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R0KUBLOWS's avatar
R0KUBLOWS
Newbie
4 years ago
Solved

Cannot mirror/cast from pixel 4a to roku

I have vision problems where the browser app fonts are too small to read without sitting within a foot of the tv. I require the use of my device (pixel 4a) to type web addresses and use tv browser as I can read the results from it. Roku does seem to promise this feature and so I bought it. Now it seems Roku is utterly useless for this?

Have I purchased Roku in error or is this supposed to work?

There are other videos and content on the web besides YouTube! I want access to stream what I see on my phone to the tv... Yes..... or NO...?

tv & player wifi
  • AvsGunnar's avatar
    AvsGunnar
    4 years ago

    R0KUBLOWS 

    Feel free to post back with any questions.  It certainly can be a little confusing at first with streaming and getting everything to work.  Not uncommon to find a better or easier way as you begin to understand things a little more and start experimenting with the capabilities of these devices.

    Some users here have different platform devices connected to the same TV for this very reason.  Each streaming platform has their pros and cons and different features.  

     

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  • AvsGunnar's avatar
    AvsGunnar
    Community Streaming Expert
    4 years ago

    R0KUBLOWS 

    Sometimes depends on the phone and version of Android.  On my Android MotoZ, I cannot just press Cast and push everything I see to my Roku devices. (I can with Youtube and some other Googlecast compatible sites).

    I can however cast just about any other online content from my Android phone to the Roku device using Web Video Caster. (https://channelstore.roku.com/details/dd37e6d096d3197a9578787890118e33/web-video-caster-receiver)

    You install the Web Video Caster receiver Channel on your Roku device, and then install the Web Video Caster app/apk avilable in the Play Store to your phone.

    This app works great and is free (upgrade no ads is only $3 or $4 one-time purchase).  There are other castings apps available in the Play Store as well but I find this one to work the best.

    Web Video Caster website - http://www.webvideocaster.com/home

    ---

    Hope that helps you a bit.

    • R0KUBLOWS's avatar
      R0KUBLOWS
      Newbie
      4 years ago

      Ok. I get that. It's a solution of sorts but if I have to install other apps to make Roku work why do I need Roku at all?

      Wouldn't I be better served by a Chromebox that will cast whatever I throw at it?

      • R0KUBLOWS's avatar
        R0KUBLOWS
        Newbie
        4 years ago

        Thanks. I guess I really didn't understand exactly what these things do. My expectations of Roku may have been unrealistic. I'm already fighting Pixel phone vs Samsung tv incompatibilities and hoped Roku would be a workaround. 

        I will try the app you suggested.

        Thanks again.