• General
  • Do I understand correctly Miracast is not supported by GOS?

I couldn't spot any mention of Miracast on the site, and it's mentioned only twice here but not in a way I'm interested in.

So, Do I understand correctly Miracast is not supported by GOS?
If so, are there any other wireless display solutions for GOS apart from ChromeCast that is a no-go for me as it requires the CC dongle to be connected to a wifi network.
I'm using Miracast currently as a dumb no-wifi display device without connecting MS dongle to wifi which is great from privacy point of view.
Thank you.

    Some users reported that the Miracast app only works on older Android, newer needs Chromecast?

    This would be quite an issue.

      mmobder fre years ago I've dumped all my CC devices (ultra's, ccwgtv, ...) in favor of Miracast, as CC required wifi (it's guest mode doesn't work properly) and internet connection to work and is PitA to setup while traveling. Miracast is heaven better. Getting rid of CC allowed me to forget about complicated setup of my mikrotik router (mdns server to allow casting from another virtual wifi, etc). Not coming back...

      mmobder please just understand this fundamental principle:

      If you run something, no matter how invasive. And you cut off all it's ways to communicate with the internet. And you only connect trusted devices, like a GrapheneOS phone, to it, where you know that those will also not phone home any data. Then that thing it private.

      I do the same with a Xiaomi Mi Band 8 and Gadgetbridge, it works great and is fully, 100% private (after the initial setup, with no personal data, over a VPN)

      mmobder You can use DisplayPort alternate mode on the Pixel 8 and later. There's no Miracast support in AOSP anymore and the removed legacy code was very outdated with major unaddressed security issues. The security issues were a major factor in it being removed from AOSP and from Pixels, since it wasn't being actively developed or maintained anymore.

        15 days later

        So I have a Google 6 Pro, and before I spend the money in buying a Miracast device, am I to understand that it would be a waste of time as it would be incompatible with the Google 6 Pro? I am looking for options in connecting my phone to a non-smart TV that does not come with a built-in connection.

          Hepativore I think the last message makes it clear that it is no longer supported on GrapheneOS as it is no longer supported in AOSP due to security issues. Looks like it won't be supported on stock Pixel OS either, or most new Android devices in that case.

          Have you thought of getting something like the Google TV Streamer to essentially make your TV into a smart TV? It might not be too private but it is on Android 14 I believe and is still getting security updates.

            roamer4223

            But does it have the same problem that most Google mobile accessories do in that you need a Google account and Google Play Services on your phone to connect it, otherwise it will refuse to link to your device like you see with Chromecast?

              Hepativore I'm not 100% sure to be honest. I didn't mean to connect your phone to it. You can install Android apps on the TV streamer itself. I haven't needed to connect my phone so I'm not sure

              So it is clear that Google doesnt care about Miracast, which is a shame as desktop OS support it very well. But Google makes Chromecast so this is an obvious step.

              I was reading about Miracast on Wikipedia and this article, "Top 5 Miracast App for Android" was one of the references.

              I have only skimmed through and have not tested any of the apps so this is definitely not a recommendation, but thought I would link it here in case it ends up being useful

              GrapheneOS

              So is DisplayPort a cable or a screencasting device? Is "alternate mode" an option you can select on it?

              If I may ask, can you post a link as an example of what it is so I know what to buy for my Pixel 6 Pro?

                Displayport mode is basically connecting your phone to a screen or a projector with an USB c to displayport cable.
                I just tested it, connectivity is very straightforward and it kinda works, but for some reason the output has a resolution so low you can't even read text on screen.

                I can reproduce the issue and test multiple screen, if someone is interested solving that.

                  Hepativore If I may ask, can you post a link as an example of what it is so I know what to buy for my Pixel 6 Pro?

                  DisplayPort alt mode requires an 8 or later, see the post before yours (GrapheneOS).

                  7 days later

                  GrapheneOS The security issues were a major factor in it being removed from AOSP and from Pixels, since it wasn't being actively developed or maintained anymore.

                  Based on a fact that Samsung relies heavily on Miracast for their premium Galaxy S series for Samsung DeX wireless (not speaking of Microsoft itself), I assume it's more of a business decision from Google to force everyone to use Chromecast and not the security issues in the 1st place.
                  Samsung handles it via their closed-source Quick Share app (not available via google play from what I recall).

                  It's hard to trust google's closed-source non-configurable device (Chromecast) to handle privacy.

                  Anyway, thank you for re-confirming it!

                  • de0u replied to this.

                    Hepativore So is DisplayPort a cable or a screencasting device?

                    DisplayPort is a communications protocol used to connect a monitor to a computer. One you're probably more familiar with is HDMI. DP is better than HDMI in that you can daisychain multiple monitors to a single port. You can also use an active converter to generate an HDMI signal from a DP.

                    So;

                    DP source --> Monitor1 --> Monitor2 --> ... --> MonitorN

                    USB-C alternate mode can carry a DisplayPort signal, if it happens to be wired up to the USB-C port. This is why not all phones can drive DisplayPort. The SoC has to HAVE DisplayPort, and it has to be physically wired up to the USB-C port.

                    • hnn8 replied to this.

                      mmobder Based on a fact that Samsung relies heavily on Miracast for their premium Galaxy S series for Samsung DeX wireless (not speaking of Microsoft itself), I assume it's more of a business decision from Google to force everyone to use Chromecast and not the security issues in the 1st place.

                      If Samsung uses their own proprietary code to talk to Miracast devices, that might indicate that indeed something was wrong with the code that Google deleted from AOSP.