Chromecast picture on TV freezes but audio fine (when mirroring tab only)

[Sabine28]

Hi,

I've been running Chrome on the Macbook and Chromecast on the TV for years now and didn't change a thing. While all is fine as long as Chromecast grabs the videos by itself (such as with Netflix for example), mirroring a tab with a video stopped working last week. The video on the TV freezes immediately but the audio keeps going correctly. 

It is not a network issue as everyting still works well on all other Macbooks in the house and again, nothing has been changed. Chrome is up to date as well, Chromecast was resetted, everything rebooted multiple times. 

Interesting fact - when I cast to a Chromecast music device for a few seconds and then swith back to the Chromecast on the TV, it works for about 10 seconds but then the pucture freezes again.

Any help would be appreciated as this is our "TV Mac" and it woud be nice if that connection would be working normally again. Thanks!

[shdesign · Accepted solution]

The solution for me was to disable the option in settings, under system (Settings>Systems) named "Use graphic acceleration when available" on Google Chrome

This fixed my whole screen being frozen while audio continued as I was casting to the TV. Hope this helps 🙂

[henryIV]

I have the same problem. This problem appeared at the end of March 2024. When broadcasting a tab, the video freezes immediately, no matter what is in the tab. The sound continues to broadcast.
Computer Apple/MacOS 10.15.7, Chrome version 123.0.6312.107, Chromecast 1, Chromecast 2.
As I understand it, the problem is precisely in the Chrome browser software; it appeared after its next update.

[samadiq94]

Has there been a fix for this issue, I have the same issues with casting my Macbook on the chromecast now too

[henryIV]

It is impossible to fix this problem on your own. I tried resetting Chromecast, updating Chrome, reconfiguring Wi-Fi - it didn't work. I think the problem is with the Chrome browser for Mac. I don’t know how to draw the attention of Google developers to this.

[alejandom]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well, I'm sorry that your Chromecast is not working, but we've reached a point where your Chromecast cannot be restored to functionality, on another hand you can call our customer service line to check if your Chromecast it's still under warranty to proceed with a replacement for your device. 

Regards,

Mario. 

[undeadfat]

Can't agree with alejandom.

This does not seem to be a hardware issue. When casting youtube or other supported videos directly to TV (use the video player's cast button), there is little to no freeze at all. Video and audio played smoothly.

When casting a tab which has video players not natively supporting Chromecast, it freezes.

So this is clearly:

1. Not caused by network.

2. Not caused by chromecast hardware.

3. Not caused by the laptop.

You can't explain why casting videos work while only casting tabs with video won't work.

To me, this is 99% a software issue, and it's absolutely not tested by devs. Although I believe this is somehow broken by some "performance optimizations", there is chance that this is purposely done to further build multi-tiered paid Chrome so that you can't cast tabs without handing more $$$.

[henryIV]

I completely agree with you.
The problem is not with the Chromecast device (I have two of them and both stopped working at the same time), there is no point in “calling Google” and “changing it under warranty.”
This is a Chrome software problem.
Yes, if the site supports broadcasting (for example YouTube), broadcasting is possible.
But if you want to broadcast any of your tabs (for example, for a presentation), the images freezes. Why Google closed the ability to broadcast videos from Chrome's tabs - I don’t know, but we won’t know the truth.
Ok, you'll have to look for equipment from other manufacturers for broadcasting.

[Flazzerini]

Hi all,

We are in exactly the same situation... 

We have been running a 1st gen Chromecast for a number of years now, with no problem at all.

A few weeks ago we started having issues with mirroring tabs; sound plays fine but the video freezes within a couple of seconds of casting. Youtube videos were casting fine but the desktop just froze.  After many hours of trying every possible solution but without success, we decided to upgrade our Chromecast to the latest 4K model. 

Frustratingly (and￡60 later!), the new Chromecast has exactly the same issues! This is NOT a hardware/network/macbook problem, it is 100% a software issue. Sort it out GOOGLE!  

[alejandom]

Hi everyone,

I'm here to help you with the issues you're facing. To troubleshoot effectively and provide real-time verification, please call our customer service line. I've also sent you a contact form that you can use to get a specialist working with you in this issue.

Remember, the goal is to be clear, helpful, and positive in your communication.

Regards,

Mario. 

[Giorgio_C]

Same issue here.

I used different chromecast over the years. No issue at all.

I also used in the office for share my mac screen to a bigger 60' screen for presentation and during a meeting.

suddenly It's not working anymore.

How to fix this??

[CalumFlanagan]

Does ANYONE have a solution to this issue?!

[alejandom]

Hi everyone, 

First I would like to thank you for posting in our community page, on the other hand I apologize for the inconvenience that you are having with your Chromecast, but in this case I recommend that you can call our customer service line for further assistance because I’ll need additional information from you that would be best shared privately.

Regards, 

Mario. 
 

[H7]

Alejandom, your replies are unhelpful. Is there or is there not a solution to this problem. It has all the appearances of Google purposefully stopping the ability to cast from a tab in Chrome. Just be transparent with us and let us know if this is indeed the case and/or if Google will be providing a fix via an update to Chrome. This is a software issue with the latest updates to Chrome. 

[Msomaji]

Hi Alejandro, can you confirm that casting is working for at least some users using the last Chrome version over iOS?

[Msomaji]

Hi Alejandro/Mario, could you please confirm the reported issues for Chromecast after the may/jun Chrome update for OS10?

any timeframe from Google for solving this bug/regression?

thanks!

[MOODY2]

PLEASE HELP! WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE

[gimenez]

I also have the same issue on my mac. I used to be able to stream perfectly but not anymore. Youtube still works for me as well. Google please fix this

[Zzzzzzzzzz]

Got the same issue for 2 months. I have 3 different chromcasts. All have this issue.

I tried

• Reboot Chromecast.
• Switch to a different HDMI port.
• Reboot the casting source or try a different one.
• Try on 3 different brand TVs.
• Even A FACTORY RESET.

Still NOT working!!!!!!!!!!

[Bobburger]

I'm so glad I finaly found this thread... I have bees searching for weeks. I am having the same issue with a Chromecast gen 3 and in windows, casting the tab in chrome. Video will play fine for a while but randomly 3 or 4 times during an episode of something the video will freeze and the audio continues. I have to stop casting then recast to fix it temporarily until the next random time it freezes.
So it is not isolated to mac or gen1. Something has been done in an update somewhere... Please fix it!

[iplay88]

I just recently began having the same problem only mine is when I cast from my Chromebook (I haven't tried my laptop yet) and then I had an issue today while trying to cast from my phone. Right now it only seems to be when I try to cast Xfinity Stream and then the other day it happened when I tried casting Peacock (free version) it did the same thing. I don't think Disney or Netflix have had the issue. I've reset all my devices and I'm not having any other network issues. Audio works fine most of the time, it's just the video will freeze and then I get the black screen with 3 dots and then a "placeholder screen" of the show/movie I'm trying to cast and then it'll start again. The whole freeze out time is maybe a total of 5-7 seconds but it's very random (and annoying) and there's nothing else for me to update, reset, or "fix." It seems to be a basic buffering issue when my source is "cast tab."  There are no buffering issues from the website or my network as everything plays perfectly when I'm either just playing video on my computer or the source is "cast screen" but with "cast screen" as the source, I then can't do anything else on the computer. Not sure what else to do???

[brwarford]

I have had the same issue since that chrome update. How does google/chrome not know that they have made a massive error and now no ones chromecast works properly?  wtaf is going on over there. Get your programmers on this and fix the bug!

[Msomaji]

Hi, same problem here. Im using mac pro, I updated chrome this week and immediately cast stop working properly: it cast but image is frozen. I did a factory reset of chromecast, clear chrome browser cache, etc.. but chromecast doesn’t work

[Msomaji]

i have chrome126.0.6478.127 and OS 10.15

[jason1737]

Same issue. We need this addressed by google. 

[Njo1va]

Same issue over here! Since chrome updated, I cannot cast my tabs or screens anymore. Time to fix this Google!

[Msomaji]

Hi everyone, has anyone here who reported this issue found anything? Any update or action that made casting work again?

Among the rest, which operating system and version are you using? And Which chrome version?

Lets see if we can narrow this down…

[Yoannnnnn0304]

Même soucis ! 

[SBJ_YYC]

I have a brand new work Macbook (Sonoma) and this works fine.  Cast tab or cast screen.

I have two older Macbook pros of my own (family ones) on which this issue exists, both are Big Sur. (version 11, Googles states that Chromecast on Chrome is supported on Mac OSX 10 and later).  Casting either screen or tab puts the initial screen up, poorly (the image has a slight interlacing distortion)

I first observed it on only one of the older Macbooks (same generation).  Then it started on the other one a week or so later. This happened over the June/July 2024 timeframe.  I concluded it was the automatic Chrome browser updates.

It amazes me that Google has not diagnosed this issue, or perhaps they have but are hoping it goes away?

It surely is a Chome browser update for Max OSX that broke Chromecasting from chrome itself on certain OLDER versions of Max OSX - ones that Googles states it supports.

I tried uninstalling and re-installing Chrome browser, to no effect.  could folks experiencing this report their OSX version if they are experiencing it, or not and Chrome version?

[Msomaji]

Hi, some users started reporting this issue since a chrome update in mar/apr 2024. in my case it happened after I updated chrome and my OS version at the beginning of July 24. Now I have chrome126.0.6478.127 and OS 10.15

[mikem27]

Just wanted to report that the issue is still present

[mikem27]

The issue has finally be resolved for me by updating my mac to os Monterey. 

[SonomaSprings]

Issue still present here, too. Makes chromecast useless for my business. It appears I may have to abandon the platform for a more stable, reliable tool. I can't be subjected to unfixable "issues".

[DylanHud]

Holy moly I am so glad I'm not alone. I've had it up to here with Google and the multitude of seemingly ludicrous bugs across all their apps/products. For a company as big as Google you would think something this simple would be fixed. I have 5 Chromecasts, 4 of which are lesser gens and the newest one is the absolute worst of the group. Who cares abour Google tv when I have subscriptions to everything else anyway? All I really want to do is seamlessly cast my chrome tabs without issues - something that is seemingly impossible and infinitely frustrating.

[Thechaps16]

Same problem here!!!😕

[Wolram79]

With this many people experience EXACTLY the same problem, you would think Google would offer a solution. It can't be that they are unaware at this point, they just do not care.

Come on Google, do better!

[breal1]

Same issue here, I'm using 'Chromecast with Google TV' device

[marksemoil]

Resolved the issue. Updated mac os to monterey and now able to cast chrome browser tab to tv using a chromecast. A few observations though; when using the new ‘media’ button on top right corner of chrome browser (the one with music note icon), I still cannot cast. The initial connection starts and it drops immediately. Also, The cast button that some media players have also not working. The only ways I managed to get back to casting tabs are 1) right clicking video and clicking ‘cast’. This prompts the old cast menu and it lets me choose tv and cast successfully. 2) at the top menu go to view>cast and this will also promot the old casting menu to appear. 
It seems the new casting menu for some reason is not working as intended. 

[breal1]

These suggestions do not resolve the issue. Note that the issue people in this tread have is that the picture freezes but the audio keeps playing not that the connection drops.

[marksemoil]

Hello,

I also faced the same audio only issue before I resolved it on my end, forgot to mention. 

[shdesign · Accepted solution]

The solution for me was to disable the option in settings, under system (Settings>Systems) named "Use graphic acceleration when available" on Google Chrome

This fixed my whole screen being frozen while audio continued as I was casting to the TV. Hope this helps 🙂