chromecast

How to use your old hard drive on Android TV or Chromecast to give it new life

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If you have an old hard drive at home, there are several ways you can use it. For example, you can use it on your Android TV devicewhether it is an HDD or an SSD. You will always need some type of adapter to connect it via USB, but when you do, the possibilities are many. In this article we are going to summarize the things you are going to need, and everything you need to take into account for this, to convert an HDD or SSD to an external hard drive that you can connect and add photos or videos to your Android TV, be able to play them on the TV, device connected to it or Chromecast, and much more. Know your hard drive, buy an enclosure If what you have is an old external hard drive, everything will be easy, and at most you will need to buy a cable that connects it via USB type C, or that converts USB-A to USB-C to adapt it to an Android TV if it does not have a large USB connector. But If it is a computer hard driveone of those wireless ones where you have the disk and that’s it, then you are going to need to buy a kind of case that has the necessary internal components and programs to be able to connect it to a device like Android TV. Come on, to turn it into a portable drive. But before looking for a case, you should know a couple of things. First you have to know if it is a HDD or SSDa large mechanical disc in the first case or one of the finest in the second. You also need to check if the connection is IDE as in the older ones, or SATA. You also have to know the size of your hard drive, which can normally be 2.5 or 3.5 inches depending on whether it is an SSD or HDD. These are data that you need to check on your own, since you will need all of them to later get the external adapter casing that suits you. Once you have everything clear, for non-external hard drives you only have to buy the case with the features you need. They are very cheapand depending on what you need, they can cost you from 8 to 20 euros depending on how you want them to be, although it is advisable to buy them in stores with free returns in case you make a mistake about something. Once you buy the one you want, you will only have to connect the hard drive into the caseand then connect this to your Android TV or your Chromecast. These are our recommendations: BENFEI 2.5″ Hard Drive Enclosure, USB C/A to Sata for 2.5 Inch USB 3.0 to SATA SSD (Optimized for SSD, Compatible with UASP SATA III) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Hard Drive Enclosure – 2.5 Inch IDE Parallel Port Mobile Hard Drive Enclosure High Speed ​​Hard Drive Enclosure Screwless External Storage The price could vary. We earn commission from these links AISENS USB 3.1 GEN1 EXTERNAL 3.5 BOX FOR SATA III HARD DRIVES BLACK ASE-3530B The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Tooq TQE-3520B – Enclosure for 3.5″ HDD Hard Drives, (IDE, SATA I/II/III, USB 2.0), Aluminum with plastic support, LED indicator, Black, 350 g. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Format your hard drive When you connect your hard drive directly to your Android TV or Chromecast, the first thing you see is a message asking you to format it to be able to use it. This is something that is important to do, and if the device does not allow you to do it you will have to go by hand by connecting it to the PC and doing it there. When formatting it, it is advisable to choose the formats FAT32, NTFS or exFATwhich are the most popular. exFAT may not be compatible with some televisions, so if you want to watch large files such as movies it is best to opt for NTFS. What can you do with this hard drive Now you just need to start taking advantage of this disk to use it. To start, you can use it to store series, movies or music. You can save files directly to disk, and then access them from the native Android TV player or any player application you install. You can also do the same with photographs. Some set-top boxes or Android TV devices allow you record programs or broadcasts directly. In these cases, one of these hard drives will considerably increase the space you have available to do so. On Android TV you can also find the option to format this hard drive as internal storage. It is not an option always available, but when you have it, its storage will become like the internal one to install more applications or games inside, although these will go more slowly. Some apps will also allow you use the disk as a drive for downloads. This can happen to you in download managers or emulators, and in these cases you can take advantage of this disk. In fact, if you are going to use emulators it will be useful to save the ROMs to disk. In Xataka Basics | The computer does not recognize an external hard drive: what to do and how to solve it

I had a 1TB hard drive collecting dust in a drawer. With a cheap case I have resurrected it for my Chromecast

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I have a Chromecast with Google TV in the salon for three years and I love it, but it has died of success. Among the system updates, the basic streaming apps (Prime Video, Netflix, Crunchyroll…), and many others that I install to customize it and squeeze itthe device lives permanently drowned. This is what has its biggest flaw: a scant 8 GB of storagewhich in practice come to nothing. While cleaning, I found an old 1TB hard drive from an old computer that I dismantled. I decided that before it continued to collect dust, I would have a use for my Chromecast. And yes, it is very easy use external memory to expand your storage. These were my steps to achieve it. Identify the hardware. The first thing was to know what he had on his hands. It was an internal hard drive (HDD) of a desktop PC, so its size was 3.5 inches. When I looked at the connector I found a SATA (not as “relic” as I thought), the interface of the last decade. With this information, I already knew I needed to convert it to an external drive. Two essential components. The Chromecast with Google TV only has one USB-C port that it uses for food. Therefore, it is not enough to buy a case to put the HDD in: a USB-C Hub was necessary. This hub is key and must have at least one port with Power Delivery (PD) to continue powering the Chromecast, and a USB-A to connect the hard drive. I bought a case compatible with my drive (3.5″ SATA) and the assembly was as simple as possible: remove screws, fit the hard drive into the internal port, and close it. Here’s a note: if your old hard drive is from a laptop (2.5″) you will save a cable bothering with this DIY tech. The casing will not need an independent power supply, although it is ideal to avoid problems. Important step: formatting. Here I had two options: connect it to the computer and format it in exFAT or NTFS or to the Chromecast itself. I ruled out FAT32 because of its 4GB per file limit. This would first make it a unit suitable for storing content and thus playing it, but I opted for the second so that my Chromecast could install apps on it. To do this, I connected the entire set (hub, power and hard drive) and turned on the TV. Maximum volume size Maximum file size Chromecast compatible FAT32 8TB 4GB Yeah NTFS 16 EiB (1,845^7 TB) 16 EiB (1.845^7 TB) theoretical In practice the limit is around 256 TB Requires software exFAT 16 EiB (1,845^7 TB) 64 ZiB (6.4^10TB) Yeah Convert hard drive to “internal” storage. As soon as the device booted up, it detected the new disk. As easy as going to “Settings” > “System” > “Storage” and clicking on “Delete and format as device storage” to leave everything almost ready. This process takes a few minutes and is essential: it prepares the HDD so that Google TV understands it as an extension of its own memory. You can even use the hard drive to record live content. The Chromecast has it among its options Result. The change is substantial. I have been able to install heavy apps like kodi with plugins, VLC, and various light games without the repetitive “memory full” warning. The system still uses the internal memory for essential data, but everything “heavy” goes directly to the hard drive. Extras. Although I stopped at this point, a USB hub provides more possibilities to give more power to the Google Chromecast. Have you bought or have one with a Ethernet port? You can use a cable to avoid Wi-Fi signal problems and never see the buffer of a loading video again. Or you can also use a keyboard to browse the web. Cover image | Pepu Ricca for Xataka Android In Xataka | Best streaming devices: the main alternatives of 2025 for your television

How to create a pocket TV antenna using an old Chromecast to watch DTT on any TV

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Let’s explain to you how to turn a Chromecast into an antenna for DTTso you can watch it on any television. So, if you have one of these devices around the house, you can use it for this purpose and always take it with you for your trips, especially if you go to places where there are slightly older TVs. The Chromecast is no longer sold, Google killed it in 2024, but you may still have one at home. We won’t really turn it into an antenna, what we are going to do is install the necessary applications so you can use it to connect to a television and watch DTT. Therefore, the only requirement is that it be a Chromecast with Android TV or Google TV to be able to install applications. Your Chromecast converted into a DTT player The first thing you have to do is install an application where you can load and play a list IPTV on your Chromecast. Some of the most important and recommended are kodi either VLCand other more specific ones such as wiseplay. There are also other specialized ones such as DTT Channelsalthough Wiseplay’s should be sufficient and easy to use. Once you have the application installed, you will have to add an IPTV list. These lists are a delicate issue, because without being strictly illegal, some are persecuted for broadcasting paid content. However, you can use free IPTV lists that are limited to offering you DTT channels. Some of the main IPTV lists that you can download are, as explained on Xataka Android: IPTV.org, available on the project’s GitHub and Free TV, which you can also get on your GitHub. These are lists where the addresses are stored with which you can access the broadcasts of IPTV channels using remote IP addresses. The format they usually have to reproduce is m3u, in addition to others such as m3u8 or w3u, and hence they are also known as “m3u Lists”. Image by Eva R. de Luis What you have to do is enter the application you have chosen, such as Wiseplay, and go to the section to add a new list. This will take you to a screen where you have to type the URL to this list. Here, you have to paste address from list that you have chosen or the m3u or w3u file, and then it will be added to the application. From now on, using this application you will be able to watch any DTT channel on this list through your Chromecast. You will need to have access to the Internetalthough you can do this by sharing your mobile data network. And that’s it. With these steps you have converted your Chromecast into a device to watch DTT. Now you can always take it with you, and this way if you go to a place with a television where you want to watch a local channel, even regional, you will be able to do so. In Xataka Basics | Free football on DTT: all the channels that offer the First Division of LaLiga EA Sports this season

The best uses and tricks for the USB of the Chromecast beyond connecting it to the current

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Let’s tell you The best uses for chromecast USB with Google TVbeyond its main function of connecting it to the current. He Chromecast with Google TV It was the culmination of this type of devices, with a great unusual functions What can you do with him beyond the classics Chromecast functions and tricks. But if all this was not enough, the USB-C port that the chromecast has to connect it to the current It also has other uses To squeeze it even more. Although to make them you will need some types of extensions, we go with four ideas that may interest you. The good news is that they are things that are going to improve quite key aspects such as internal storage or connectivity. The bad is that In all cases you will need an extra devicea hub to connect to Chromecast. And it is true that Google no longer manufactures chromecastbut if you have one at home this can serve you Look external storage content One of the main functions is to be able to use this USB-C for connect an external storage unit and see its content. Whether it is a hard drive or an SD memory, you will only need a file manager to be able to navigate the device folders and units connected to it. Thus, you can put content in these units using a PC, and then connect them to the device. Here, the negative part is that you will need the unit that you connect to the current to the chromecast. That’s why, You need to use a special huba device that connects to the current and has slots to connect external storage, and that at the same time can connect to chromecast. Increase your internal space Chromecast with Google TV have little internal storage, just 8 GB. This means that as soon as you install some apps you will be left with nothing. Fortunately, you can link a USB memory or SD card to turn them into internal storage. To do this, you will first need to use a hub like the one we have mentioned in the previous point to connect a storage unit to Chromecast. Then enter the settings, click on System and then in Storage. Here inside, click on the option Delete and format as storage of the device. This will format the unit as internal storage, and then you will have to click on Migrate data to this storage To be used as the main hard drive. CONCELLED TO THE INTERNET BY CABLE Connecting a cable internet device means that you will have a better connection, since you are not going to depend on the Wi -Fi, but that everything comes directly from the Ethernet cable. Therefore, if you want to see 4K content and you need greater connection stability, you are interested in knowing that you can connect your cable chromect. Of course, you will need an adapter or that you can connect to Chromecast and have an Ethernet input that you can connect to the router or the take at home. You don’t need a plug if you have a TV A last additional trick is that in many teles you will be able feed the chromecast from the TV connecting the USB port in some free of them. You cannot do it on all the teles, but in those where you can do it, it will be an incentive for when there are no free plugs nearby. To do this, You need TV to have a USB 3.0 or a higher version of this standard. In addition, you need to activate USB purification in chromecast developers. To access these options, see the adjustments, enter into System and then in Informationand press five times in Android SO compilation. In Xataka Basics | The 19 best recommended app for chromecast with Google TV

How to turn your old mobile into a chromecast

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Let’s explain How to turn your Android mobile into a chromecastso that if you have an old one that you do not use you can give it a second life. Thus, in the event that you do not have Chromecast or intelligent TV with this function, you can give your TV to send content, and if your chromecast does not work, you can also get out of the way. Let’s start the article explaining you What are the requirements so that your mobile can become a Chromecast. And then, we will briefly explain how to proceed to connect it to the TV and make it fulfill that function. What are the requirements To convert your Android mobile into a chromect, you will need to support HDMI output, for which you will need that MHL standard support. This standard is now missing, but years ago you could find it with old high -end mobiles. To check if your mobile is compatible, you can use the app MHL vintor, Available on Google Play. You will also need your mobile to have an operating system equal to or above Android 4.1. In addition to this, you will need An OTG cable that passes from USB-C to HDMIto connect it to the USB-C charger of the mobile and that at the other end has an HDMI that you can connect to TV. These cables are not expensiveand can cost about 15 or 20 euros. But before throwing yourself, first check if you want to use MHL. Finally, what you need is Install the application Punishmentwhat can you download for free In the Google Play Store. In the link we have put the test version that only allows streaming for a few minutes. But if then you see that everything works then you can pay the 4.79 euros that costs the full version of the app. Turn your Android into Chromecast Once you have all the requirements in order and all the verifications made, you have to Install and configure the app of Punishment. Simply install it, and then be granted the permits you ask you when you open it for the first time. The app will allow you to change the name of the device and little else, simply make sure your two options are activated. Once you have the app open and configured, the message will appear on your screen Ready to cast. When that is like that, Connect your mobile to TV With the cable we have mentioned before. On the one hand, the mobile connects the USB-C end of the cable, and on the other connects the HDMI to the TV connector. Now, on TV you have to click on the button where you choose the entrance source, where you choose what you want to see, and choose the HDMI option where you have the mobile. This is the same as you would have to do if you had a real chromecast connected. Once you do, you will start watching the mobile screen on TV. And now, all you have to do is enter YouTube or any application compatible with your main mobile, start reproducing content and Press on the send button to Chromecast. When you do, identify the mobile you are using by the name you have configured, and choose it to send the content. In Xataka Basics | Google TV vs chromect: differences and what types of device are each

How to send a video from Telegram to Chromecast or Google TV

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Let’s explain How to send Videos from Telegram to Chromecastsomething will also serve with Google TV and that is possible with a new update of the messaging app. Currently this option is available in the Telegram version for Android, although it is a matter of time that also arrives at iOS. To be able to use this function, you just need to have updated Telegram to your latest version. Then, you will simply have to look for the option when you are watching a video inside the application. Castea Telegram videos The first thing you have to do is enter that message where there is a video that you want to broadcast on a device with Google Cast. Then, click on the video To see it on full screen. Once you start watching the video on full screen, give it a pulsation so that the playback bar appears down and up several buttons. Here, Press the options button or configurationwith the tooth wheel icon. An options screen will open where you can configure the reproduction speed. In it, click on Chromecast That will appear down at all. In doing so, you will look for the device compatible with closer chromecast and you can choose it to send the video. In Xataka Basics | Google TV vs chromect: differences and what types of device are each

How to repair your chromecast if you were affected by the error that prevented you from sending content

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Let’s explain How to return your chromecast to life If he had been affected by the error that made him not work. It’s about a problem that for a few days I was making the oldest versions of these devices simply could not be used, and gave error if you tried. Now, Google has launched an update with which this problem solves, and we will briefly explain how to use it. Thus, even if you do not have many technological knowledge you will know the steps you must follow. How to return your chromecast to life To solve the problem of chromecast that have stopped working, Google has launched a firmware update which will begin to reach all devices. Recall that this problem affects second generation chromect and chromecast audio. These updates are usually automatic. This means that the only thing you need is that your chromecast is connected to the house Wi -Fi network and is connected to the current. Even if you could not send content, your Chromecast had not ceased to be connected to the network, so there will be no problem to receive the update. Of course, it is important that you know that when the chromecast did not work You should not have restored it. If you restore it you will have a problem to connect and configure it again that it has not yet been solved. Meanwhile, if you had not touched your chromect, I should return to life in a matter of hours. In Xataka Basics | Seven unusual things for which you can use your chromecast with Google TV

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