Skip to main content

Users of iOS can now control Chromecast from their iPhone’s lock screen

youtube extremist videos penalized ios
Image used with permission by copyright holder
YouTube is making it a little easier for iOS users to cast to their TV. When casting to a TV, iOS users have had to unlock their phone and go through their open apps to pause or rewind what’s being cast to the TV. Now, with the new YouTube app, they can control what they’re casting straight from their device’s home screen.

The new controls don’t just work with the Google Chromecast — they’ll also work with smart TVs and other cast-enabled home devices. And you’ll even be able to control things from your Apple Watch. On the device, you’ll have the ability to play, pause, play the previous item, play the next item, and control the volume.

The new features are welcome on iOS — Android users have been able to control Chromecast from their home screen for a while now. The update highlights a push by Google, and YouTube specifically, to being some much-needed features to iOS. Many of these new features have been available on Google’s Android for some time now, but still have yet to make it to iOS. For example, YouTube earlier this year rolled out an update allowing 4.7-inch iPhone models to play video in a 1440p resolution.

Google Chrome for iOS also recently got a pretty sizable update — a built-in QR code scanner. Users can also scan QR codes by using 3D Touch on the home screen logo. Not only that, but Google recently announced that it would be making Chrome for iOS open-source — something that hasn’t been able to happen due to the restrictions Apple places on third-party browsers.

The app update is available now from iTunes.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
This could be our first look at iOS 18’s huge redesign
An iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro standing upright on a desk.

While iOS 17 fell short on a visual overhaul, Apple is rumored to be working on an updated identity for its next iOS version. Previous reports have claimed that the upcoming iOS 18 will feature visionOS-like elements introduced on the Apple Vision Pro. A new report confirms this with a leaked image of the iOS 18 Camera app.

According to a report from MacRumors, the next version of the Camera app could feature visionOS-style design elements. It is based on an iPhone frame template that the publication received from an anonymous source who claimed to have received it from an iOS engineer. It is said to have been included as part of the Apple Design Resources for iOS 18.

Read more
10 reasons you should buy an iPhone in 2024
Purple iPhone 14 (left) and a green iPhone 15 in hand.

The iPhone 15 lineup — which includes the standard iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro — is the iPhone at its best. It's the latest series of iPhones available today and the default choice if you're buying a new iPhone in 2024.

But it’s not the only choice of iPhones you can purchase. In fact, Apple still sells the iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and the iPhone SE on its website. You could also find other iPhone models available – refurbished or new — from other retailers or carrier stores.

Read more
We now know when Apple is adding RCS to the iPhone
The iPhone 14 Plus held in a man's hand.

Last November, Apple made a surprise announcement when it confirmed that RCS was coming to the iPhone in 2024. It's something iPhone and Android phone users alike have been waiting years for, but there was just one small problem: Apple never said when in 2024 RCS was coming. Thanks to Google, of all companies, we now have a better idea of when RCS is heading to the iPhone.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the Android website was recently updated with a new page dedicated to Google Messages. If you click on the "See more features" button for the section talking about RCS, there's a section titled "Better messaging for all" with the following text: "Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone."

Read more