On this page
- Which Chromecast do you have?
- Chromecast with Google TV: install a player
- Older Chromecasts: cast from your phone
- What about security updates?
- Chromecast with Google TV performance
- Casting from a laptop
- Free TV on Chromecast with Google TV
- Common mistakes to avoid
- What to replace it with
- Frequently asked questions
How you watch IPTV on a Chromecast depends on which one you have. A Chromecast with Google TV (the one with a remote) is a full Google TV device: install TiviMate or another player straight from Google Play. The older Chromecasts (no remote) can only receive casts, so you play IPTV in a phone app and send it to the TV. And there's a catch for both: by May 2026, Google listed most Chromecast models as no longer receiving security updates.
Which Chromecast do you have?
| Model | How IPTV works | Security updates (May 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Chromecast with Google TV (HD) | Install apps from Google Play | Still supported |
| Chromecast with Google TV (4K) | Install apps from Google Play | No longer receiving updates |
| Chromecast 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen, Ultra | Cast from a phone or computer | No longer receiving updates |
Source: Android Authority's report on Google's support status page, May 2026 (Android Authority). Google stopped selling Chromecasts after launching the Google TV Streamer in 2024.
Chromecast with Google TV: install a player
- Open the Apps tab and search Google Play for TiviMate (or Sparkle TV, XCIPTV or Kodi).
- Install it and add your playlist: how to add a playlist to TiviMate.
- Add the guide if needed: EPG in TiviMate.
The Chromecast with Google TV has limited storage and memory, so hide channel groups you don't watch and use Ethernet (via a USB-C adapter with Ethernet) if you can. Full Google TV walkthrough: IPTV on Google TV.
Older Chromecasts: cast from your phone
These have no app store. You need a phone or tablet app that supports casting:
- UHF (iPhone and iPad) supports Chromecast casting for free, according to its App Store description. See how to use UHF.
- On Android, apps with a cast button send the stream directly. Otherwise, use Android's screen cast option, which mirrors the whole screen.
- Free services like Pluto TV and Tubi support casting from their phone apps.
Casting is fine for occasional viewing. For daily use, the phone is tied up and live streams can drop when the phone locks or leaves Wi-Fi.
What about security updates?
A device that no longer gets security fixes still works, but it's a weaker point on your home network. For something you just cast to now and then, the risk is modest. If you use it every day, or install apps from outside Google Play, moving to a supported device is the sensible step. Our guide to IPTV safety explains why the devices on your network matter.
Chromecast with Google TV performance
The Chromecast with Google TV has modest memory and storage, so it can feel slow with big playlists. Hide channel groups you don't watch, keep few days of guide data, and clear the player's cache occasionally. If it struggles, that's a sign the device is at its limits rather than a fault with the player.
Casting from a laptop
In Chrome, you can cast a browser tab to a Chromecast. That works well for web-based services like Pluto TV, Tubi and YouTube TV, less smoothly for desktop apps. See IPTV on a laptop.
Free TV on Chromecast with Google TV
Because it runs Google TV, it includes Freeplay's free channels, and Pluto TV, Tubi and The Roku Channel install from Google Play; see Google TV Freeplay.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an unsupported Chromecast daily for sideloaded apps.
- Mirroring a whole phone screen for hours.
- Ignoring storage limits on Chromecast with Google TV.
What to replace it with
- Google TV Streamer: Google's current device, with 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage and gigabit Ethernet.
- A budget Google TV box such as the onn 4K Pro.
- Apple TV 4K if you're on iPhone.
Compare them in Google TV vs Fire TV and Firestick vs Apple TV vs Android TV.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I watch IPTV on Chromecast?
- Yes. On a Chromecast with Google TV, install an IPTV player like TiviMate straight from Google Play. On older Chromecasts without a remote, cast from a phone app that supports Chromecast, such as UHF or XCIPTV.
- Is Chromecast still supported?
- Only partly. By May 2026, Google listed most models, including Chromecast with Google TV (4K), as no longer receiving security updates. The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) was the exception.
- What replaced the Chromecast?
- The Google TV Streamer, launched in 2024, with 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage and gigabit Ethernet.
- Should I still use an old Chromecast for IPTV?
- For casting on your home network it still works, but a device without security updates is a weaker link on your network. If you use it daily, consider replacing it with a supported Google TV device.
- Can I install TiviMate on a Chromecast with Google TV?
- Yes, from Google Play.
- Does casting use my phone's data?
- Casting from an app usually tells the Chromecast to fetch the stream itself over Wi-Fi, but screen mirroring streams from the phone. On Wi-Fi, neither uses mobile data.
- Which Chromecast is best for IPTV?
- Chromecast with Google TV, since it runs apps directly; but for security updates and performance, the Google TV Streamer is the better buy now.
- Can I cast TiviMate to a Chromecast?
- TiviMate is designed to run on the TV device itself rather than cast. On a Chromecast with Google TV, install it directly.
- Does Chromecast support 4K IPTV?
- The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) plays 4K; the HD model tops out at 1080p.
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IPTVTips is written and maintained by a small editorial team. We check every guide against official documentation from app developers, device makers and broadcasters, and we update articles when menus, prices or availability change. We only cover legal uses of IPTV.
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