Chromecast Google makes it easy to browse for videos and watch them on your TV, but what if you want to pause playback quickly without reaching for your smartphone or computer? Now you can do it from your TV remote control built.
This function makes use of HDMI-CEC. With the HDMI-CEC standard most modern TVs offer, you can now use physical remote that came with your TV to pause and videos Reactivate while they play on your Chromecast.
You will need HDMI-CEC enabled for this
You will need to have HDMI-CEC enabled on your TV to do this. This is a fairly common feature on modern TVs, though some TVs ship with it turned off by default, and most TV manufacturers call something else.
CEC function can be called Anynet +, BRAVIA Sync, SimpLink, Aquos Link, VIERA Link, or any number of other weird names. Check out our guide to allow HDMI-CEC for a list of names and steps you can take to find the HDMI-CEC function on your TV.
Keep in mind that some TVs - especially older - do not offer HDMI-CEC. Some TVs HDMI-CEC offer but can enable a specific HDMI port. And some TVs that include HDMI-CEC can not include "Deck Control" feature is based on Chromecast here.
Basically Deck Control allows your TV to send just play button presses (Play / Pause / Stop / Rewind / Fast Forward) to devices like your Chromecast the HDMI port. This allows you to use your TV remote to control connected devices, and it can also work for Blu-Ray players and set-top boxes. Of course, these devices typically ship their own dedicated remote controls, so it is less critical.
How to pause and reactivate from a physical remote control
If you have enabled HDMI-CEC and your TV supports the correct functionality of the CEC, it should "just work" - although you can never think of trying. Instead of fumbling for your smartphone or reaching for the pause button on your laptop, just take the TV remote control.
Search the pause and play buttons on the TV remote control. While something is playing on your Chromecast, press the Pause button to pause the play button to resume video playback (or music). Yes, it's as simple as that - although you will obviously need to point your remote at your TV. The remote sends the signal to your TV, and the TV sends the pause or play the Chromecast signal on the HDMI port.
It really is that simple, but it will only work in applications that support this feature. However, many applications support Chromecast already easy Pause / Play. This currently works with YouTube, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, Google Play Music, WatchESPN, TuneIn Radio, Plex, and other applications. Unfortunately, it does not seem to work with Netflix. This is to Netflix and other applications to add support for this function.
What about Rewind, Fast Forward, and stop?
The Deck Control HDMI specification also allow Chromecast to receive Rewind, Fast Forward, and the Stop button presses from the TV remote control. You could theoretically go back one day and fast forward videos on your Chromecast -. Right to physical remote control of your TV
However, Chromecast not support these features. Google may add support for this in the future, allowing you to use the remote control of your TV for more. For now, pause and play are the only events that are working. This is at least the most common buttons you need while watching a Chromecast - it's nice to just pause a playing video with the TV remote control rather than reaching for a phone.
In the future, a Chromecast could do even more with HDMI-CEC. Imagine using the arrow and Select buttons on the TV remote control to navigate the menus in the interface of your Chromecast. Your Chromecast might work a bit like a Roku, TV Fire or Apple TV -. Without having its own separate remote control
It is possible - although it would require Google and third-party developers to add to the Chromecast menu system. For now, it's just nice to be able to pause or continue videos and music with an old remote.
Chris Hoffman is a technology writer and all around computer geek. It is also home using the Linux terminal as it is digging in the Windows registry.
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