Chrome needs permission to see your AirPlay devices

Chrome cannot cast to AirPlay speakers or displays on Mac until you grant it permission in System Settings. The permission lives in a specific location that many people miss because it is not in the main Privacy section. Once you turn it on, Chrome will detect your AirPlay devices and let you cast audio, video, and your entire screen.

The process takes less than a minute and you only do it once. After that, the Cast button in Chrome will show your available devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome needs permission in System Settings under Privacy & Security > Microphone, not in a general Cast or AirPlay section.
  • You must grant Chrome microphone access even though you are casting video or audio, because that is how macOS gates access to AirPlay devices.
  • After you turn on the permission, restart Chrome completely for it to detect your AirPlay devices.
  • If Chrome still does not see your devices after restarting, check that your Mac and AirPlay device are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Where the permission actually lives on Mac

Open System Settings and go to Privacy & Security. Scroll down the left sidebar until you see Microphone. Click it. You will see a list of apps that have requested microphone access. Find Google Chrome in that list.

If Chrome is not there yet, open Chrome, try to cast something, and the permission request will appear. You can then grant it from this same screen. Once Chrome appears in the Microphone list, make sure the toggle next to it is turned on (it should be blue or green, not gray).

Why Chrome needs microphone permission for AirPlay

This seems backwards because you are not using your microphone to cast. The reason is technical: on macOS, microphone permission is the gate that controls access to audio and video devices, including AirPlay. Chrome needs this permission to even see that your AirPlay speakers or Apple TV exist.

You can still cast without ever using your microphone. The permission just tells your Mac that Chrome is allowed to talk to those devices at all.

Restarting Chrome after you grant permission

After you turn on the microphone toggle for Chrome, close Chrome completely. Do not just close the window — quit the app. On Mac, you can do this by clicking Chrome in the menu bar and selecting Quit Chrome, or by pressing Command+Q while Chrome is active.

Wait a few seconds, then open Chrome again. Now when you click the Cast button (the rectangle with a curved line in the bottom left corner of the toolbar), your AirPlay devices should appear in the list.

Checking your Wi-Fi network if devices do not appear

If you have granted permission and restarted Chrome but still do not see your AirPlay device, the most common reason is that your Mac and the device are on different Wi-Fi networks. AirPlay only works when both are on the same network.

Check that your Mac is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your AirPlay speaker or Apple TV. You can see your current network by clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Your AirPlay device should show the same network name.

What you can cast once permission is set up

Once Chrome sees your AirPlay devices, you can cast a tab (just the current webpage), an entire window, or your whole screen. Click the Cast button in the Chrome toolbar, select your device, and choose what you want to cast. Audio from videos and web pages will play through your AirPlay speaker. Video will appear on your AirPlay display.

You can stop casting by clicking the Cast button again and selecting Stop Casting, or by closing the tab you were casting from.

Removing Chrome's microphone permission if you change your mind

If you want to revoke Chrome's access later, go back to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and toggle off the switch next to Google Chrome. Chrome will no longer be able to see your AirPlay devices, but you can turn the permission back on anytime using the same steps.

Revoking permission does not affect any other apps on your Mac. Safari, Zoom, or any other program that has microphone access will continue to work normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to do this for every browser on my Mac?

Yes. Safari, Firefox, and other browsers each need their own microphone permission to access AirPlay. The process is the same for each one: go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and turn on the toggle for that browser.

Why does the Cast button not appear in Chrome at all?

The Cast button only shows up if you are on a page with audio or video content, or if you have already cast before. Try opening a YouTube video or other video site, then look for the Cast button in the toolbar. If it still does not appear, make sure you are using a recent version of Chrome by going to Chrome menu > About Google Chrome.

Can I cast from Chrome on my iPhone or iPad to an AirPlay device?

Chrome on iOS does not have a Cast button. You can use Safari instead, which has built-in AirPlay support. Open a video in Safari, tap the AirPlay icon (it looks like a rectangle with a triangle), and select your device.

What if my AirPlay device is offline or not responding?

Make sure the device is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. Wait a few seconds, then close and reopen Chrome. If the device still does not appear, restart both your Mac and the AirPlay device, then try again.