Does Chromecast Work With Wi-Fi Extenders?

How to expand your Chromecast’s reach

This post: Does Chromecast Work With Wi-Fi Extenders?

What to Know
Chromecasts work just fine with Wi-Fi extenders.
To ensure compatibility, make sure your Wi-Fi extender matches the Wi-Fi spec of your particular Chromecast.
Set up your Wi-Fi extender first, and then you can easily connect your Chromecast to your extended Wi-Fi network.

This article explains how you can use a Wi-Fi extender with a Chromecast to extend the device’s range and stream your desired content from anywhere in your home.

Wi-Fi extenders, boosters, and repeaters exist but can sometimes be different names for the same product. For this article, we’re assuming a Wi-Fi extender refers to a device that takes an existing Wi-Fi signal, amplifies it, and then rebroadcasts it, as is most common.
Can You Use a Wi-Fi Extender to Extend the Streaming Range of Chromecast?

Yes, you can! However, how well it will work will depend on your setup at home.

A Wi-Fi extender works on top of an existing Wi-Fi network, so if you have serious problems with connection stability, speed, and range with your network already, a Wi-Fi extender may improve the situation. It likely won’t be able to solve all your problems.

Say you’ve got a Chromecast connected to a TV in a location without an excellent signal, while connections across the house aren’t a significant problem. A Wi-Fi extender can be an affordable, efficient way to extend the range of your Chromecast and let you stream wherever you’d like.

What Wi-Fi Specs and Extenders Are Compatible With Chromecast?

Chromecast devices have gone through several different iterations over the years, and accordingly, their specs and features have evolved, too.

Older Chromecasts may only support the 2.4GHz wireless band instead of the 5GHz band that newer Chromecasts support. Older Chromecasts may also support older wireless standards like 802.11b/g/n instead of the more modern 802.11ac standard.

On the flip side, depending on your router, if you have a particularly old network setup, you may only be broadcasting on the 2.4GHz band using the older 802.11b/g/n standard. You should do an online search to find out which wireless specs your home network and your Chromecast support for both sides.

Once you have this information, search for a Wi-Fi extender with the same Wi-Fi specs as your home network and Chromecast.

How to Use Chromecast With a Wi-Fi Extender

This guide assumes you have a working Wi-Fi network and a compatible Chromecast and Wi-Fi extender. Once you have these devices ready, you can begin the setup, which will only take you a couple of minutes.

The first step is to pick a location for your Wi-Fi extender. Ideally, it should be close enough to your Chromecast to give off a good signal but not too far away from your router to have a weak connection to your home network. Finding the sweet spot may take some time, depending on your layout.

Once you’ve chosen a location, connect your extender to power, and follow along with its setup instructions.

Different extenders will have different setups, but most involve powering on the extender, choosing a network to extend, and connecting to that network, after which a new signal-boosted network will appear.

Connect your Chromecast to your TV, and power on your TV and your Chromecast.

If you haven’t yet, now’s the time to set up your Chromecast.

Once you get to the wireless networking portion of the Chromecast setup, make sure to connect your Chromecast to your extended network.

Your Chromecast should now be working.

FAQ

Why can’t I connect my Chromecast to a Wi-Fi extender?
First, double-check that your Chromecast and Wi-Fi extender are on the same network. If that’s not the issue, check your internet connection and restart your router and modem if you’re experiencing connectivity problems. You might also want to change the channel on your Wi-Fi extender to reduce wireless interference. To do that, log in to your extender through the app or a web browser and look for the channel settings from a Wireless or Local Area Network section.

How do I connect Chromecast to Wi-Fi?
When connecting your Chromecast to Wi-Fi for the first time, plug in the device to your TV and then open the Google Home app. Choose + (Plus) in the upper-left corner > Set up device > New device > and follow the set-up instructions. When you arrive at the Wi-Fi screen, choose your Wi-Fi network > enter the password > and tap Connect.

How do I change Wi-Fi on a Chromecast?
To change Wi-Fi networks on your Chromecast, open the Google Home app > select your Chromecast > and tap Settings (the gear icon). Next, choose Wi-Fi > Forget > Forget network. Repeat the steps you followed when setting up your Chromecast to connect your device to a new network.