casting when using the Google Chrome browser. This includes Windows 7 and newer and Mac OS X 10.9 and newer [2].

Additionally, Google Home smart speakers and Chromecast streaming devices can receive audio casts from Android [3].

Install Necessary Apps

To cast audio from your Android device to your PC, you’ll need to install the Google Home app on your Android device. The Google Home app lets you set up, manage, and control Chromecast devices and speakers. It’s available for free on the Google Play Store.

You’ll also need a sound receiving app installed on your PC, like LocalCast. LocalCast is a popular casting app with over 10 million users. It allows you to send videos, music, or pictures from your Android device to your PC. LocalCast has a free version available on the Google Play Store.

Once you have the Google Home app on your Android device and a sound receiving app like LocalCast on your PC, you’ll be ready to connect them and start casting audio.

Enable Media Sharing

To cast audio from your Android device to your PC, you first need to enable media sharing on both devices. Here’s how to do it:

On your Android device, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences. Enable the “Media server” option. This allows your Android device to stream media to other devices on your network.

On your Windows PC, go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Click on “Choose media streaming options” and make sure “Allow remote control of my Player” is enabled. Also allow media streaming from devices on your network. 1

Enabling media sharing in the settings allows your Android and Windows devices to detect each other for audio streaming over the local network.

Connect Devices to Same Wi-Fi

In order to cast audio from your Android device to your PC, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This allows the devices to discover and communicate with each other over the local network.

To check that your Android and PC are on the same network, go to the Wi-Fi settings on each device and confirm the network name is the same. On Android, go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi. On Windows 10, click the network icon in the taskbar and select Network & Internet Settings.

If your devices do not appear to be on the same network, try manually connecting them to the same Wi-Fi router. Make sure your router is broadcasting the network name and that both devices are in range. You may need to forget the network on each device before reconnecting. Restarting the router can also help.

Troubleshooting tip: Try connecting another device like a phone or tablet to rule out any issues with your PC. If you can cast from the other device but not your PC, it points to a problem with the PC connecting to the network.

Proper Wi-Fi connectivity is crucial for being able to discover and cast to devices. Take the time to check settings and get your Android and PC joined on the same network before attempting to cast audio between them.

Cast from the Android App

To cast audio from your Android device to your PC, follow these steps:

1. Open the audio file or streaming app on your Android device that you want to cast.

2. Tap the cast icon in the app. This is usually located in the top right corner.

3. Select the name of your PC from the list of available cast devices.

4. The app will connect to your PC and begin casting the audio.

5. You can control playback using the controls in the Android app.

6. Adjust the volume on your PC or in the Android app.

The cast feature allows you to easily stream audio from mobile apps on Android to your PC speakers. Just make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and cast is enabled.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/googlehome/comments/aua64g/how_do_i_cast_sound_from_android_app_to_google/

Control Audio Playback

Once you have started casting audio from your Android device to your PC, you have multiple options for controlling the playback:

Controlling playback functions from the Android device

You can use the media app on your Android device that initiated the cast to control playback. This includes options like play/pause, skip track, adjust volume, etc. Any actions taken in the Android app will be reflected on the receiving device.

This allows you to use familiar controls on your phone or tablet to manage the audio playback through the PC.

Managing playback through the PC receiving app

Most apps that allow receiving casts on PC also provide their own media playback controls. So once you have started casting from your Android, you can switch over to the PC app and control the audio from there.

The receiving app on PC will show info like the song title, artist, album art, etc. And you’ll have access to a play/pause button, volume slider, as well as potentially options for creating playlists, repeat/shuffle, etc.

Using the PC app to control playback allows you to sit back and enjoy the music without having to handle your mobile device.

Adjusting Audio Quality

Improving audio quality when casting to Chromecast can often be achieved by adjusting your Wi-Fi bandwidth usage. Go to your router’s admin page and reduce the bandwidth allocated to other devices on your network so more is available for your Chromecast streaming (source). This allows higher bitrate audio to be transmitted without interruption.

If you still experience issues like distortions or lagging audio, try moving your phone or Chromecast closer to the router, or closer together, to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal. Interference from other devices can disrupt streaming so turn off any unnecessary electronics (source).

As a last resort, you can factory reset your Chromecast which often resolves persistent software-related audio problems. Just open the Google Home app, go to your Chromecast device details, and choose “Factory reset”. You’ll have to set the device up again afterwards.

Certain types of audio, like high-resolution formats, may simply be too bandwidth intensive for smooth casting over Wi-Fi. Try compressing or downsampling the audio source file if issues persist. Some users also report better results by switching Wi-Fi bands from 2.4GHz to 5GHz if available on their router (source).

Disconnecting and Stopping Casts

There are a few ways to stop an audio cast from your Android device:

  • Open the casting app like Spotify, select the Chromecast device you are casting to and tap the “Disconnect” button.
  • Swipe down from the top of your Android screen to open Quick Settings and tap the casting icon, then tap “Disconnect” next to the Chromecast device.
  • On your Android device go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Cast and tap the option to “Disconnect” from your Chromecast.

Disconnecting your Android device from your Chromecast will stop the audio stream. The Chromecast device may continue playing for a short time after disconnecting as it buffers the stream, but will eventually stop playback on its own.

If you are having trouble disconnecting or stopping a cast, try closing the app you are casting from and disconnecting from your Chromecast in your Android settings. Restarting both devices can also resolve any connectivity issues.

You can also disable media playback controls in Quick Settings to prevent accidental disconnects. Go to Settings > Google > Device Connection > Cast and toggle off “Show remote media playback controls”.

If disconnect issues persist, check that both devices are on the same WiFi network or try rebooting your router. For continued problems, you may need to factory reset your Chromecast device to troubleshoot further.

Summary

Casting audio from your Android device to your PC desktop is a convenient way to stream music, podcasts, and other audio around your home. The key steps are:

  • Installing apps like Google Home on both devices and enabling media sharing permissions
  • Connecting your Android device and PC to the same WiFi network
  • Opening a casting-enabled app on your Android device and selecting your PC as the cast target
  • Controlling playback through the app on your Android or desktop app like Google Home

For the smoothest audio streaming experience, make sure both devices are as close to each other as possible and connected to a 5GHz WiFi network. Adjusting audio quality settings on the Android device can help if you notice lag or glitches during playback. With the right setup, you’ll be able to effortlessly cast audio from Android to desktop throughout your home.

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