Chromecast File Viewing: Beyond Web Pages

Casting from Chrome to Chromecast

The Chromecast device from Google enables the transmission of content directly from a Chrome browser tab on your computer.

This functionality extends beyond simple web pages. Chrome is capable of playing locally stored video and audio files, as well as rendering documents in formats like PDF and Microsoft Office.

A Focused Casting Experience

While screen mirroring your entire desktop is an option, casting directly from Chrome offers a more refined approach.

This method allows for the selective transmission of only the desired content. You can seamlessly switch between different browser tabs and continue using your computer for other tasks while a single tab streams to your Chromecast.

Prerequisites

It's important to verify that the Chromecast extension has been successfully installed within your Chrome browser before proceeding.

This extension is essential for enabling the casting functionality from Chrome to your device.

Playing Local Video Files on Chromecast

The Google Chromecast primarily functions by streaming media from online sources. When you watch content from services like Netflix or YouTube, the device directly accesses the video from those platforms. Consequently, playing video files stored locally on your device requires a slightly different approach, as there isn't a cloud-based source to draw from.

To stream local video files to your Chromecast, utilize the casting functionality available through the Chromecast extension for your web browser. Google Chrome inherently supports a variety of common video formats.

Casting with Google Chrome

Simply drag and drop a locally stored video file, provided it's in a compatible format, directly into a Google Chrome browser window. The video will then begin playback within Chrome’s integrated video player.

From there, you can cast the tab to your Chromecast device.

Chrome offers native support for the widely used MP4 video format, alongside several others.

.3gp
.avi
.mov
.m4v
.mkv
.ogv
.ogm
.webm

Should your video be encoded in a format not natively supported by Chrome, conversion to a compatible format is necessary. MP4 is generally the most versatile and recommended option for this purpose.

Video conversion can be easily accomplished using dedicated software like HandBrake, a popular and effective utility for altering video file formats.

Local Music Playback in Chrome

The Chrome browser offers functionality for playing various audio file types. This capability allows users to stream music files directly from a browser tab to a television via Chromecast, utilizing the TV’s speakers for audio output.

Supported music files can be opened with a simple drag-and-drop action onto Chrome’s browser window, initiating playback within a new tab.

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Chrome’s native support extends to MP3 files, alongside other common music formats including: .mp4, .m4a, .ogg, .oga, and .wav.

Utilizing Chromecast solely as a music player through direct file playback can prove cumbersome, requiring repeated file drops after each song concludes. To streamline this process, consider installing a Chrome extension such as Achshar Player, which provides an integrated local music player within the browser.

While Chrome inherently supports these audio file types, extensions simply introduce a user-friendly HTML5 and JavaScript interface. This interface enables song selection and the creation of customized playlists.

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Alternatively, music can be streamed through Chromecast by casting a browser tab hosting a web-based music platform like Spotify, Pandora, or Rdio. However, the method described above details how to play locally stored music files.

Supported File Formats

MP3
.mp4
.m4a
.ogg
.oga
.wav

This provides a convenient way to enjoy your personal music library on a larger sound system.

PDF Documents

Google Chrome incorporates a native PDF viewer. However, this functionality is typically activated only when encountering PDF files online. To utilize the Chrome viewer for all PDF files stored on your device, a simple adjustment is required.

Right-click on any PDF file located on your computer. Then, designate Chrome as your preferred, or default, PDF viewer through the context menu. Subsequently, all PDF files will be launched directly within a browser tab.

Opening PDFs in Chrome

Beyond setting Chrome as the default, there's an alternative method for viewing PDFs. PDF files can be directly opened within Chrome by dragging and dropping them from your computer's file system into an open browser window.

This drag-and-drop functionality works regardless of whether Chrome has been configured as the default PDF application. It provides a convenient way to quickly access and view PDF documents.

Microsoft Office Document Support in Chrome

Google is implementing functionality within the Chrome browser to enable the viewing of Microsoft Office documents. Presently, this capability is accessed by installing the Chrome Office Viewer extension directly from the Chrome Web Store.

Upon installation of this extension, Chrome users will be able to view Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations directly within the browser environment. This eliminates the necessity of having Microsoft Office itself, or any of the associated Microsoft viewer applications, installed.

This feature proves especially beneficial for users of Chromebooks, which is why the Chrome Office Viewer extension is pre-installed on devices like the Chromebook Pixel.

Furthermore, Google is actively developing the ability to edit Office documents locally and offline, entirely within the Chrome browser.

To view an Office document after the extension has been installed, simply drag and drop the file into an open Chrome browser window.

Viewing and Casting Options

Due to Chrome’s foundation in web applications, content that can be opened via a web app can also be cast using Chromecast. However, mirroring your entire desktop may provide a more suitable solution for certain file types.

The ability to view these files directly within the browser offers a streamlined experience for users.

Image Credit: John Biehler on Flickr