How To: Enable Chromecast's Screen Mirroring on Any Rooted Android Device Running KitKat

Arguably Chromecast's biggest feature since its launch, screen mirroring functionality started rolling out to select devices earlier this week, and in a word, it's awesome.

With minimal latency (lag), screen mirroring expanded the functionality of our $35 dongles to a great extent, allowing virtually anything on our devices to be seen our TVs, whether those apps had Chromecast support or not.

But for me, this new feature brought some mixed feelings. Don't get me wrong, I think the Chromecast was one of, if not the biggest device of 2013, but my main phone and tablet are the Samsung Galaxy S3 and 2012 Nexus 7—neither of which had support for this feature. Well, not officially.

XDA member r3pwn was in the same boat, and he did something about it. His application, aptly called Mirror Enabler, uses root to enable the Cast Screen feature through the official Chromecast app for Android.

What You'll Need

A rooted device running Android KitKat
Installation from "Unknown sources" enabled
r3pwn's Mirror Enabler app
The latest official Chromecast app

Step 1: Install Mirror Enabler

Hit the link above for Mirror Enabler directly from your device, then tap the "Download complete" notification to install the app.

How to Enable Chromecast's Screen Mirroring on Any Rooted Android Device Running KitKat

Step 2: Install SQLite

Because this app will make root-level database changes to your system, you'll also need to install SQLite Installer for Root from Google Play. You will be automatically prompted to install the app when you first run Mirror Enabler, so just follow the prompts.

Open the SQLite app, grant Superuser permission when prompted, hit the Install button, and hit Go on the screen that follows.

The app will automatically install SQL to your system.

Step 3: Enable Mirroring Support

Now, back in the Mirror Enabler app, just hit the button under Mirror Status.

Step 4: Mirror All the Things

You ready? Good. Open up the official Chromecast app, and you'll notice a new option on the side menu—Cast Screen.

Hit that button, select your Chromecast, and watch the magic happen.

From here, you can uninstall Mirror Enabler if you want, as the app has already done its job. We've tested this on quite a few devices, and they all work very well. Keep in mind that much of the lag, or lack of it, is dependent on the speed of your internet connection.

Let us know how mirroring is working for you in the comments below.

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13 Comments

Well.... Almost works.
"Google Play Service has stopped."

I'm using an older Samsung S3, freshly installed with Android 4.4.2 (the easy installer from Cyanogenmod.org)

Followed this guide "to the point", and I can start Chomecast, Select "Cast Screen" as instructed. Choose the ChromeCast device and then it first claims to connect. The TV-attached ChromeCast then actually switches on and does seem to react - and then the S3 Android just throws this "Google Play Service has stopped" message.

Now the phone will forever (or until reboot, whichever comes first) attempt to connect to the Chromecast device according to the notification dropdown-area. No matter where in the world I am...

So, not quite there yet?

Have you been able to update Google Play Services through the Play Store?

sqlite says finished downloading then says root unavailable..help please

What device do you have? Is it rooted?

SQLite Installer for Root says "Root Unavailable" too on Galaxy Tab 3

Help....

droid maxx...rooted?..im not familiar with any of this..

Well.... Almost works.
"Google Play Service has stopped."

I'm using samsung galaxy tab p6200, freshly installed with Android 4.4.2 (the easy installer from Cyanogenmod.org)

Now the phone will forever (or until reboot, whichever comes first) attempt to connect to the Chromecast device according to the notification dropdown-area. No matter where in the world I am...

So, not quite there yet? please respond....