Smart TV Viewing Trends Make Casting Less Relevant
Netflix has officially decided to end support for Google Cast, and the reason behind the move is surprisingly simple: too few people are still using it.
According to industry sources revealed during CES 2026, only around 10 percent of Android users continue to rely on Google Cast to stream Netflix content from their smartphones to TVs. This marks a dramatic decline compared to the feature’s peak popularity during the mid-2010s.
Smart TVs Replace the Need for Casting
The primary factor behind this shift is the rapid evolution of Smart TVs and modern streaming boxes. Today’s television interfaces are faster, smoother, and far more user-friendly than in the past. For most viewers, picking up a remote and launching the Netflix app directly on the TV is far more convenient than unlocking a phone and initiating a cast session.
From Netflix’s perspective, maintaining Google Cast support no longer justifies the engineering resources required to keep compatibility across an ever-expanding range of devices.
Netflix Shifts Smartphone Strategy
Analysts believe Netflix is also redefining the role of smartphones within its ecosystem. Rather than serving as a simple video relay tool, mobile devices are increasingly positioned as interactive controllers for Netflix games and shared family experiences that synchronize with TV screens.
This direction aligns with Netflix’s growing investment in interactive content and gaming, which has become a major focus over the past one to two years.
Impact on Travelers and Legacy Devices
Despite the strategic rationale, the decision does affect certain user groups. Travelers who frequently relied on Google Cast in hotels or Airbnb accommodations now face reduced convenience, especially those who preferred casting over logging into public TVs for security reasons.
At present, Google Cast functionality remains available only on older devices such as Chromecast v1 or select legacy TVs, and even then it is limited to ad-free subscription plans.
Different Paths Across Streaming Platforms
Interestingly, while Netflix is stepping away from Google Cast, Apple has recently added Cast support to the Apple TV app on Android, highlighting contrasting visions for the future of the technology.
For users who still prefer casting, alternatives such as Google TV streaming devices or TVs with built-in app support and dedicated remotes may become the most practical options going forward.
Built-in Account Security Still Available
For users concerned about account safety when logging into external devices, Netflix continues to offer remote device management, allowing subscribers to log out of other TVs directly from their smartphones.
