How to Watch Amazon Prime on Chromecast — 2026 Guide
Summary: This guide explains the most reliable ways to watch Prime Video on Chromecast: app-based casting from iPhone/Android (phone acts as a remote) and Chrome tab casting from a laptop. It also covers quick troubleshooting for missing devices, iOS Local Network permission, Wi-Fi mismatches, dropouts, and black screen/audio-only issues.
Table of Contents
Last night I was halfway through a Prime Video episode on my phone when I did the universal thing: I looked at the TV and wished I’d started there. If that’s why you’re here, you’re in the right place.
The good news: Prime Video supports Chromecast, and in the US the cleanest setup is usually just Prime Video app → Cast button → TV. The less good news: if you try to “cast” from a laptop the wrong way (or mirror your whole screen), you can end up with the classic black screen / audio-only situation thanks to how streaming services protect playback.
This guide shows the route that works most often—and the quick fixes when it doesn’t.
What you need to stream Amazon Prime on Chromecast
Before we change any settings, make sure you’re in the right “Chromecast world,” because “Chromecast” can mean a few things:
- A Chromecast dongle plugged into your TV’s HDMI port
- A TV with Chromecast built-in (many smart TVs have it)
- A Google TV / Android TV device (where you can often install Prime Video directly)
No matter which one you have, Amazon’s requirement is simple: use the latest Prime Video app, and make sure your phone and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi network.
One small setting can ruin everything: on newer iPhones/iPads, apps may need Local Network permission to find devices for casting. Google mentions this for Cast in general, and Prime Video points to the same setting.
How to Chromecast Amazon Prime Video From a mobile device
If you only try one method, start here. It’s the most Chromecast-native approach: once you connect, the Chromecast streams the video and your phone becomes the remote.
Step 1 — Start playback first
Open the Prime Video app, start playing any title, then look for the Cast icon (a rectangle with Wi-Fi waves). If you’re the type who queues shows ahead of time, it also helps to keep a tidy watchlist on Prime Video so what you want is easy to find on the big screen.
Step 2 — Tap the Cast icon and choose your device
Tap it, choose your Chromecast/TV name, and give it a few seconds to connect.
Step 3 — Confirm you’re connected
When connected, the Cast icon usually changes state (filled/active). That’s normal Cast behavior across apps.
Step 4 — Use your phone like a remote
Once it’s casting, your phone controls playback: pause, seek, subtitles, and audio tracks. You don’t need to keep your phone screen “broadcasting” the video—this isn’t mirroring. When you’re done, tap the Cast icon again to disconnect (or stop playback). That helps prevent a “stuck connection” the next time you cast.
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A quick iPhone note：
If you’re on iPhone/iPad, and Prime Video suddenly acts like casting doesn’t exist, check this setting: Settings → Prime Video → Local Network → ON
Then fully close Prime Video and reopen it. In a lot of households, that one toggle is the difference between “works instantly” and “no devices found.”
How to Chromecast Amazon Prime Video From a Laptop (PC/Mac)
On a computer, casting Prime Video is basically a Chrome-to-TV workflow. You play Prime Video in the Chrome browser, then let Chrome send either the tab or your entire desktop to Chromecast. It works on Windows and macOS as long as your Chromecast/TV is on the same Wi-Fi network and Chrome is up to date.
Before you start: casting uses your laptop’s CPU and can drain the battery faster than normal playback, so plug in if you can. Also, Chrome casting often tops out around 1080p, even if the Prime title supports 4K. And if the goal is “watch without relying on Wi-Fi at all” (travel, hotel networks, spotty signal), consider setting up Amazon Prime Video offline viewing instead of casting.
Step 1: Open Prime Video in Chrome and confirm it plays
Open Google Chrome, go to Prime Video on the web, sign in, and start playing the title you want.
Step 2: Start casting from Chrome
Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right of Chrome, then choose Cast…. Chrome opens a Cast panel and looks for devices on your network.
Step 3: Choose your Chromecast / TV device
Pick the Chromecast or Cast-enabled TV you want to use. If you have more than one, choose the one in the right room.
Step 4: Select the right “Source” (this matters)
In the Cast panel, open Sources and choose one of these:
- Cast tab (recommended): sends only the Prime Video browser tab and is usually the cleanest option.
- Cast screen (desktop): sends your entire desktop; useful for presentations, but more likely to show the wrong window (or expose other tabs/notifications).
Tip: if you run into problems, avoid true fullscreen. Many streaming players behave better in a theater/cinema-style window when you’re trying to cast protected video.
- You can browse other tabs while casting, but the more tabs and extensions you run, the easier it is to stutter or go out of sync—especially on older laptops. Keep Chrome simple for a smoother stream.
If you have Google TV / Android TV: an even more stable option
Here’s the thing most guides don’t say loudly enough: if your TV device runs Google TV or Android TV, you can often skip casting entirely and just install Prime Video on the TV.
This is frequently more stable because you remove the “phone discovers TV → connects → stays connected” chain. Google’s Cast documentation also lists Google TV Streamer (4K) and Cast-enabled TVs as supported endpoints, and Prime Video is among the apps people commonly use on that ecosystem.
The flow is simple: open the TV’s app store, install Prime Video, sign in, and watch with the remote. If your Wi-Fi is a little flaky, this path can feel noticeably less fragile.
Quick fixes when Prime Video won’t cast
When casting fails, don’t start with “advanced hacks.” Start with the stuff that fixes 80% of cases.
1. Confirm you’re truly on the same Wi-Fi
Amazon explicitly requires your mobile device to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the Chromecast.
If you’re on a guest network, or your phone auto-switched to another router/AP, devices can vanish.
2. iPhone/iPad: Local Network permission
If the Cast button is missing or no devices appear, enable:
Settings → Prime Video → Local Network
3. Restart order that actually helps
Unplug the Chromecast/TV for ~10 seconds, restart your phone, then try again. If your home network is acting weird, restart the router last.
4. If it connects then drops or spins forever
This is often router behavior (device isolation, band steering, flaky signal). If you can, keep both phone and Chromecast on the same band (both 5 GHz or both 2.4 GHz) and move closer to the router.
FAQs
Open Prime Video, start playing a title, tap the Cast icon, and choose your Chromecast/TV. If you don’t see devices, turn on Settings → Prime Video → Local Network and confirm you’re on the same Wi-Fi.
Browser tab casting can run into protected playback behavior where the video layer won’t transmit. The reliable workaround is to cast from the Prime Video mobile app (officially supported) or use the TV app on Google TV/Android TV.
Yes—Prime Video does enforce limits on downloads (often per title/device/account rules), so if you’re planning to rely on offline viewing for travel, it’s worth knowing the Prime Video download limit ahead of time.
Casting Prime Video to your own Chromecast/TV is basically just another way to watch what you’re already entitled to watch with your account—Prime Video literally provides official Chromecast instructions.
The line you don’t want to cross is turning it into redistribution: recording, rebroadcasting publicly, or using it as a “streaming channel.” If your goal is simply “watch on my TV” (or a normal household setup), you’re in the intended lane.
Conclusion
If you want Amazon Prime on Chromecast without drama, don’t treat it like screen sharing. Treat it like what Chromecast is best at: app-based casting. In 2026, the most dependable path for US users is still Prime Video mobile app → Cast icon → TV, with the Google TV/Android TV app route as an even steadier alternative.
If you tell me what you’re using (iPhone or Android, Chromecast dongle vs Chromecast built-in TV, and your TV model), I can tighten the troubleshooting section to match the exact setup and add a short “most likely fix” paragraph tailored to it.
