Apple TV for Android has quietly gained one of its most-requested features, arriving at a moment when rival streaming apps are moving in the opposite direction.
With the latest update, Android users can now cast shows and films from the Apple TV app directly to Google Cast–enabled TVs, bringing big-screen playback to a platform that launched without it earlier this year.
The update, now rolling out as part of Apple TV app version 2.2, adds a familiar Google Cast icon during playback. Tap it, select a compatible TV or display, and your content jumps to the big screen while controls remain on your phone. It’s a small change on paper, but one that significantly improves how usable Apple TV feels on Android.
Apple TV’s Android debut in February 2025 was notable for what it offered — access to acclaimed originals like Severance, Ted Lasso, Shrinking, and Pluribus — but also for what it lacked. Google Cast support was a glaring omission, especially for users accustomed to seamlessly throwing content onto a TV with a single tap. This update finally closes that gap.
It also lands at an interesting time. Netflix recently removed much of its Cast functionality on Android, a move that was rolled out quietly and hasn’t been especially popular with subscribers. Against that backdrop, Apple TV gaining Cast support feels less like a routine update and more like a subtle competitive win.
Beyond the living room, the feature is particularly useful for travel. Casting from your phone makes it easy to watch Apple TV in hotels or Airbnb rentals without logging into unfamiliar TVs or juggling remotes, a convenience Android users will immediately appreciate.
There are still limits. Apple isn’t bringing Google Cast to the iOS version of the Apple TV app, where AirPlay remains the default option. But for Android users, this update makes Apple TV feel far more complete, and perhaps more appealing to anyone frustrated by recent changes elsewhere.
It’s not a flashy upgrade, but it’s a smart, well-timed one, and a reminder that sometimes the most important features are the simplest.
