Chromecast is very intuitive and easy to use, most of the time. There are some difficulties that are not addressed enough, even by official Google support. Many users have problems splitting video and audio on the device.
In fact, you can keep the audio going through your PC speakers while the video plays on your TV. You can also do this on mobile devices using apps like LocalCast. This article shows you the exact steps to play videos on Chromecast but leave the audio on your PC.
Split video from audio on your PC
To split video and audio using your computer, you need to “trick” your Chromecast. Basically, it uses your computer’s speakers and its audio and microphone inputs. However, you don’t actually record anything with your microphone and you don’t need an actual microphone for this to work.
Regardless of using the microphone as an audio input, you need a HDMI to HDMI+Audio Adapter to extract audio from the Chromecast and use it on another device, such as your PC, laptop, or headphones.
You’ll only use microphone playback to play audio from the media you’re streaming through your PC speakers. This is all you need to do:
- Turn on your computer. This is important because your PC must stay on for it to work.
- Connect your PC speaker to the appropriate audio jack (green speaker output).
- Connect the Chromecast to the HDMI to HDMI+Audio converter, then use the 3.5mm audio output to connect it to your PC’s microphone jack (pink color).
- Open your audio manager (Realtek or something similar).
- Set the playback volume to 50%.
The audio from your Chromecast now plays normally, but the sound comes out through your computer’s speakers.
This method was tested and proven to work on Windows 10 using Realtek HD Audio Manager. However, there is no reason why this trick wouldn’t work on a Mac. Finally, if this procedure fails, you can check out the next method.
Split Chromecast video from audio on your phone
You can cast Chromecast video on your TV and send the audio through your Android or iOS smartphone speaker. You need a third-party app, like LocalCast. You can download it for free at Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
This app is safe to use and works well. You can use LocalCast to cast your videos, music, and pictures to a Chromecast device. Additionally, you can stream many online services like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku and stream your games from an Xbox One. The feature you need for this task is “Route Audio to Device.” The option allows audio to remain on your phone while you cast anything on Chromecast.
Here’s how to split Chromecast audio and video on your phone.
- After installing LocalCast on your iPhone or Android, open it.
- Play the “Cast” option in the bottom left corner of the app and it will connect to Chromecast.
- Choose the video you want to play and click “Route audio to device” inside the player.
- Finally, sync the video and audio using the app.
Learn more about using LocalCast on Android and iOS
LocalCast has a small team of developers and is a very useful application. It is supported by ads and has in-app purchases. The only restrictions are that you must be at least 17 years old and have unrestricted web access to use this app.
Before installing LocalCast, make sure to update your phone’s operating system to the latest version. According to the development team, the app works better on Android devices than iOS devices. Still, this app is a great tool and worth checking out if you’re having trouble splitting Chromecast video and audio.
Sometimes you need to have some privacy while streaming. Additionally, if your TV’s speakers aren’t working, you’ll need to pass the audio through another pair of speakers. LocalCast is a great solution if you decide to hire your smartphone speaker for work. You can also use your computer’s speakers if you want more power.
Stream however you want
Now that you know how to cast your video on Chromecast and play the audio through your computer, you can easily optimize your next binge-watching session. Although you need a third-party app or adapter to split your audio and video between devices, it’s worth it.
