Virgin Media recently launched its app called Virgin TV Go (previously TV Anywhere) which allows you to watch up to 2,000 TV shows as well as download shows to watch offline. To access the app, all you need is a Virgin Media subscription and an internet connection, either Wi-fi or a mobile network, 3G or 4G.
Most Virgin Media members have the app on their phones, but there’s a problem: how do you watch the content on a bigger screen, such as a TV or monitor? Stay on this page to learn a few helpful solutions.
You might be wondering if you can cast media from the Virgin Media TV GO to a Chromecast, so you can watch shows on a bigger screen. With most of these types of media apps, you would simply look for a casting icon to send the media to Chromecast.
But…
Where’s the icon on Virgin Media TV Go?
Can You Cast Virgin Media TV Anywhere to Chromecast?
No. Unfortunately, the Virgin Media TV Anywhere app does not support casting with Chromecast or any other casting dongle for that matter. The reason they don’t support that feature at the moment is due to licensing agreements. It’s unfortunate because most streaming apps support Chromecast.
However, it’s not all bad news because there are a couple of alternative methods you can use to watch Virgin Media TV Anywhere on a bigger screen. These solutions aren’t as streamlined but they can do the trick for a session or two.
Before we begin, make sure that your Chromecast is installed on your display and properly configured over the Wifi network. Make sure your other devices (laptop or phone) are connected to the same network too.
Casting Virgin Media TV Go from a Laptop with Chromecast
Since Virgin Media TV Go is available on Windows 10, Google Play, and Apple App Store, you can simply download the app to your Windows laptop.
Because Virgin Media TV Go does not officially support Chromecast, we will have to use a workaround. With a laptop or PC, the workaround is a lot easier.
Here’s what you need to do:
On the computer that you plan to use to watch Virgin Media TV, open Google Chrome, and click on the three dots in the top right corner to open the settings. Locate “Cast” and click on the Chromecast once it’s found.
Next, you’ll need to choose between “Cast a Tab” or “Cast Desktop” select “Cast Desktop”. Casting your desktop to Chromecast will mirror everything on your computer screen to the Chromecast, over the network. You won’t be limited to content in the Chrome Browser.
From there, simply open the Virgin Media Go app on the computer and you’ll see it on the other screen. While media playback probably won’t be the best (likely under 30 frames a second) the content can still be watchable. The performance will also depend on your Wifi speed. So that’s one way to use Virgin Media TV Go with Chromecast.
You could also try using the same method but with the browser version of Virgin Media TV and only cast the tab instead of the entire desktop.
Consider HDMI:
However, if you have a laptop and a TV, I recommend simply connecting the laptop to the TV via an inexpensive HDMI cable. Why? Because the performance, audio, and framerate will be much better and more reliable than trying to get everything working over the Wifi network and Chromecast.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some solutions for smartphones.
Samsung Dex Over USB-C to HDMI Adapter
Note: This solution is only available on Samsung Dex compatible phones, it doesn’t work with iPhones or old Android phones.
Samsung Dex is a feature on new Android phones (starting from S8 and on) that creates a desktop environment when plugged into an HDMI display. Basically, it changes the UI if your phone to a bigger-screen mode, much like on a laptop or desktop, and you can even use a mouse with it.
To trigger the mode, you will need a USB-C to HDMI adapter, Dex should launch automatically once it detects the new display. From there, simply use the new UI to find the Virgin Media TV Go app, launch it, and tap the fullscreen icon in the corner of the window.
The downside here is that your phone will have to be plugged into the adapter. Although you can use your phone normally when Samsung Dex is active, you won’t be able to pick it up because it will be connected to the TV via the adapter and HDMI cable.
Speaking of USB-C to HDMI adapters, they can also be used to screen mirror iPhones to Chromecast but you won’t have the same UI as Dex. On the other hand, with the help of certain apps, you can force the phone to mirror the apps in fullscreen.
What About iPhones?
Screen mirroring iPhones to Chromecast over Wifi is not possible at the moment, but you might be able to view apps on a large screen by using additional third-party apps. However, that’s not something I recommend, and even if you do get all the devices to communicate, there will likely be horrible delays.
The Best Solution:
In my opinion, since Chromecast is not officially compatible with Virgin Media TV Go, I would simply use a laptop connected to a TV or monitor with an HDMI cable. The Samsung Dex option is worth a look too.
The reason I think using a laptop with HDMI is the best solution is because it’s the most reliable and the easiest to setup. The other solutions can work but the delays, network issues, and other configuration hassles can be a headache.
Long story short, Chromecast can be used for a little of things, and it’s definitely a handy dongle that you can use to cast YouTube, Netflix, Now TV, and many other apps. The problem is that it does not support Virgin Media TV Go at the moment.
Maybe in the future, something will change but until then you’re limited to HDMI cables or the smaller screens of your mobile devices.
