A simple way to upgrade an old TV has always been plugging in a streaming device like a Chromecast or a Fire TV Stick.
But there comes a point where these devices start to show their age, and that’s exactly what happened to me.
My old Chromecast had slowed down noticeably. It took ages to boot, and even after it finally did, apps took forever to load, switching screens felt sluggish, and the experience felt dated.
I’m not really blaming it, though. Every piece of hardware has its limits, and my Chromecast had clearly reached its own. So I ended up replacing it with an Apple TV.
That said, my Chromecast is far from useless. It’s still perfectly functional, and I’ve found a few clever ways to repurpose it and breathe new life into it.
Here are four ways I’ve been using my old Chromecast instead of letting it collect dust.
5 seriously underrated Chromecast features you should be using
5 Google Chromecast features you should be using
Take your Chromecast with you while traveling
Plug it into hotel TVs to stream your content just like at home
Your Chromecast might be slow at home, but you’ll end up loving it all over again when you travel. That’s exactly what happens to me every single time.
Most hotel TVs only give you access to a handful of news channels or basic music channels, and that feels pretty limiting. The TV in the room isn’t usually used to its full potential, and that’s where an old Chromecast suddenly becomes useful again.
I now carry my old Chromecast with me whenever I travel. I plug it into the hotel room TV and instantly get access to all my streaming apps and casting features, just like I’m at home.
Sure, you’ll need to use your phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot for it to work (and if you have a spare phone for this, that’s even better), but I’ve been traveling like this for the past couple of months, and it’s been a great experience.
Even if I’m only using it for YouTube and YouTube Music most of the time, it’s still miles better than whatever the hotel TV offers by default.
Turn your Chromecast into a digital photo frame
Cast photos and videos to keep memories playing on the big screen
Another great way to keep using your old Chromecast is to stop pushing it with heavy tasks like streaming TV shows and movies, and instead use it purely as a casting device.
When you take that pressure off, it actually works surprisingly well.
One of the ways I use my old Chromecast at home is to stream photos and videos from my phone during family get-togethers.
It’s not something I use every single day, but when the moment calls for it, it’s genuinely useful.
To cast photos or videos, open the Google Photos app on your phone, tap a photo or video, tap the Cast button, and select your old Chromecast from the list.
You can also keep it plugged in as a digital screensaver for your living room. Just loop YouTube videos like wildlife videography or a fireplace during gatherings or parties, and it adds a nice vibe without needing much effort.
Use Chromecast with a soundbar for Wi-Fi audio streaming
Stream music wirelessly without relying on Bluetooth connections
If you have a soundbar connected to your TV, there’s a good chance it has an HDMI port built in. You can actually use that HDMI port to stream audio to your soundbar even when the TV itself isn’t being used.
Think about it: your soundbar already sounds great, and it usually just sits there doing nothing when the TV is off.
Sure, you could connect the Chromecast to your TV and then route audio through the soundbar, but that’s not always the best experience.
The good part is you don’t need the TV to be involved. Just plug your Chromecast directly into the soundbar, power it on, and start casting like you normally would.
Apps like Spotify and YouTube support Chromecast for audio-only streaming, so you can use your soundbar as a dedicated music speaker without turning on the TV.
Convert your Chromecast into a retro gaming console
Play classic games easily using emulators and a simple setup
This one’s a bit unconventional, but you can repurpose your old Chromecast and turn it into a retro gaming machine. This only works with Chromecast with Google TV, not the older Chromecast models.
It works by sideloading apps onto your Chromecast.
Since Chromecast with Google TV runs Android under the hood, you can install emulators like RetroArch and PPSSPP and play classic games directly on it.
Still, there are a few hoops to jump through, like transferring ROM files to your Chromecast, but our sister site, XDA-Developers, has a solid guide that walks you through the process.
And if you have an old Stadia controller lying around, you can pair it with your Chromecast and end up with a great, complete retro gaming setup.
Your old Chromecast still has plenty of life left
All that said, if you have a Chromecast lying around, it’s still very much worth using.
And if you feel like it’s not quite done yet, maybe give it one more shot by tweaking a few settings and speeding things up a bit. You might be surprised by how usable it still is.
