How to use Airplay with Chromecast: everything you need to know

Nowadays, it is quite common for people to have all kinds of devices. From laptops to desktops, smartphones, tablets, smart watches, and even smart homes, it’s not unusual for people to have more technology than they can easily list. So you might think that all these devices would be a little more compatible with each other, to please the consumer.

And yet, getting all your devices to work together the way you want can sometimes be a much bigger headache than it should be. Although it doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s an example: As a Mac user, how do you extend your desktop or use Airplay through your Google Chromecast device? This article will discuss a fairly simple way to get this setup working right now.

Typically, a Mac won’t let you cast (mirror) your entire desktop or a Google Chrome browser tab with a Chromecast device; at least, not natively. You’ll need another app to make those parts play together.

AirParrot 2 is an application that will allow you to mirror or extend your Mac desktop to your Chromecast. It will also allow you to use Airplay directly through your Chromecast. You can try AirParrot 2 for seven days for free. After that, if you decide to purchase the app, it’s only $12.99 and is completely wireless, so you don’t need any additional equipment to make it work. Since its most recent update was in September 2017, it is also quite up-to-date.

AirParrot 2 not only allows you to extend your desktop, but you can also share a single app with any device your Chromecast is connected to, where you can listen to audio tracks played on your Mac or cast media files directly from your Mac to your Chromecast device .

We think it’s a worthwhile investment, especially if you want to extend your Mac’s screen or AirPlay directly to your Chromecast device.

What is AirPlay?

AirPlay is an Apple feature that allows users to quickly cast their current screen to another device. This feature is incredibly useful for viewing content on a larger screen.

Not only for watching content, but also for listening to music and sharing content with others, this feature is native to all Apple devices. You can use Apple AirPlay with any other compatible device.

Chromecast is similar to AirPlay except it’s a Google device. Unfortunately, the two are not overtly compatible with each other. But that’s okay, because we can still use AirPlay with a Chromecast device.

AirPlay to Chromecast from your Mac

Why not give AirParrot 2 a try? You can use it for seven days free, so head to the website, download it and see if you like how it works. It is compatible with Mac OS X 10.7.5 and later. It’s not just for Mac, either: you can also get AirParrot 2 on your Windows computer or Chromebook. We’ll go over that later, so read on.

In addition to Chromecast, it will also work with Apple TV (with the AirParrot Remote app, $7.99 extra on iOS devices), smart TVs, other computers in your home, and speakers. Very good, right?

Here we explain how to run it on your Mac:

1. On the AirParrot 2 website, download the Mac app.
2. Once the download is complete on your Mac, run AirParrot 2 dmg.
3. Next, drag the AirParrot 2 app to the applications folder displayed on your screen. This installs the app into your Applications folder.
4. Go to Applications and locate AirParrot 2.
5. Finally, turn it on. You’ll see a parrot face icon in the menu bar at the top of your Mac screen.
6. When the app is in use, the parrot’s face changes color from black to green.

Now you can extend your Mac desktop or use AirPlay with your Google Chromecast to extend the use of your Google Chromecast device even further than before. And you can do it all for much less than buying a new Apple TV.

If you are using the free trial, you will see an advertisement about enjoying your trial from time to time. It provides you with the website address and encourages you to get the full version of AirParrot 2. Apart from that, you get all the features of AirParrot 2 with the free trial.

In terms of out-of-the-box compatibility without having to make a significant investment, we’ve found the AirParrot 2 to be the best companion to the Google Chromecast. Once the trial period is over, this app is definitely worth purchasing; As far as we’re concerned, it’s a no-brainer.

Windows and Chromecast or AirPlay

For Windows, AirParrot is compatible with Vista, 7, 8.x and 10, but not RT. To get it working, follow the same basic steps to get the AirParrot 2 app for Windows as you do for Mac. First, navigate to the AirParrot 2 website. Once you have reached the Windows AirParrot 2 download page, in the top right, click the green “TEST” button. Once downloaded, you can use AirParrot 2 for free for a seven-day trial period.

1. On the next page, you’ll click on the “Windows” version. A drop-down box will appear on the screen. Select 32-bit or 64-bit, depending on the version of the Windows operating system you are running. Then the MSI file will be downloaded to your browser.
2. Once the AirParrot 2 file is downloaded, double-click it and accept the EULA. Then click on the Install button.
3. Allow the AirParrot app to make changes to your device and click the “Yes” button. From there it is installed like any other program. The installation wizard will run and when it is complete, simply click the “Finish” button.
4. The AirParrot 2 app icon should now appear on your Windows desktop. Double click on it to launch the application. Next, click the “Try AirParrot 2” button.
5. You will see the AirParrot 2 user interface appear with a notification from the Windows taskbar area. Click on the green parrot’s face. Your Google Chromecast should now appear in the “To” area. Choose what you want to do in the “From” section above. Then, select your Chromecast name from the list and you are good to go.

The ability to extend the desktop from your Windows computer is still in the works, but will be available soon. What AirParrot 2 and Windows can currently do is mirror (AirPlay) your screen to Chromecast, share only one app through your Chromecast device, play audio through Chromecast, and share files where your Chromecast is connected.

If you want to control AirParrot 2 hands-free with your Windows computer and Apple TV, you must have an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 8 or later. You will need to purchase and install the AirParrot remote app, which costs $7.99. That will allow you to use the remote app to control AirParrot 2 on your computer.

However, you can use Airplay from your Windows computer to your Apple TV just as you would with the Chromecast instructions we provided.

Once you have paired the AirParrot Remote app with the AirParrot 2 app on your computer, you will have full control of your PC without having to be in front of it.

Ultimately, AirParrot 2 is the perfect companion app to use with your Google Chromecast device, Apple TV, or Mac and Windows computers. When you want to mirror or extend your desktop, listen to songs, display some photos, or let someone else watch a file from your PC through your Google Chromecast or Apple TV using AirPlay, this will allow you to do it without any problem.

You won’t need any more tricks or tricks – the AirParrot 2 app does the work for you. AirParrot 2 for Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Mac and Windows is a big step forward in making everything work together.

Frequent questions

Is AirPlay compatible with Chromecast?

Unfortunately, not directly. You will need the help of a third-party service to cast your Apple device to a Chromecast device.

Do I have to use AirParrot 2?

Depending on the content you’re trying to stream, you can skip AirParrot 2 entirely. For example, if you have the option to use the Google Chrome browser, you can quickly and easily cast your screen to your Chromecast device from your Mac device.