How to Play a Google Photos Slideshow on Your TV
Share your favorite memories on the big screen. Use Chromecast or a smart TV to cast a Google Photos slideshow — no cables needed, just your phone and Wi-Fi.
3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Make Sure Your TV Supports Casting
Check if your TV has a Chromecast built in (most TVs sold after 2020 do) or if you have a Chromecast device plugged into the HDMI port. Switch your TV to the Chromecast input if needed. Make sure your TV and phone are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip: You can check if your TV supports Google Cast by looking for "Built-in Chromecast" or "Google TV" in the TV's specs, or by looking for a Cast icon in the TV's settings.
Step 2. Open Google Photos and Choose an Album
Open the Google Photos app on your phone. Tap "Albums" at the bottom to find a specific collection, or stay on "Photos" to use your full library. You can also search for a specific time period (like "summer 2024") using the search icon.
Step 3. Tap the Cast Icon
Once you are viewing photos you want to cast, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the app. Look for "Cast" or the Cast icon (a rectangle with a Wi-Fi-like symbol in the corner). Tap it. A list of available TVs and devices on your network appears.
Step 4. Select Your TV and Start the Slideshow
Tap your TV's name from the list. Google Photos connects to the TV — this takes about 5 seconds. Your TV displays a Google Photos background. Now open any photo in the app and it appears on the TV. To start a slideshow, open a photo, tap the three-dot menu (⋮), and choose "Slideshow."
Step 5. Control the Slideshow
Use your phone to control what shows on the TV. Tap the left and right arrows to move manually between photos. The slideshow advances automatically every few seconds. To stop casting, tap the Cast icon again and choose "Disconnect." Your TV returns to normal.
Google Photos lets you play a slideshow of your pictures and videos on your TV — a wonderful way to share vacation photos, family moments, or a photo tribute at a gathering. All you need is a phone with Google Photos and a TV that supports Google Cast (most new TVs do, and Chromecast devices add this ability to older TVs).
The process works through a feature called casting. Your phone stays as the "remote control" while your TV displays the photos. Both your phone and TV need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.
If you have a Google Nest Hub display, it can show Google Photos slideshows automatically. It is one of that device's main features. For regular TVs, you use a Chromecast dongle ($30–$50) or a TV with Chromecast built in.
You can cast an individual album, a search result (like "photos from 2022"), or the special "Memories" collection that Google automatically assembles from your photos. You can also adjust the slideshow speed and whether captions show the date or location.
Once you set it up once, casting photos to your TV becomes something you can do in about 10 seconds.
Official sources
- Google Help Center — support.google.com
- Android Help — support.google.com
- Google Account help — support.google.com
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