• Source:JND

Apple has addressed one of the biggest complaints Android users had about the Apple TV app. Thanks to the latest update, the app now works with Google Cast, giving Android phone and tablet users the power to cast Apple TV shows and movies from their mobile device directly to cast-compatible TVs and streamers. The absence of cast support has felt like a big hole ever since the app came to Android earlier this year, especially for those who use Chromecast or have Google Cast-capable TVs. This brings the Android version significantly closer to feature parity with iOS and makes Apple TV much more useable in realistic living rooms. Here's how it works, along with what changes for Android users with the new Google Cast feature.

How to Use Google Cast on Apple TV App for Android

To start using Google Cast, make sure you’re running the latest version of the Apple TV app on your Android device.

Step 1: Update the Apple TV App

Download or update the Apple TV app from the Google Play Store. Google Cast is compatible with 2.2.0 or later.

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Step 2: Find the Cast Icon

Once you’ve updated, the app will have a Google Cast icon placed in the top right corner, near your profile avatar. It opens a “Cast To” bottom sheet that could have been designed by Apple TV the same day.

Step 3: Cast From the Video Player

The Cast icon is also available in the full-screen video player. It will be located next to the mute button, so you can easily begin casting while viewing.

Step 4: Control Playback While Casting

The app switches to a mini player view during casting. This indicates the playing history, device playing and timeline. Playback options are 'play', 'pause' and '10-second rewind'.

Tapping on the mini player brings up a full-screen portrait view that includes slightly larger controls -- including rewind, forward, play, a scrubber bar, audio settings and subtitles. The movie or show poster is the background; swipe down to go back to the home.

Why Google Cast Support Matters

When Apple TV came to Android, the lack of Google Cast support was immediately glaring. A lot of Android users rely on Chromecast or built-in Cast support from their smart TV, and without it, watching Apple TV+ content felt like a chore. Although Apple had added minor improvements like notifications for new episodes, casting was certainly the most glaring missing feature until now.

Users can now simply "cast" playback from a tablet or television to the big screen, without having to resort to workarounds and extra equipment. That also helps make Apple TV+ a bit more competitive on Android, where most competing streaming apps have supported Cast for years. Curiously, Apple’s decision arrives as Netflix has begun scaling back Cast features.

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Other Small Changes in the Update

In addition to supporting Google Cast, Apple has introduced a minor change in the application's home screen icon. Now, the Apple TV logo is slightly reduced in size relative to its circular frame for a cleaner look.

Final Thoughts

In the Android world, it’s a nice day in quality-of-life land for the Apple TV app, with support for Google Cast finally coming to the platform. It eliminates one of the biggest annoyances and makes the app much more convenient to use with existing TVs and streaming devices. For Android users with Chromecast or Cast-enabled smart TVs, this update at long last brings Apple TV+ up to par with the other native streaming choices. It's about time we got this, and it makes the Apple TV experience for Android users much more cohesive.


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