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How to use Chromecast backdrop to customize the TV screen?

Last updated on: November 21, 2014, first published on: October 22, 2014 10 Comments

Chromecast backdrop feature was officially released early this month. Now you can customize the TV screen when you are not casting contents through Chromecast.

Table of Contents hide
1) What contents can be used for Chromecast backdrop?
2) How to setup Chromecast backdrop to customize the TV screen?
3) How does Chromecast backdrop show photos when multiple users are sharing the same Chromecast device?
4) I have two Chromecast devices, can I set different Chromecast backdrop preferences for each of them?
5) Why my Google+ photos are not displayed in Chromecast backdrop?

What contents can be used for Chromecast backdrop?

Essentially, Chromecast backdrop allows you to fill the TV screen with the following contents:

  • Your photo albums (private or public) in Google+. You can enable or disable albums one by one.
  • Artwork from galleries and museums around the world via the Google Cultural Institute.
  • News and lifestyle images from The New York Times, The Guardian, Saveur and other provides. This currently is for US users only possibly due to content distribution restrictions.
  • Satellite imagery of some of the hardest-to-reach places on Earth from Google Maps.
  • Photos from the Google+ community

You can enable or disable these contents individually from your Android devices or iOS devices.

More interestingly, you can even learn more about the current images shown on TV  by asking questions in Google voice search directly.

How to setup  Chromecast backdrop to customize the TV screen?

In your Android device, start Chromecast app.

Tap the menu key (3 vertical dots) in the top left as shown below to call out the menu items.

Tap Backdrop (as shown below).

Then you are in the Backdrop preferences page.

For satellite images and featured photos, you can drag the switch to right to turn it on, left to turn it off.

For your own photos, weather and art, you need tap it to see more options in a new page.

That’s all for Chromecast backdrop settings.

How_to_use_Chromecast_backdrop_to_customize_TV_screen_set_upHow_to_use_Chromecast_backdrop_to_customize_TV_screen_backdrop_preference

After you setup the Chromecast backdrop, you will see the current backdrop on your Android device as shown below.

You can tap the settings icon (gear) in the top right to change the backdrop preferences.

Of course, you can also get more info on the photo/image from Google by tapping the link below.

You can also ask “What’s on my Chromecast?” in Google voice search to get answer without tapping the link.

How_to_use_Chromecast_backdrop_to_customize_TV_screen_current_photo

How does Chromecast backdrop show photos when multiple users are sharing the same Chromecast device?

If multiple users are sharing the Chromecast device, and some finished the backdrop preferences setup,  the backdrop will  then use the “mixed” preferences. In other words, all preferences are used in rotation randomly.

Of course, Google may  use some algorithms to determine the weighting factor for different albums based on number of photos in the album.

The Chromecast backdrop preferences are saved in the Chromecast (and Google server), not in your phone. It has nothing to do with the person who are using the device.  Someone else who didn’t setup the backdrop preferences for this Chromecast device will still see the customized backdrop based on all backdrop preferences saved or linked to this Chromecast.

I have two Chromecast devices, can I set different Chromecast backdrop preferences for each of them?

No, you cannot have two Chromecast backdrop preference profiles.

Chromecast backdrop preferences profile is linked to your Google account. There is only one preference profile. If you change the backdrop preferences settings in the second Chromecast device,  the first one will also use  the updated profile.

Why my Google+ photos are not displayed in Chromecast backdrop?

Your Google+ photos are used for Chromecast backdrop only when :

  1. They are in one of the albums, and
  2. You assigned the album for Chromecast backdrop in Chromecast app.

Chromecast backdrop only uses albums created in your Google +. The album can be private or public.

Auto backup of photos from Photos app in your phone  are NOT in any albums. You must manually create albums in Google +.  You may check this guide on how to create albums in Google+.

If in Chromecast app, there are no albums shown (as shown below). It usually means there are no albums in your Google+ profile. If you just created some, you may tap the refresh button in the top to load them.

Once the album list is loaded, you can check some to be used for Chromecast backdrop as shown below.

How_to_use_Chromecast_backdrop_to_customize_TV_screen_google_plus_albumHow_to_use_Chromecast_backdrop_to_customize_TV_screen_google_plus_album_select

Do you have any questions on setting and using Chromecast backdrop to customize the TV screen?

Please leave your questions, comments, and feedback in the comment box below, if you have any  questions or get any problems on setting and using Chromecast backdrop to customize the TV screen. We will try to help you.

For more Chromecast tutorial, you may check our Chromecast how-to guide page.

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Filed Under: Chromecast news, Chromecast tips and tricks

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. abhay says

    May 27, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    Simon, I wanted to ask that is it possible to cast screen with new micromax yu yuphoria with the help of chromecast?? As chromecast has requirement of android 4.4.2 & above & yuphoria hai 5.0.2 lollipop.. So will it cast screen or not??

    Reply
    • simon says

      May 28, 2015 at 12:17 am

      Screen casting should work on it. But I haven’t tried Chromecast with that phone, which is for Indian market only.


      To stream local media, please read this guide: Comparison of 5 methods for streaming local media files to Chromecast
      Chromecast or Miracast? Please read this guide: Chromecast VS Miracast: everything you need know about Chromecast, wireless display and screen mirroring || Galaxy S6 Guides || Galaxy S7 Guides || Android Guides || Galaxy S8 Guides || Galaxy S9 Guides || Google Home Guides || Galaxy S10 Guides || Headphone Guides || Galaxy S20 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S22 Guides || Galaxy Note Guides || Fire tablet guide || Moto G Guides || Moto E Guides

      Reply
  2. Viking says

    June 28, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Hi Simon,
    in your recent email post, you provide a link to this story as an explanation on how to display images as backfrops from the NEW Google Photo, but I can only find that you explain how to do it with the old Google + Photo….?
    What part did I not find in this post?

    Reply
    • simon says

      June 28, 2015 at 12:41 pm

      Actually, it is identical. You just create album in new Google Photos. Then in Chromecast app, you can select the album.

      I am still trying to find time to write a detailed guide on using the new Google Photos, which is one of the best products Google released in recent years. I need do some experiments on various hardware/OS for some features. I will post the link of the guide once it is available,


      To stream local media, please read this guide: Comparison of 5 methods for streaming local media files to Chromecast
      Chromecast or Miracast? Please read this guide: Chromecast VS Miracast: everything you need know about Chromecast, wireless display and screen mirroring || Galaxy S6 Guides || Galaxy S7 Guides || Android Guides || Galaxy S8 Guides || Galaxy S9 Guides || Google Home Guides || Galaxy S10 Guides || Headphone Guides || Galaxy S20 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S22 Guides || Galaxy Note Guides || Fire tablet guide || Moto G Guides || Moto E Guides

      Reply
  3. Patrick says

    July 26, 2017 at 11:43 am

    Hi there,

    I’m having trouble getting my chrome cast to show my images at the proper size. Keeps auto resizing so half is cut out, any fix?

    Reply
    • simon says

      July 26, 2017 at 1:31 pm

      I guess it is because of the aspect ratio. Does not crop your 16:9 photos?

      Anyway, there are no options for choosing photo aspect ratio in backdrop. By default, they will be cropped to 16:9.


      To stream local media, please read this guide: Comparison of 5 methods for streaming local media files to Chromecast
      Chromecast or Miracast? Please read this guide: Chromecast VS Miracast: everything you need know about Chromecast, wireless display and screen mirroring || Galaxy S6 Guides || Galaxy S7 Guides || Android Guides || Galaxy S8 Guides || Galaxy S9 Guides || Google Home Guides || Galaxy S10 Guides || Headphone Guides || Galaxy S20 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S22 Guides || Galaxy Note Guides || Fire tablet guide || Moto G Guides || Moto E Guides

      Reply
  4. Andrew Spice says

    August 27, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    Is there a way to have multiple chromecasts show the same picture at the same time?

    Reply
    • simon says

      August 27, 2017 at 11:54 pm

      No, I don’t think you can link or sync the backdrop of two or more Chromecast.


      To stream local media, please read this guide: Comparison of 5 methods for streaming local media files to Chromecast
      Chromecast or Miracast? Please read this guide: Chromecast VS Miracast: everything you need know about Chromecast, wireless display and screen mirroring || Galaxy S6 Guides || Galaxy S7 Guides || Android Guides || Galaxy S8 Guides || Galaxy S9 Guides || Google Home Guides || Galaxy S10 Guides || Headphone Guides || Galaxy S20 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S22 Guides || Galaxy Note Guides || Fire tablet guide || Moto G Guides || Moto E Guides

      Reply
  5. David Durgee says

    November 21, 2017 at 5:14 pm

    On occasion I play an audio-only stream on the chromecast, which leaves a filler of sorts on the screen. I would like to be able to leave the backdrop displayed and updating with the audio-only stream playing in the background. Can this be accomplished? If so, how?

    Reply
    • simon says

      November 22, 2017 at 1:59 pm

      No, the backdrop is independent of what’s streamed. I guess there is no way to sync them out customize them up to now.


      To stream local media, please read this guide: Comparison of 5 methods for streaming local media files to Chromecast
      Chromecast or Miracast? Please read this guide: Chromecast VS Miracast: everything you need know about Chromecast, wireless display and screen mirroring || Galaxy S6 Guides || Galaxy S7 Guides || Android Guides || Galaxy S8 Guides || Galaxy S9 Guides || Google Home Guides || Galaxy S10 Guides || Headphone Guides || Galaxy S20 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides || Samsung Galaxy S22 Guides || Galaxy Note Guides || Fire tablet guide || Moto G Guides || Moto E Guides

      Reply

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