After reading my colleague’s initial Chromecast experience, I found myself eagerly waiting for the product to come to Canada. I recently went on a trip to Phoenix and when I discovered that the Chromecast was readily available at the local Best Buy I had to buy one to bring back. Although I had read online a variety of mixed reports of using the device in Canada – I decided that at the very least it would make a great $35 decoration for my desk. Now that I’m back home I’m pleased to put together this guide on my experience setting up a Chromecast in Canada.
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- Chromecast Box
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- Chromecast Box Open
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- Chromecast Box Slid Out
It probably comes as no shock that as Google’s Chromecast has only been on the market for a few months that there’s been no noticeable change in the packaging. Just like my colleague’s experience, below the Chromecast itself was accessories including the USB cable (for power), a USB power brick and even an HDMI extender. I ended up needing the extender as the device itself was too wide to use without pushing against the HDMI cable plugged in next to it.
Chromecast with the Accessories
As you may have already read by many US users, the Chromecast is very simple to setup. I’m happy to report that the same can be said if you’re using the device on Canadian soil – simply plug it in and follow the prompts on the screen. Of course, you’ll want to make sure you properly read the instructions or else you might end up like me trying to on a wired-networked computer and encounter the following error.
Setup Error While Trying to Set Up Via Desktop
Now here’s where things start to get more Canadian. Only a couple weeks ago users were reporting that they had to side-load the installer in order to get things setup. The good news is that the Chromecast installer is now available in the Canadian versions of Google Play and the Apple App Store. Simply install the Chromecast app and follow the prompts – in no time your Chromecast will be setup.
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- Chromecast App in Canadian Google Play
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- Chromecast Setup in Canada
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- Chromecast Setup in Canada
Chromecast Set Up Screen
Keep in mind though that in typical Google fashion you will have to wait for the automatic update of the Chromecast…
Google Chromecast Update
Now that your Chromecast is setup and breathing that sweet Maple Syrup-scented air, you’ll find that things operate just as smooth as our American counterparts – but a little more restricted. The Chromecast setup does a great job of automatically pointing users to the features that will work in Canada (at least straight forward) – Youtube, Media, Netflix.
Once you have the appropriate applications installed on your Android or iOS device (ie. Netflix App) simply fire up the app you want to use and click the cast icon at the top. As expected the Chromecast will start showing the requested task – once again, just as simply as our neighbours south of the border.
Netflix Working on Chromecast in Canada
I was also easily able to install the Chromecast extension to my Chrome browser on my desktop. I should also note that although I ran into the setup issue from my desktop earlier, once the device is configured on their network, users can cast any tab from your desktop/laptop Chrome browser (even if wired).
Google Cast Shows up in Extensions for Canadians too
Although personally I have not had a chance to play with some of the Canadian ‘tinkering’ that can allegedly be done, but there are rumours that with the right network configuration you can redirect the Chromecast to think it’s American. The reports are that doing this allows users to use US Netflix, Hulu Plus and any of those other Chromecast-supported services that are restricted from us Canadians. While I do plan to see how I can tinker with Chromecast, it might be awhile until I report back as so far the Chromecast is working perfectly for the reason I wanted it – Canadian Netflix, Youtube and sending the occasionally tab/media to a TV.
Going to Florida n want to pick up a Comcast USB. Just wondering about content? I read that there is not much available. Wouldn’t anything I pick up on my Android or iPad be able to be seen on my HD tv?
Spell check urge! Meant Chromecast
Hey Michael, thanks for dropping by!
In regard to content you’re absolutely right — as far as I know if it’s a supported Chromecast app and it works on your Android or iPad, it’ll work in Canada. For example, when I pull up the Netflix on my tablet I see the Canadian Netflix. I simply hit the chromecast icon and then it pushes it to the chromecast.
HOPE THIS HELPS
Hello, can I use my canadian cromecast in cuba? Thanks
if i have my vpn on my device can i use it to stream US netflix directly to the chromecast? or my one channel app, couldn’t the chromecast be used as a streaming tool? at 35$ this is cheaper then the apple tv or any other product so simply streaming it would still be worth it
I have read that you can use routers with VPN capabilities to make it access US netflix, but I have not tried it.
You can use a proxy service, like unblock-us.com
It costs about $5 a month and proxies your traffic through US servers. So you can get the US Netflix, etc. if you think the US content is worth the $5/month.
Your Netflix account created in Canada will automagically work. I use it and it’s seamless.
We have Chromecast and unbloc-US. it works great for Canadian Netflix and YouTube, but we can only watch US Netflix on computers & tablets/phones. Slightly annoying! Can you help me overcome that issue? Ever so grateful! Unbloc-US has certainly been worth it in my experience! It would be even better if I can fool Chromecast into playing American content! Please tell me how.
change the DNS settings in your router to the ones provided form Unbloc-US so anything on your wifi thinks it’s in the US
Can you get into settings at all and change the DNS? IF so, that should be your ticket!
is you use Hola on google to bypass US and CDN content will it stream on the chromecast the same way??
Hola is terrible. Check DNS Jumper, just simply pick the fastest DNS out there, you can go back to use your default DNS with this wizard – in any browser. Go try it.
Hi, We are going to cancun,Mexico area for 2 months . Anyone know if chromecast will work ?
Will this work with movies purchased (downloaded to tablet) from the Google Play Movies Site? I want to watch that movie on my TV.
Yes it will work with those videos. Just queue them up in the app and it should show up with a Chromecast logo on screen.
I watch a lot of webinars on my computer will the GOOGLE Chromecast work to stream that from my computer to my tv? Thanks for any info you can give me.
All I want is to be able to watch the following without being tied to cable: CTV, CTV2, CBC, Global, CityTV, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox.
Will Chromecast do that in Canada? At least from the viewpoint of say going to CTV’s Web site within Google Chrome and clicking on an episode of whatever?
I use Private Internet Access to create an encrypted tunnel into the US and then my Windows, Chromebook or Android can see all the stuff on Netflix available in the US. Casting from the device that has the VPN work on the Chromecast, and surprisingly once I have started watch a TV series I can next time open Netflix without the VPN and that show remains available to me, even though all the other US only shows remain hidden, and I can continue watching. No need for a router based VPN, the device based VPN connect is enough.
I should have mentioned that I am using the VPN in Canada.
I live in BC and am thinking of getting one of these to do my Beach Body on Demand workouts. That isnt usually a supported app, but I do have it on my phone. Will I still be able to cast it to the tv from my phone with this device?