What is Chromecast?

Google’s Chromecast allows you to stream video from the likes of YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu, as well as audio, and even your Mac’s entire screen to your TV. It’s a great way of showing slideshows from Photos or movies in QuickTime Player on your TV if you don’t have an Apple TV to use with Airplay. In this article, we’ll show you how to get started with Chromecast from your Mac.

How to set up Chromecast

Here’s what you’ll need.

1. A Chromecast device
2. A Mac with Google Chrome installed.
3. A TV with a free HDMI socket
4. A plug socket or a powered USB socket on your TV.
5. A Wi-Fi network.
6. An iOS device

In order to Chromecast from your Mac to your TV, your Mac and Chromecast will need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. So, the first step is to connect your Chromecast to Wi-Fi.

Max Patch is a 4,629-foot tall bald mountain with an incredible 360-degree mountain vista just 20 miles from Hot Springs. The Appalachian Trail crosses right over the summit running north and south. On a clear day, you can see from Mt. Mitchell on the east to the Great Smoky Mountains on the south. Hot patching: Resist, and hackers get the upper hand. Bruno Master Principal Sales Consultant, IoT Cloud Specialist, Architect, Allure Technology, Inc. Hot patching, a method of dynamically updating a system or application without downloading a new version or, in some cases, even restarting it, helps developers deliver bug fixes or enhancements to users quickly and automatically.

Casting from your Mac to your TV uses a lot of resources. That’s especially true if you cast, say, a Netflix show or movie while doing other work on your Mac. For better results, remove from your Mac everything that may slow it down. We mean old files, junk, and memory-hogging apps. So run the cleanup tool, like CleanMyMac X, at least once before you start high-quality Chromecasting.

Preliminary steps:

1. Plug the Chromecast into the free HDMI socket on your TV and also into a USB port or into the power plug, which should be plugged into a wall socket.
2. Download the Google Home app to your iOS device.
3. You may be prompted to turn on Bluetooth on the iOS device, if it’s not already turned on. This will make the setup process easier, but if you don’t want to turn on Bluetooth, just tap No Thanks.
4. On your iOS device, tap the Settings app then Wi-Fi. Tap the Chromecast network to connect to it.
5. Close Settings and tap on the Google Home app.
6. You should be prompted to follow steps to complete the setup process. If not, at the top left of the screen, tap ‘Add’ then Set up device > Set up new device.
7. Follow the steps.
8. Once the setup is complete, your Chromecast and iOS device will both be connected to your regular Wi-Fi network.

How to Chromecast from your Mac

Now your Chromecast and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network, your Mac should be able to ‘see’ the Chromecast and stream to it. It’s time to try it out. Here’s how to use Chromecast.

1. Download Chrome if you haven’t done so already.
2. If you already have Chrome on your Mac, make sure it’s up to date by clicking on the More button at the top right of the window (three vertical dots) and choosing Update Google Chrome.
3. Wait for Chrome to restart.
4. On your TV, use the remote control to choose the HDMI input that has the Chromecast connected to it.
5. In Chrome on your Mac, click on the More button again and this time, choose Cast. That will send the current tab to your TV screen. If you have more than one Chromecast connected to your Wi-Fi network, you will need to select which one you want to cast to.
6. To cast your entire screen, click on Cast, then Sources, and choose Cast desktop.

If you are running macOS Catalina, you will see a message on your Desktop telling you that Chrome wants to access Screen Recording. If you agree, you will be sent to System Preferences and will have to Check the box next to Chrome in the Screen Recording section of the Privacy tab in Security & Privacy. You will then have to restart Chrome and select Cast>Sources>Cast desktop again. You will see another warning, but this time you can just click ‘Ok.’

To cast a specific file to your Chromecast, choose Cast file from Sources instead.

CleanMyMac X also has an Optimization module that can suggest ways in which you can make your Mac run faster or more smoothly. It works like this:

1. Download CleanMyMac X free version and launch it.
2. Choose Optimization in the sidebar.
3. Click View all Items
4. Review each section in turn and check if there is anything running that you don’t need. Pay particular attention to Hung Applications and Heavy Consumers.
5. Check the box next to anything that looks like it could be causing a problem.
6. Press Remove.

But why we are telling you this? Because you don’t want your Mac to freeze up during the cast.

How to use Chromecast to cast Netflix and YouTube from your Mac

Some websites allow you to cast content from them directly to your Chromecast, without casting the content of the whole browser tab. That means you can continue to use your Mac as normal while you cast. To cast directly, you will need to visit the websites in Chrome, as you would if you were casting a tab or your screen. Here’s how to do it on YouTube.

1. Go to YouTube.com in Chrome.
2. Choose a video to play.
3. In the toolbar at the bottom of the video, you’ll see a cast button. Click on it.
4. Choose where you want to cast the video to.
5. The video will now start playing on your TV, but not on your Mac and you can now use your Mac for other things.

It works exactly the same way on Netflix and other video streaming sites that support casting. Look for a cast button near the play controls on the video, then click on it and choose your Chromecast.

How to cast a Photos slideshow from your Mac

1. Launch Photos and press the green button in the top left corner to make it full screen.
2. Choose a Memory from the Memories tab.
3. Launch Chrome, press the More button and choose Cast.
4. Click on Sources and choose Cast desktop
5. Go back to Photos, double-click on the memory you want to play, and press the Play button in the bottom right corner. The slideshow will now play on your TV.

How to turn off Chromecast

Hots Patch Mac Os

There’s no need to turn off Chromecast. It will turn off when your TV turns off, or sleep after a period of inactivity.

How to reset Chromecast

If you run into problems and need to reset your Chromecast, here’s what to do. While it’s plugged into your TV, hold down the button on the back of the Chromecast for 25 seconds or until the green LED flashes. The TV will go blank and the reboot sequence will begin.

Now that you’ve set up your Chromecast to work with your Mac, you will be able to cast from Chrome whenever your Mac and TV are switched on. Turning on your TV will power up the Chromecast automatically, as long as it’s connected to either a USB port on your TV or a separate power source. All you have to do is select the input with the Chromecast connected to it.

Google’s Chromecast is a great piece of kit for streaming from your Mac to a TV. You can, of course, do the same thing with AirPlay and an Apple TV, but that means buying an Apple TV box or a TV that supports AirPlay, both of which are more expensive than a Chromecast. Once you’ve set it up, all you have to do is launch Chrome and use the Cast command in the More menu to choose what to cast. Casting and using your Mac for other things at the same time can consume lots of resources, so to make sure your Mac is running at optimum performance, it’s worthwhile using CleanMyMac X to scan your Mac and make sure nothing is slowing it down.

Located about 40 minutes from Hot Springs, NC is Max Patch Mountain, located in Pisgah National Forest. Max Patch Mountain is a 4,600 foot 'bald' that provides 360 degree views of the surrounding Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains.

Hiking to Max Patch

Hiking at Max Patch begins at the parking lot where a trail heads left and another trail heads right. There is a third trail up the middle, that you'll see many people using, but the National Forest signs clearly indicate the trail is closed.

There are two main loop trails on the mountain:

• A 1.4 mile loop trail that takes you across the summit of Max Patch Mountain, and provides outstanding views.
• A longer 2.4 mile loop trail that goes around the mountain.

To start either loop, head up the trail to the left, where you begin a gradual incline through a forest up to the top of the mountain and the Appalachian Trail. You'll emerge from the forest onto the bald, and be treated with amazing views all the way to the summit.

Shortly after you emerge from the woods, the trail will run into the Appalachian Trail. For the 1.4 mile loop hike, go right to the summit. For the 2.4 mile loop trail, go left on the Appalachian Trail. The trails are all clearly marked and easy to follow.

Hot Patch Machine For Tires

In the 1800s, this area was cleared and used as pasture, creating the bald, and fortunately for us today, the amazing view.

Max Patch Summit

The Summit and surrounding area on Max Patch is the highlight of this hike. The summit elevation is just a little over 4,600 hundred feet, and the Appalachian Trail crosses right over it. While not the tallest peak in the area, its position combined with clear top provide some of the best views available in the Blue Ridge. Fan of the Appalachian Trail often refer to Max Patch as one of the Crown Jewels of the trail.

The view to the southwest is dominated by the Great Smoky Mountains:

Max Patch is one of the best spots in the area to witness a stunning sunrise or sunset, since you have a nearly 360 degree view. Try top plan your visit, so you can stay and watch the sunset. Bring a picnic dinner, eat, and enjoy the amazing colors, as the sun sets below the peaks.

Remember, some of the most amazing colors occur AFTER the sun drops below the horizon.

Wrapping Up

Max Patch is a fantastic hike, and made our list of top family hikes and 25 best places to see fall foliage. The short roundtrip trail of 1.4 miles makes the summit easily accessible, even for kids, and provides some of the most gorgeous views in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Max Patch is a great day hike destination, romantic getaway for a couple, and a great place for a family picnic (bring your frisbee and/or kites as well). This should be on everyone's list to visit and enjoy!

Let us know what you think in the comments below!