VLC Fix Guide

VLC Cast to TV: Chromecast, DLNA & Screen Mirroring

Beginner Last updated: Applies to: All platforms · VLC 3.0.x · Chromecast / DLNA / Android TV

There are three very different ways to get VLC content onto your TV: Chromecast casting (VLC streams to the dongle), DLNA/UPnP (a server serves files to the TV), and plain HDMI. Each suits a different setup. This guide walks all three, with the settings that make them reliable.

Method 1 — Chromecast / Android TV casting

  1. Make sure the PC and the Chromecast are on the same network (same subnet, no AP isolation).

    Discovery prerequisites are met.

  2. In VLC, open the file, then go to Playback > Renderer and choose your Chromecast/Android TV.

    VLC streams to the device.

  3. Control playback from VLC as usual.

    Casting is active.

NoteIf the renderer list is empty, see the Chromecast not working guide — firewall/mDNS is the usual blocker.

Method 2 — DLNA / UPnP streaming to a smart TV

  1. Media > Streaming (or convert) — actually the simplest: enable the "Universal Plug 'n' Play (UPnP)" service: Tools > Preferences > All > Main interfaces > check "UPnP/DLNA" and restart.

    VLC exposes a DLNA server.

  2. On the TV, open the Media/Input source list and pick the VLC server ("VLC media player" or your PC name).

    The TV browses VLC’s served folders.

  3. Add folders: the UPnP server serves your media library — configure it under View > Media Library.

    Files are browsable on the TV.

NoteDLNA plays files on the TV itself — no transcoding — so codecs must be TV-compatible (H.264/AAC MP4 is safest).

Method 3 — HDMI (zero setup)

  1. Connect the PC to the TV via HDMI and set the TV as the display (Win+P > Duplicate).

    The TV mirrors the desktop.

  2. Set the TV as the default audio device (see the HDMI no sound guide).

    Audio routes to the TV.

  3. Play in VLC fullscreen.

    TV playback with zero streaming overhead.

NoteHDMI gives the best quality and zero latency — the only method that handles 4K HDR without streaming limits.

Frequently asked questions

Which method has the best quality?
HDMI — bit-perfect, zero latency. Chromecast re-streams over Wi-Fi (compressed if the format is unsupported). DLNA relies on the TV’s decoder.
Why can’t VLC see my smart TV?
For Chromecast/Android TV: same-subnet + mDNS required. For DLNA: the TV must support DLNA client browsing, and the UPnP interface must be enabled in VLC.
Can I cast subtitles?
Chromecast: external .srt files usually work if named to match. ASS styling is stripped or fails — convert to SRT first. DLNA/HDMI: subtitles are the TV’s job.
Does casting require VLC to stay open?
Yes — VLC is the streamer. Closing VLC stops the cast. For phone casting the phone streams instead.

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Edited by the VLC Fix Guide Tech Team — 10+ years of media software troubleshooting