Showbox is a controversial Android app that allows users to stream free movies and TV shows over the web. While piracy laws vary per region, Showbox gained massive popularity among movie fans for easy access to the latest releases, including blockbuster movies and indie films. Showbox is a great app for people who are willing to skirt the line of legality for great entertainment.
While the technology behind Showbox has improved greatly since its release, there are still some limitations to streaming on a larger screen. The biggest issue is that video content is restricted to your smartphone, and that can ruin the entire viewing experience.
Thankfully, there is a workaround that can save movie night – you can use a Chromecast device to stream Showbox to your TV. After setting up your Chromecast device on a smart TV, download Showbox, GrowBox, and a casting app to successfully stream free movies and TV shows on your TV.
Since Showbox isn’t strictly legal, use the app and the following instructions at your own risk. Applying a VPN to your smartphone or home network can provide some level of security for your browsing.
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What is Showbox?
Showbox is a free android app that allows users to stream and download the latest movies and TV shows without any subscriptions or fees.
With that said, piracy laws vary per region, and for most of our readers in the United States, you should know that Showbox is illegal.
It’s important to note the following section on legality before you proceed with our guide.
Showbox Legality Issues
Most internet service providers in the US monitor their bandwidth for illegal activities, but most users do get away undetected. However, some reports show that Showbox seems to be easily detected compared to other torrent services.
Showbox is definitely a useful platform for easy and free entertainment, but it’s hard to advocate the service with all the repercussions tied to it. If you do decide to use Showbox, keep in mind that you can get in trouble with your ISP or the Motion Picture Association, an organization responsible for suing users for pirated content.
The best way to safeguard your connection from monitoring is to get a VPN subscription. Applying VPN on your smartphone may not be enough to protect your bandwidth when using Chrome and Smartbox. With that, it may be best to add a VPN to your entire home network to automatically protect the streaming of all content.
Before you Begin: Install Showbox
This guide assumes you already have Showbox installed on your device. If you want to cast from a chromebook, that can be difficult as it is not on the google play store. Follow our guide on how to Install Showbox APK on your Chromebook and then you are ready to begin.
How to Chromecast Showbox to your TV
Showbox doesn’t have a built-in function to cast content to your TV.
The workaround to Chromecast Switchbox to your TV does require quite a few steps to complete. After setting up the Chromecast device on your TV, you will need to download Growbox and a casting app to cast video content.
Step 1: Set up Chromecast on your TV
Before anything else, you need to have a Chromecast device and a Chromecast-compatible smart TV. We recommend the latest models of Chromecast, either Chromecast with Google TV or Chromecast Ultra, to avoid any support issues. As for the smart TV, any television set with an HDMI port is compatible with Chromecast.
Here’s how to set up Chromecast on your TV and Android device:
- Connect the Chromecast device to the HDMI port of your TV. Make sure to plug in the Chromecast device into a power outlet.
- Turn on your TV and press the source or input button on your remote. Select the port where the Chromecast device is connected.
- To connect your Android smartphone with Chromecast, you need to connect your TV to the same WiFi network that your Android device is connected to. Keep in mind that the Chromecast with Google TV supports 2.4G and 5G WiFi frequency, while Chromecast Ultra only supports 5G WiFi frequency.
Step 2: Download Showbox, Growbox, and Allcast
As we’ve said, the workaround to casting Showbox to a larger display is to use an external media player (Growbox) and a casting app (Allcast).
Instead of using MXPlayer to stream Showbox content, the Growbox app has a cast function that allows users to Chromecast to a TV. Using an external media player is only available on the latest updated version of the Showbox app.
Meanwhile, the screencast app is the program that will send the content to a Chromecast-enabled TV.
Here’s how to set up the necessary apps on your Android:
- Enable the installation of applications from unknown sources.
- Download Showbox. Under app settings, select “Other Player” as the default player. This will prompt Android to confirm the media player when you stream on Showbox.
- Download GrowBox.
- Download a casting app, like Cast to TV, LocalCast, or AllCast from the Google Play Store.
- Uninstall MX Player from your Applications.
Step 3: Stream Showbox to Chromecast
Before proceeding with these steps, make sure that you’ve successfully:
- setup Chromecast on your TV
- downloaded all three mobile apps
- Connected your TV and Android device to the same WiFi network
Here are the steps to screencast Showbox with an external media player and a screencasting app:
- Open the Showbox app and select the movie you want to play. Set the preferred resolution, subtitles, and server.
- Press the Watch Now button and choose Growbox as the external media player.
- Once Growbox launches, press the Menu button on the right-hand side of the screen.
- Navigate to Tools > Cast, then select the screencasting app you downloaded.
- The screencasting app will search for an available Chromecast. Select your Chromecast device. You can now watch Showbox on your TV.
Conclusion
Showbox doesn’t have a built-in function to stream movies and TV shows on a larger screen.
To stream Showbox to a TV using Chromecast, you need to download the latest version of Showbox that allows users to watch content on an external media player. A screencasting app will then allow users to cast videos from your Android app to streaming devices, like Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire.
Remember that Showbox content isn’t entirely legal, so make sure to stream with caution.