cast local avi and mkv files from chrome browser - Google Chromecast

I got my device today and loving it .. used mostly for youtube/play music and was able to cast chrome tab easily and also fullscreen HTML5 videos
However I got this trick from one of the site .. navigate from chrome browser to say D:\ drive. type this and enter
file:///D:/
you will see you the list of files.. by clicking on them, I was able to play avi and mkv files and cast the same in fullscreen.. only one of my mkv file failed to play (may be issue with codec)..i think the prereq is to install VLC player (who doesn't :laugh: )
can't stop loving my chromecast .. only issue is 720p setting in chrome browser is kinda lagging so switched to 480p , thats ok for now

rajanikanthr said:
I got my device today and loving it .. used mostly for youtube/play music and was able to cast chrome tab easily and also fullscreen HTML5 videos
However I got this trick from one of the site .. navigate from chrome browser to say D:\ drive. type this and enter
file:///D:/
you will see you the list of files.. by clicking on them, I was able to play avi and mkv files and cast the same in fullscreen.. only one of my mkv file failed to play (may be issue with codec)..i think the prereq is to install VLC player (who doesn't :laugh: )
can't stop loving my chromecast .. only issue is 720p setting in chrome browser is kinda lagging so switched to 480p , thats ok for now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
welcome to the known info party lol jk. im glad you realized how to do it on your own though I and many others have had issued with avi. will try your vlc workaround later

any idea how to get avi working? mkv and mp4 work for me, but not avi.

Is this really a way to get AVI files working? I'll have to try it if it really works.

jbaruch76 said:
any idea how to get avi working? mkv and mp4 work for me, but not avi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sungod88 said:
Is this really a way to get AVI files working? I'll have to try it if it really works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started using wondershare ultimate video converter (you know where to download), I converted all my avi files to mp4 and now i dont have that limitation of playing any type of files.

nook'r said:
I started using wondershare ultimate video converter (you know where to download), I converted all my avi files to mp4 and now i dont have that limitation of playing any type of files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would do that but I have A LOT of files and it would just take way to long to convert them all also I would be converting then deleting the originals. How long does it take to convert the videos?

I use Ctrl & O to get the chrome file browser up. I can't play *.avi files (it tries to copy them to d/load folder instead) is there a workaround? besides converting them all to a different format, is there a reason why Google/Chrome don't natively play *.avi? It's not like I can't play the files using VLC for example.

If you click the down arrow in the upper right hand corner on the chrome extension, there is an option to cast the entire screen instead of just the tab.

@sungod88
It takes about 3-5 min for a 700mb file, by the time you watch 1 movie you should have atleast 15 - 20 movies converted to mp4, its a lot easier than what it seems.

piatikantrop said:
If you click the down arrow in the upper right hand corner on the chrome extension, there is an option to cast the entire screen instead of just the tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doing this just gives me black screen on tv.

Any idea why I can't play avi files in browser? I installed both DivX Plus Web Player, and VLC Web Plugin. I had to disable Quicktime plugin to get MPG, and at this point I seem to have everything (mpg, mp4, mkv, ...) but avi. I see the the avi file extension is listed under the MIME type for VLC plugin, bug chrome still just downloads it. My chromecast gets here today or tomorrow, any ideas about how to get chrome to just play the file?
Also, along the same line of thinking. How can I identify which plugin is playing a given file?

Drag and drop works just fine too..

nice to know you can cast local files. Anyone tried casting video from ubuntu?

No audio in chrome when playing local files
I know that i am not the first person to experience this but i have not been able to find a solution. When playing an MKV file i have no way in getting any audio out of it at all. Not from my laptop and not from my chrome cast. Nothing at all I have a little slash through the audio speaker that wont go away!

rajanikanthr said:
can't stop loving my chromecast .. only issue is 720p setting in chrome browser is kinda lagging so switched to 480p , thats ok for now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's an option for 720p in chrome browser?
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium

dougyfresh254 said:
I know that i am not the first person to experience this but i have not been able to find a solution. When playing an MKV file i have no way in getting any audio out of it at all. Not from my laptop and not from my chrome cast. Nothing at all I have a little slash through the audio speaker that wont go away!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the audio is DTS or AC3 it won't play through Chrome. I believe AAC and MP3 will play. To avoid re-encoding your videos I would recommend installing plex and using their Web view to play the videos, it will transcode the video/audio on the fly and cast that way
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

dougyfresh254 said:
I know that i am not the first person to experience this but i have not been able to find a solution. When playing an MKV file i have no way in getting any audio out of it at all. Not from my laptop and not from my chrome cast. Nothing at all I have a little slash through the audio speaker that wont go away!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you checked the mkv files for Compressed Headers? I had this problem, with trying to play mkv files in my theater+. I used a tool called mkvmerge to remove the compressed headers. That fixed my issue.

Plex works for .avi and mkv fils.
Plex works for .avi and mkv fils.
Using it now.
Just set up Plex Media Server.

tlally2001 said:
Plex works for .avi and mkv fils.
Using it now.
Just set up Plex Media Server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PLEX is not working. If you did get it to work, please go into more detail in how you pulled it off. Simply installing the software does nothing and it is so unstable that trying to do anything with the software causes it to lock up.

How can I change audio source and choose subtitles, when playing an MKV file in chrome browser?
I've tried to search for a plugin or extension, but couldn't find one.
Thanks

Related

Question for Chromecast users and local video playback

Ive been reading a lot of articles looking for this question to be answered and have come up empty handed. Ive already read that Chrome browser can be used to play local video files on the TV with Chromecast. While the video is playing, can the Chrome tab be minimized and the laptop be used for other tasks other than playing the video? Or would that disrupt playback of the file itself?
dongles said:
Ive been reading a lot of articles looking for this question to be answered and have come up empty handed. Ive already read that Chrome browser can be used to play local video files on the TV with Chromecast. While the video is playing, can the Chrome tab be minimized and the laptop be used for other tasks other than playing the video? Or would that disrupt playback of the file itself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it can be. You can maximize the video and then alt-tab out and do other things without disrupting the playback on the TV. You should know that many local file types don't play in Chrome. Mp4s worked but not .avi for me
wsimon said:
Yes it can be. You can maximize the video and then alt-tab out and do other things without disrupting the playback on the TV. You should know that many local file types don't play in Chrome. Mp4s worked but not .avi for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
has anyone found a way to play avi files in the tab? when i click them it just downloads the local file again it doesnt play them
DrUnkeN_TiGeR said:
has anyone found a way to play avi files in the tab? when i click them it just downloads the local file again it doesnt play them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its a codec thing. We need a extension for it
NyPlaya513 said:
its a codec thing. We need a extension for it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way I get around it right now is chromecasting my tab while using plex media server.
noogert said:
The way I get around it right now is chromecasting my tab while using plex media server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any way to get ts files to play in chrome so i can stream those?

Play Avi in chrome browser

Hi,
I have tried playing audio and mp4 files they play fine on chromecast. But avi it keeps downloading, installed divx web player tried avi still it tried to download? How do you get avi files played on chromecast? Any help would be great
Thanks
When you do a search, or just read down the list of posts (it's not *that* long yet) do you find anything?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
PainKiller89 said:
Hi,
I have tried playing audio and mp4 files they play fine on chromecast. But avi it keeps downloading, installed divx web player tried avi still it tried to download? How do you get avi files played on chromecast? Any help would be great
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it supports AVI files. I use plex, it will let you play any type of video file you want in your chrome browser and works great with chromecast.

No Sound When Playing Videos Off PC

I'm trying to play videos off my PC by loading the file in chrome and then using the chromecast plugin to cast or playing videos off dropbox using aircast.
Either way, I haven't yet found 1 video that will play sound. When using chrome on the PC, I hear sound on the PC, then once I cast it, sound stops on the PC and I don't get sound on the TV.
I've tried .mkv and .mp4. If I try to play an .avi within chrome, the video just downloads into chrome, but it doesn't play, so I can't cast it.
I guess only certain sound formats will play on the chromecast?
Does anyone have a sample/reference file that definitely plays from chrome on the PC to the chromecast on the TV with sound? If that works, then I know it's just the file formats I'm trying.
I get sound when casting netflix and youtube.
Bump, Anyone?
I even just tried converting an mkv/ac3 to mkv/aac and mkv/mp3 and I still didn't get any audio.
i got the same issues using Chrome. Like you said, netflix and youtube work fine.
as you said avi will just download, MKV with ac3 will have no sound but mp4 works ok for me, just doesnt automatically resize. which doesn't help you much.
Can anyone at all play an .mkv with any type of audio and get both audio and video working on the TV? If so, I'd really like to try that same file.
i've only tested with MP4. i was able to get sound and video to play on TV. not sure what codecs those videos are in tho.
mrhomiec said:
i've only tested with MP4. i was able to get sound and video to play on TV. not sure what codecs those videos are in tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a small MP4 that you know works that maybe you can upload here or upload to dropbox and share a public link for it?
i don't. what i was testing were episodes and movies i downloaded.

how to stream any video from desktop through chrome

so I have been using xda for some years now flashing roms and getting a lot of info from the good developers and other people like myself would like to say thanks and sorry if i am posting this info in the wrong place i normally stay quiet but since i got my chromecat i have been trying to stream my video's from my desktop and came across this ----file:///c:/ ---- and worked great but no sound. i never give up so what i found out for myself it is much simpler than that and just make chrome browser your default player and there you have it just click play on what ever video you want to stream and you have good quality pic and sound. Thank you xda if someone else found this out then nevermind ijust wanted to give what little back that i could.
correction
thegovenor said:
so I have been using xda for some years now flashing roms and getting a lot of info from the good developers and other people like myself would like to say thanks and sorry if i am posting this info in the wrong place i normally stay quiet but since i got my chromecat i have been trying to stream my video's from my desktop and came across this ----file:///c:/ ---- and worked great but no sound. i never give up so what i found out for myself it is much simpler than that and just make chrome browser your default player and there you have it just click play on what ever video you want to stream and you have good quality pic and sound. Thank you xda if someone else found this out then nevermind ijust wanted to give what little back that i could.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most of my videos play sound but all videos play maybe if one of you talented dev could explain maybe its a certain codec or something if any one can find the answer to that please let me know thanks.
I successfully set up Plex Media Server on all of my computers. However, I cannot get ANY videos to play on Chrome regardless of format (tried mp4, avi, mkv). Whenever I try to play a video either thru Plex or thru the Chrome browser, all I get is a black box with the controls. Nothing plays.
I had that problem and from that screen I tried a shot in the dark and right clicked and clicked open video in new tab... And it started playing! Don't know why but it worked.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Is it possible to load costum subtitles in Chrome?
Saschwatch said:
I had that problem and from that screen I tried a shot in the dark and right clicked and clicked open video in new tab... And it started playing! Don't know why but it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work either!
Saschwatch said:
I had that problem and from that screen I tried a shot in the dark and right clicked and clicked open video in new tab... And it started playing! Don't know why but it worked.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just make chrome browser default video player then double click to play not right click and should play thats the same screen i get but movies playfor me.
pdl2mtl90 said:
I successfully set up Plex Media Server on all of my computers. However, I cannot get ANY videos to play on Chrome regardless of format (tried mp4, avi, mkv). Whenever I try to play a video either thru Plex or thru the Chrome browser, all I get is a black box with the controls. Nothing plays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Support is expected soon...
http://rootzwiki.com/news/plex-dial-chromecast-support-soon/
thegovenor said:
just make chrome browser default video player then double click to play not right click and should play thats the same screen i get but movies playfor me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that based on a suggestion I found during research but I am not offered that option, even when right clicking and choosing "Open with".
All the movies I try to play in the browser just start downloading.
Chrome doesn't support all video formats, check what all it supports and use those.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
thesparky007 said:
Chrome doesn't support all video formats, check what all it supports and use those.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive tried mkv, avi, rmvb.. all dl's =/
iandroo888 said:
ive tried mkv, avi, rmvb.. all dl's =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chrome only plays MP4 by default.
I have installed and tried using PLEX, but my videos always play choppy on the CC, is there a way I could directly send the URL to the CC? Ya know, make it play like YouTube or something...?
For those using Plex and having problem, I've been using SubSonic for a while and have no issues.
iandroo888 said:
ive tried mkv, avi, rmvb.. all dl's =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true that Chrome's built-in player only plays mp4 video files.
What you should do for other file types is install VLC, along with the VLC browser plugins. The VLC plugin for Mozilla/Chrome will play most video file types, but there are some issues:
1. You may have to disable other conflicting plugins like Quicktime, because it's darn near impossible to tell Chrome which plugin has priority to play a particular MIME type or file type. Type about: plugins into the Chrome address bar to access the plugins list.
2. Chrome insists on downloading avi files instead of playing them, so you have to trick it: rename the avi file as mpeg and let the VLC plugin automatically determine the correct file type from the header. You can rename it back to avi after you play it in Chrome.
3. There doesn't seem to be any way to select the correct audio track in files with multiple audio tracks, and it always seems to default to the wrong one in mkv files.
DJames1 said:
It's true that Chrome's built-in player only plays mp4 video files.
What you should do for other file types is install VLC, along with the VLC browser plugins. The VLC plugin for Mozilla/Chrome will play most video file types, but there are some issues:
1. You may have to disable other conflicting plugins like Quicktime, because it's darn near impossible to tell Chrome which plugin has priority to play a particular MIME type or file type. Type about: plugins into the Chrome address bar to access the plugins list.
2. Chrome insists on downloading avi files instead of playing them, so you have to trick it: rename the avi file as mpeg and let the VLC plugin automatically determine the correct file type from the header. You can rename it back to avi after you play it in Chrome.
3. There doesn't seem to be any way to select the correct audio track in files with multiple audio tracks, and it always seems to default to the wrong one in mkv files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chrome now appears to play mkv files although it will not cast them correctly.
DJames1 said:
It's true that Chrome's built-in player only plays mp4 video files.
What you should do for other file types is install VLC, along with the VLC browser plugins. The VLC plugin for Mozilla/Chrome will play most video file types, but there are some issues:
1. You may have to disable other conflicting plugins like Quicktime, because it's darn near impossible to tell Chrome which plugin has priority to play a particular MIME type or file type. Type about: plugins into the Chrome address bar to access the plugins list.
2. Chrome insists on downloading avi files instead of playing them, so you have to trick it: rename the avi file as mpeg and let the VLC plugin automatically determine the correct file type from the header. You can rename it back to avi after you play it in Chrome.
3. There doesn't seem to be any way to select the correct audio track in files with multiple audio tracks, and it always seems to default to the wrong one in mkv files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not see how to use the VLC Plugin for Chrome. I unisntalled VLC and installed 2.1.0 and then after I did that I see no option for VLC Plugins in Chrome or a way to export videos from VLC to Chrome. Can you please explain how this plugin works with regards to using it with chromecast?
When you install VLC, you have the option to also install the browser plugins. Chrome shares the Mozilla plugin. After installation, you will find the VLC plugin in the list of Chrome plugins (enter About: plugins on the address bar). It's enabled by default, and you can expand the details to see what MIME types it supports. However you may see other plugins in the list which are also enabled and also support the same MIME types (e.g., Quicktime), and there's no way to control which one has precedence other than to disable one of them.
Streaming from Tablet
With Chromecast would I be able to steam a Note 10.1(2014) tablet wirelessly to my TV...thanks
DJames1 said:
When you install VLC, you have the option to also install the browser plugins. Chrome shares the Mozilla plugin. After installation, you will find the VLC plugin in the list of Chrome plugins (enter About: plugins on the address bar). It's enabled by default, and you can expand the details to see what MIME types it supports. However you may see other plugins in the list which are also enabled and also support the same MIME types (e.g., Quicktime), and there's no way to control which one has precedence other than to disable one of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have re installed Chrome and VLC player, and the VLC plugin does not show up in Chrome when I go to aboutlugins. I do not know why, I definitely installed the Mozilla plugin.

Chromecast playing MKV through browser with sound

I thought MKV wouldn't cast with sound?
I am playing MKV through a chromecast tab and casting it with sound, maybe I got a lucky file?
Or maybe because I installed the DivX Plugin from Here
MadBob said:
I thought MKV wouldn't cast with sound?
I am playing MKV through a chromecast tab and casting it with sound, maybe I got a lucky file?
Or maybe because I installed the DivX Web Plugin from here
your link isn't working
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed
How did you fix it? I get the same symptom with the VLC plugin. Is it better with the DivX plugin? More importantly, can you select audio tracks with the DivX plugin?
DJames1 said:
How did you fix it? I get the same symptom with the VLC plugin. Is it better with the DivX plugin? More importantly, can you select audio tracks with the DivX plugin?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no idea what symptom you are talking about, i fixed the link in my first post to point at the correct url :cyclops:
Ok
I was talking about the no-sound symptom.
Well, I tried installing the DivX plugin and disabling the VLC plugin. Doesn't do me any good, I still get no sound.
But here's something I don't understand: if I disable both and VLC plugin and the DivX plugin (and the Quicktime plugin, and any other plugin that lists video MIME/file types), the mkv file still plays in a player window that looks exactly the same. Chrome's plugin infrastructure seems very poorly implemented and very poorly documented - it's hard to control which plugin plays a file or even to tell which plugin is responsible for playing it. I was able to get mpeg files (and other video files masquerading as mpeg) to play by disabling the Quicktime plugin, but now I'm not sure if the VLC plugin or DivX plugins are doing anything.
I have neither plugin but now Chrome will play an mkv file whereas before ( earlier vs of Chrome? ) it would only download it. However, it will not cast, only a black screen appears on the TV. Time to experiment I guess.
EDIT: That plugin changes your default search engine to "Conduit" and you cannot unselect that choice. I hope I can deselect it through normal procedure. I don't like it though.
EDIT: No joy, just a grey screen.
I've always been able to play mkv. The only files I can play are mkv and some mp4. Nothing else.
I can't play mkv's with sound, very strange some people can and some can't.
I installed plex media server fixed the no sound with mkvs
Sent from my C6903 using xda app-developers app
Using this workaround until they release android Plex player for non PlexPass...
Code:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-chromecast/307019-how-cast-mkv-files-your-chromecast.html#post3360771
It'll play MKV's and the sound depends on the encoding of the audio. The audio needs to be AAC, it'll even work with AAC 5.1. However, if you try to play a mkv with DTS or AC3 audio, you'll only get video as the audio will not decode. It's actually pretty easy/quick to convert audio only to AAC and leave the video untouched or you can just use plex which will transcode automatically.
unr said:
It'll play MKV's and the sound depends on the encoding of the audio. The audio needs to be AAC, it'll even work with AAC 5.1. However, if you try to play a mkv with DTS or AC3 audio, you'll only get video as the audio will not decode. It's actually pretty easy/quick to convert audio only to AAC and leave the video untouched or you can just use plex which will transcode automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surround in Plex is a little sketchy right now they are working on the transcoder as it currently (for some content) is not passing Rear Channel though the Transcoder or CCast. Plex Devs know about it and are working on it.
You should have no issues if your content is MP4/H264/AAC. Chromecast can play these files without transcoding so if you have issues streaming these types it is most likely a Network issue not an encoding problem.
Doesn't work for me. Installed the DivX-Plugin, but Chrome will still try to download the MKV instead of playing it.
i know a software called idealshare vdieogo in one post of the forum.
it can easily helps me to convert all kinds video like mkv, avi, mp4, mov, flv and etc to chromecast supported format.
then i can easily stream the converted local video from computer to chromecast for play on tv by the following way:
Install Google Chrome Cast Extension
Open chrome or a new tab, and then connect your chrome browser to Chromecast
Drag and drop the video/audio file you want to play into the Chrome browser
Click the browser extension and select "Cast this tab", t
catexecutive said:
Doesn't work for me. Installed the DivX-Plugin, but Chrome will still try to download the MKV instead of playing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best bet is to download Handbrake and do a batch convert. It's free and open source and available for windows, Linux, and osx
mabuis said:
Best bet is to download Handbrake and do a batch convert. It's free and open source and available for windows, Linux, and osx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So let's say I have an mkv that doesn't have aac, per your experience, what's the size change on one? i.e. from 7gb <-> 9gb
m4f1050 said:
So let's say I have an mkv that doesn't have aac, per your experience, what's the size change on one? i.e. from 7gb <-> 9gb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Provided you don't increase the Bitrate it should not increase in size by much.
Asphyx said:
Provided you don't increase the Bitrate it should not increase in size by much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was afraid you were going to say that. Does the batch section of Handbrake let you pick to transcode in same bitrate audio? I haven't installed it so if I can't then I won't bother to even download it. Thanks for your help!
m4f1050 said:
So let's say I have an mkv that doesn't have aac, per your experience, what's the size change on one? i.e. from 7gb <-> 9gb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't even tell you right now. I've been using BubbleUpnp and steam from my media server to my chromecast with my phone. Haven't had to convert a file in ages. Sorry. If you want, I'll run some samples for you and post the results. What are you looking for exactly?

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