Casting from Win 11 PC on Guest network to Sony TV on main network fails

Question

Casting from Win 11 PC on Guest network to Sony TV on main network fails

VBA SLVS 0

Windows 11 PC running Chrome browser connected to a Google WiFi guest network connects to Sony TV on main network when casting screen, but no video is displayed on the TV.

Works perfectly for a Chromebook or a Cellphone connected to the WiFi guest network, but not on Windows PC.

Google WiFi guest network is configured to allow devices attached to the guest network to cast to the Sony TV which is why it functions for the Chromebook and the Cellphone.

Windows Firewall settings are set to permit "Cast to device functionality" and "Google Chrome".

Need to know what else needs to be configured to allow this functionality to work.

3 answers

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Answer 1

Lychee-Ng 15,480 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi VBA SLVS,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand the frustration, especially since this works on the main network and from other devices. Based on everything you’ve confirmed, this might be a by-design behavior. Here is what likely happening with your setup:

The Google Wi-Fi guest network correctly allows device discovery, hence the Sony TV is found.
However, Windows 11 blocks the required media transport when the network is classified as Guest / Public / isolated
Windows allows the initial control handshake but suppresses the UDP media stream, resulting in what you experienced.
Chromebook and Android do not enforce this restriction, so they still work in the guest‑network scenario.

Windows does not support Chrome screen casting across guest‑to‑main networks. This is a Windows networking security behavior, not a Wi-Fi configuration problem. The only supported workarounds are:

Connect the Windows PC to the main Wi‑Fi network
Use a wired Ethernet connection on the PC
Cast only from Chromebook / Android devices
Use an HDMI cable from the PC to the TV

Sorry for not able to give you the direct setup you wanted. If the goal is full screen Chrome casting from a Windows 11 PC, the PC must be on the same (non‑guest) network as your Sony TV.

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VBA SLVS 0 Reputation points

2026-02-24T01:46:14.26+00:00
Thank you for the response; however, it just confirms that Microsoft is arbitrarily restricting functionality. The guest WiFi network on the PC is configured as Private, not Public.

With regard to your suggested solutions:

Connect the Windows PC to the main Wi‑Fi network

This does not fit with the desired use case. The network is installed in our community rec centre. We want our residents to use the guest network for wireless access so that they do not have direct access to all the resources on the main network - only those that are exposed to devices on the guest network, i.e. the TVs for display purposes and for access to the Internet.

Use a wired Ethernet connection on the PC

This would be equivalent to connecting the PC to the main network which is contrary to our desired use case and would be impractical physically given where the TVs are located.

Cast only from Chromebook / Android devices

This implies we should suggest to our residents to discard their notebook PCs and purchase Chromebooks - this probably would be met with an unfavourable reaction.

Use an HDMI cable from the PC to the TV

We do have this option, but it is problematic. Not all notebook PCs have an HDMI interface. As a result we have also had to provision a USB to HDMI adapter with the HDMI cable to accommodate this situation. Periodically these adapters grow legs and wander away.

The Windows 11 Firewall has an option to enable "Cast to device functionality" that can be set for Private and Public network environments. But this does not work and should be fixed or a new option should be created to allow the user to get equivalent functionality to Chromebooks and Phones/Tablets.
Lychee-Ng 15,480 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-24T07:18:06.5466667+00:00
I understand the frustration, and you’re not wrong. As of current, Windows “Cast to device” uses Miracast and network discovery protocols (mDNS / SSDP / WSD) that require Layer‑2 visibility between the sender and the receiver.

Your guest Wi‑Fi uses client/network isolation (by design). Android and ChromeOS use controller‑assisted casting, while Windows relies on peer‑to‑peer discovery, which fails on isolated networks. That’s why changing the network settings does nothing.

There is no supported way today to make Windows 11 PCs cast to Miracast TVs reliably from an isolated guest Wi‑Fi while keeping network separation intact. Since this is just a public peer-to-peer platform, I recommend submit feedback:

Press Win + F or visit the official Feedback Hub

Request guest‑network‑safe casting in Windows

I know this isn’t quite the "solution" you were hoping for, but moderators, contributors, including external Microsoft staff here on Q&A cannot directly intervene in product features or access back-end systems. Given the limitations, the most appropriate avenue for your requests is the official Microsoft feedback channels.

Answer 2

With regard to the suggested solution:

Network Isolation: The Google WiFi guest network allows communication between devices on the guest network and specific devices on the main network as evidenced by the fact that it works properly with a Chromebook or an Android phone.
Firewall Settings: These were checked and there are no obvious items not enabled that would cause this issue.
Update Drivers: This was done and the network driver was updated but made no difference.
Network Discovery: This is enabled on the Windows 11 PC
Use Miracast: Miracast is not available on the Sony TV.
Check for Updates: The PC is fully updated.

There is no compatibility issue regarding casting from the PC to the TV as it works when they are both connected to the main network. It just doesn't work when the PC is connected to the guest network. In this instance, the PC connects to the TV as the evidenced by the fact the TV screen goes black. But no video image is sent from the PC to the TV. As soon as the PC stops the casting, the TV screen image reverts to what it was doing previously.

Answer 3

To troubleshoot the issue of casting from your Windows 11 PC to the Sony TV on a different network, consider the following steps:

Network Isolation: Ensure that the guest network settings on your Google WiFi allow communication between devices on the guest network and the main network. Sometimes, guest networks are configured to isolate devices from each other, which may affect casting.
Firewall Settings: Although you mentioned that the Windows Firewall settings permit "Cast to device functionality" and "Google Chrome," double-check if there are any additional rules or settings that might be blocking the casting process. You may also want to temporarily disable the firewall to see if that resolves the issue.
Update Drivers: Ensure that your network adapter drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause connectivity issues.
Network Discovery: Make sure that Network Discovery is enabled on your Windows 11 PC. This setting allows your PC to find other devices on the network.
Use Miracast: If your Sony TV supports Miracast, you can try using it directly from Windows 11 instead of relying on Google Chrome. Go to Settings > System > Display > Connect to a wireless display and see if your TV appears there.
Check for Updates: Ensure that both your Windows 11 and Google Chrome are updated to the latest versions, as updates may contain fixes for casting issues.

If the issue persists after trying these steps, consider checking for specific compatibility issues between the Windows 11 PC and the Sony TV, as there may be unique settings or requirements for casting that differ from other devices like Chromebooks or cellphones.

References:

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Casting from Win 11 PC on Guest network to Sony TV on main network fails

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