- Netflix dropped Google Cast support last month
- A new report offers some theories why
- Google says it is still going to be investing in the tech
Last month we reported that the Netflix apps largely dropped the Google Cast tech that enables video streams to be sent to Chromecast devices, and while Netflix didn’t say anything about the decision at the time, we may now know the reasoning behind it.
According to Janko Roettgers at The Verge, one streaming service representative at CES 2026 stated that only around 10% of Android users on that service were making use of the casting capabilities to beam content to a big screen.
That could well explain Netflix ditching the feature. While it is still available for Netflix subscribers who aren’t on ad-supported plans and who have older Chromecasts without remotes, for most people and for modern hardware, the functionality has gone away.
Roettgers also has a “best guess” that Netflix wanted to prioritize other features like cloud gaming and interactive voting – and that it was just too complex to keep casting support too. Netflix still hasn’t officially commented on the matter though.
‘More to come’
While most smart TVs and other devices now come with all the streaming apps you need – meaning casting from your phone is less important – it’s still handy to have the feature when traveling or when visiting other people.
The Verge report goes on to quote Google exec Neha Dixit as saying “Google Cast continues to be a key experience that we’re invested in”, adding that casting fans should “stay tuned for more to come this year”.
Indeed, around the same time that Netflix decided to remove the functionality from its apps, Apple added in Google Cast support for the Apple TV app on Android. It seems for those who rely on the tech, it’s going to stick around for a while yet.
In fact there may be more options in the future: Matter Casting, a part of the Matter smart home standard, is still in development, with Amazon among the backers. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not it’s something Netflix decides to adopt.
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