Chromecast guest mode

Set up Guest Mode

Hosting a social gathering? Guest mode makes it easier for your friends to cast their favorite media to your Chromecast from a mobile device without connecting to your Wi-Fi network.

Step 1. Host sets up Guest mode 

As the host, you can keep your Wi-Fi password private! Guests can cast from their mobile device as long as they are in the same room as the Chromecast.

To set up guest mode,

  1. Your phone or tablet needs to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast in order to set up or manage Guest mode settings.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. In the upper right corner of the home screen, tap Devices Devices to see your available Chromecast devices. 
  4. If you haven’t already, sign in using a Google account.
  5. In the top right corner of the device you'd like to set up with guest mode, tap the device card menu Menu > Guest Mode.
  6. Make sure guest mode toggle is to On On.

Step 2. Guest connects to Guest mode 

​As the guest, you can cast content without being connected to the host's Wi-Fi network. Note: Note: You must be connected to the internet. This may be via a different Wi-Fi network or your mobile data connection

  1. Open any Chromecast-enabled app and tap the Cast button Active cast extension.
  2. Select Nearby device and follow the prompts to connect.
  3. If audio pairing fails, you'll need to enter the 4-digit PIN that your host provides. See the instructions below on where the host can find the PIN.

Where to find the Guest mode PIN

A 4-digit PIN is required for connecting to a Chromecast in guest mode. When a device nearby tries to connect, the Chromecast automatically transfers that PIN using short, inaudible audio tones. If the audio tone pairing fails, your guest will be given the option to connect manually by entering the 4-digit PIN.

You will find the 4-digit PIN in three places:

On the Chromecast backdrop
Backdrop in TV
On the device card
  1. Connect your phone to the the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast. 
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. In the upper right corner of the home screen, tap Devices Devices to see device cards for your available Chromecast devices. 
  4. The PIN is found under the device name. ​
Backdrop on device card
Within settings
  1. Connect your phone to the the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast. 
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. In the upper right corner of the home screen, tap Devices Devices to see device cards for your available Chromecast devices. 
  4. In the top right corner of the device you'd like to find the PIN, tap the device card menu Menu > Guest Mode.
  5. The PIN is found under "On."
Backdrop in Settings
 
Please note: The PIN is a 4-digit numeric randomly generated by Chromecast. The PIN will reset every 24 hours or each time the Chromecast is rebooted, whichever comes first.

Please note:

Setting up:

Hosts of guests and guests using Guest mode can: 

  • set up (i.e. turn on or off) Guest mode on any mobile device that supports the Google Home app

Casting:

The guest using guest mode can:

  • on Android:
    • cast content using Android 4.3+ on Google Home devices
  • on iOS
    • cast content using iOS8+ 
    • Note: Bluetooth must be turned on in order to cast content using Guest mode 

Guest mode is an opt-in feature that you can choose to turn off any time from the Google Home device settings. You can access and manage (turn on or off) guest mode from the Google Home app on your Android device and iOS device.

Guest mode settings will be reset when you perform a Factory Data Reset (FDR) on your Google Home.

Was this helpful?
How can we improve it?