Guide
TV Not Showing Up in the Cast List? 9 Fixes That Work
When your TV doesn't appear in the device list, the cause is almost always the network between the phone and the TV. Work through these checks in order.
1. Make sure the TV is on and awake
Some TVs stop answering network requests when they are in deep standby. Turn the TV fully on, wait for the home screen, then scan again. If the TV's network settings have an option such as network standby, Wake on LAN or power on with mobile, enable it.
2. Use the same Wi-Fi network on both devices
Your phone and TV must be on the same network. Compare the network name in the Wi-Fi settings of both devices.
- A guest network, a separate 5 GHz name, or a mesh node / range extender with its own name can put the two devices on different networks.
- If the TV uses an Ethernet cable, make sure it goes to the same router your phone's Wi-Fi comes from.
3. Turn off the VPN
A VPN sends your traffic through another network, so your phone can no longer "see" devices at home. Disconnect it while you cast.
4. Check your router's isolation and multicast settings
- AP isolation / client isolation / Wi-Fi isolation stops Wi-Fi devices from talking to each other. It is often switched on for guest networks, hotel Wi-Fi and some provider boxes.
- TVs announce themselves with multicast messages. Some routers filter them (look for IGMP snooping or multicast options). Allow multicast on the local network.
5. Enable casting or DLNA on the TV
Look in the TV's network, sharing or connection settings for options named DLNA, media renderer, screen sharing, Google Cast or Chromecast built-in. The names vary by brand and some TVs ship with them switched off.
6. Restart everything in the right order
- Unplug the router for 30 seconds and plug it back in.
- Restart the TV.
- Toggle Wi-Fi off and on on your phone, then scan again.
7. Check your phone's battery and network options
- Set the app's battery usage to unrestricted (Settings, Apps, the app, Battery). The exact path depends on your phone.
- Turn off options such as Switch to mobile data automatically or Smart network switch. They can drop a Wi-Fi network that has no internet, even though casting only needs the local network.
8. Update the TV software and the app
Old TV firmware often has buggy DLNA or Cast support. Install the latest TV update and update SmartGoCast from Google Play.
9. Try another route
If the TV still won't show up, you can work around the problem:
- Create a dedicated network with a second phone or a travel router, or use Miracast. Details in cast a phone to a TV without Wi-Fi.
- Mirror the screen instead of casting: mirror Android to a TV.
- Use an HDMI cable.
Casting stops after a while?
If the TV appears but playback stops after a few minutes, the cause is usually the phone: battery saver, a screen that turns off, or the phone switching networks. Plug the phone in, keep the screen on for long sessions, and apply step 7 above.