Casting across different Wi-Fi networks works only when the platform and network arrangement support communication between the controller and receiver. Two devices having internet access is insufficient. Check whether the names represent separate routed or isolated LANs, or simply different bands on one LAN. Use the documented supported arrangement for trusted devices and ask the administrator about managed networks. Do not assume that renaming two separate networks identically will join them or that internet port forwarding is the correct way to bridge local discovery traffic.
Determine what different names mean
A main and guest SSID usually represent different access policies, while separate band names may still connect to one LAN. Router and extender modes can add another boundary. Inspect the actual configuration rather than inferring topology solely from names or signal strength. Check the receiver and phone current networks, including a temporary hotspot left saved from earlier testing. A controller on mobile data and a receiver on home Wi-Fi may not support the same local discovery workflow used when both devices are inside one network.
Test local reachability separately
Try playback directly with the receiver remote, then refresh the controller list. If direct playback works, keep the focus on discovery, permissions and boundaries. Follow the casting platform guidance for required local access. A routed network can deliberately limit multicast even when ordinary unicast traffic passes, so a successful browser visit does not establish discovery compatibility. On a managed installation, use an approved casting solution rather than enabling broad forwarding or changing VLAN rules without understanding the network design and authority to alter it.
Move trusted devices to a supported arrangement
If you administer the home network, place the controller and receiver on the supported private LAN and recheck app permissions. Keep guest isolation for untrusted clients where intended. Reopen discovery after reconnecting, since cached lists may not update immediately. If the receiver appears but playback fails, record the new media error separately. Changing the local network can resolve discovery without addressing account access, source availability or format support, so evaluate each stage instead of treating the receiver name appearing as the whole task completed successfully.
A practical sequence
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An example to work through
For example, a phone on the main LAN may not see a receiver attached to an isolated extender router even though both browse online. Reconfiguring the extender into a supported access-point topology can address that separation. Merely giving both wireless networks the same name does not create the required local communication path.
Questions about this topic
Must both devices use the same frequency band?
Not necessarily. The supported LAN arrangement matters more than the band label.
Does a shared network name prove a shared LAN?
No. Check the actual topology and isolation policy.