How to Connect a Chromecast to Connectify Hotspot

Chromecast is Google's Wi-Fi media streaming device that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. It requires initial setup and then you're ready to go. If you're traveling to several places during your vacation or business trip, you'll have to run that initial setup in each location, because the Wi-Fi network that is available will be a different one.

Connectify Hotspot helps you connect and save time by acting as the "middle man" between any type of internet connection and your Chromecast device, so you only have to run the setup once to be able to do it anywhere.

There are two limitations when setting up your Chromecast that you should be aware of:

1. The Google Home app can get confused if it's running on the computer that's running Connectify Hotspot, so you'll have to use your phone or tablet to run their setup utility.
2. The original Version 1.0 of the Chromecast device does not support 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Your hotspot uses the same band as your PC's own Wi-Fi connection, so if your PC is connected to a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, your hotspot is on 5 GHz too, and this Chromecast will not be able to find it. While the hotspot is sharing, the Wi-Fi channel row in Connection details on the Hotspot screen shows the band, for example 161 (5 GHz). To get a 2.4 GHz hotspot, see My hotspot is on 5 GHz: why can't some devices see it?

Here are the steps to set up Chromecast together with Connectify Hotspot:

Step 1. Create a Wi-Fi hotspot with Connectify. On the Hotspot screen, under Create a, choose Wi-Fi hotspot. Choose your Internet to share, set a Hotspot name and Password, and click Start hotspot. For the full walkthrough, see How to Set up Connectify Hotspot, or click here to see a video tutorial on that.

Step 2. Join the Wi-Fi hotspot you just created with your phone or tablet.

Step 3. Connect your Chromecast to the TV and use your phone or tablet to run the Google Home setup utility.

Step 4. Follow all the prompts until you get to the Wi-Fi setup screen.

Step 5. Select your Wi-Fi hotspot as your network, enter the password and then click the 'Set Network' button.

Step 6. Your Chromecast should now be connected to your hotspot and you should be ready to cast! In Connectify Hotspot, the Chromecast appears on the Clients screen under Connected.

These steps only have to be done once (you can do that at home, before leaving) if you don't change the hotspot's name or password. Then, at the hotel, connect your PC to the internet, click Start hotspot, and plug the Chromecast into the TV. It joins your hotspot by itself, and you should be ready to use Chromecast.

Note: Casting needs your phone or tablet and the Chromecast to be able to reach each other through the hotspot. This is on by default. If your Chromecast is connected but your phone can't find it, check that Settings > Security and privacy > Device access > Devices can reach this PC and each other is turned on (Hotspot PRO or MAX can turn it off). On the Clients screen, also check that Can reach this PC and others is turned on for both the Chromecast and your phone or tablet.

Note: One customer has reported that the Chromecast can get stuck so that it does not see the Connectify Hotspot. They reported that resetting the Chromecast made it work again.