VLC not showing Chromecast Living Room TV option.

I have been mucking about with this literally ALL day and I have decided to seek help. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it doesn't.

I open a video file, lets say .MP4 in VLC, and it plays. If I click Playback > Renderer, it only shows Local and Scanning [ Scanning Greyed Out ].

I can cast YouTube Videos, my computer Desktop etc to the TV through Chromecast. VLC is upto date and on a version that supports this. My Network is set to Private which was recommended, and it did work. It is set to, and shows as Living Room TV in Google.

As I say, it does work on very rare occasions. It is almost like it needs the Router IP address or something, but I couldn't find an option to enter that. A reboot sometimes allows the Playback > Renderer > Living Room TV option to appear, and when I click it, it plays on the TV.

I have tried many things like restarting Chromecast and the computer more times than I can remember. I have reinstalled VLC [ Several times ], reset Chromecast [ Several times ], and applied any Chromecast updates that were available. The Firewall is set correctly to allow VLC. I have also been through ALL the VLC Advanced Settings.

I have investigated a solution for this on the Internet ALL day. Has anyone had this problem and resolved it, or got any ideas please?

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EDIT:-

Just for anyone following this thread. I did have to be signed in to Google, and NOT have Block All Cookies checked. I checked Block Third-Party Cookies instead and that allows me to play [ Cast ] YouTube videos etc.

I might investigate Chromecast Compatible Apps in the week ahead, preferable those which do NOT include Ads [ Lightweight Apps with Google Cast Support ].

Hello @MaloK,

Thanks for the reply, it is appreciated.

MaloK said:

Do you have apple Bonjour installed ?

No, I don't.

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You are NOT going to believe this, BUT, I have found a workaround.

I open the video file with VLC, and then immediately Pause it. I goto my Google Chrome Browser and . . .

• Click the 3 Dots.
• Click Cast.
• From the Sources Dropdown Menu I select Cast Desktop.
• Click Living Room TV.
• Goto VLC and Press Play.

It works!

I would however, like to try and find the proper solution.

MaloK said:

Whaaaaaaaattttttt ???? Leave me a moment....

Sorry, I do NOT understand.

MaloK said:

I'm trying to reproduce that...

Ah, OK. Please let me know how you get on.

On investigation, this seems to be a general problem [ MANY entries on their Forum ], which unfortunately, does NOT have a definitive answer.

My main use for this is because I have restructured my Videos [ Films & Series ] and Music onto two designated external HDD's [ 3 TB Each ], with VLC being my Media Player of choice.

I know I have a workaround for this issue, as per the above, but, it would be nice to get this to work correctly.

Thanks for getting back @MaloK,

MaloK said:

Your trick worked on all my LG TVs but not on the Samsung and Sony.

I do NOT understand why, because if the TV's show a picture once it is loaded then it should work. It means that the computers are having difficulty finding it!

My TV is a Panasonic by the way.