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If you are an Android user who happens to enjoy Apple TV+ shows (we’re looking at you, Severance fans), you know there has been one glaring omission in the Android app since it launched: the lack of a Cast button. It has been a strange limitation, forcing you to navigate apps on your TV rather than just beaming content from your phone like you do with literally every other streaming service.
Thankfully, that annoyance ends today. In a new update rolling out now (spotted by 9to5 Google), Apple has finally added Google Cast support to the Apple TV app on Android.
A seamless experience
According to the update (Version 2.2), once you grab the latest version from the Play Store, you will see the familiar Google Cast icon appear in the top-right corner of the app and in the fullscreen video player.
Apple didn’t just slap a stock icon in there, either. They have customized the experience with a “Cast To” menu that matches the app’s design language. When you are casting, you get a polished mini-player on your phone with playback info and a timeline, plus a fullscreen controller with large buttons for scrubbing and managing subtitles.
Closing the gap
This update closes a massive functionality gap. While we have had the app since earlier this year, the inability to cast made it feel half-baked for the Android ecosystem. Now, you can easily pull up Ted Lasso or Slow Horses on your Pixel or Samsung phone and throw it straight to your Chromecast or Google TV without skipping a beat.
The update is rolling out now via the Google Play Store, so check for updates if you haven’t seen the Cast icon appear yet.
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