How to Connect Your Phone to a TV

Step by step

1. 1

   Check what your TV supports

   Find out whether the TV has built-in Chromecast or Google TV (for Android), AirPlay 2 support (for iPhone), or just a free HDMI port. Newer smart TVs have casting as standard. An older TV without these features can be connected through a streaming box plugged into HDMI.

2. 2

   Put the phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network

   Casting and AirPlay only work when the phone and the TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Check the network name on both devices - it is easy to mix up the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands if your router broadcasts them under different names. This is the most common reason a phone cannot see the TV.

3. 3

   Start sharing your screen

   On Android, tap the Cast icon in an app such as YouTube or Netflix, or turn on Screen cast from the notification shade or the Google Home app. On an iPhone, open Control Center, choose Screen Mirroring, then pick your TV or Apple TV.

4. 4

   Use a cable if you prefer a wired connection

   A cable gives you a reliable, lag-free picture, good for gaming and presentations. You need a USB-C to HDMI adapter (Android), but it only works if the phone supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. An iPhone with USB-C (15 and newer) uses a USB-C to HDMI adapter, and older Lightning models need the Apple Lightning Digital AV adapter.

Wireless: Cast, AirPlay, Miracast

Google Cast is the simplest route for Android. If the TV has Chromecast built in or a Chromecast dongle attached, apps with the Cast icon send video straight to the screen while your phone stays free for other things. To mirror the whole screen, use the Screen cast option in settings or in Google Home.

AirPlay is the equivalent for iPhone and iPad. It works with Apple TV and TVs certified for AirPlay 2 - you send picture and sound from Control Center via Screen Mirroring. The hardware must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.

Miracast is wireless screen mirroring built into many Android phones, often under the name Smart View (Samsung), Cast, or Wireless display. It links the phone directly to the TV, with no app needed. Not every TV supports it, so check whether the option appears in your TV's settings.

HDMI cables and the USB-C trap

A cable gives the most stable picture, but there is a catch. A USB-C port on the phone alone is not enough - the phone must support video output via DisplayPort Alt Mode. Mostly higher-end models have it, for example the Samsung Galaxy S series, while many cheaper phones do not, and then a USB-C to HDMI adapter simply shows no picture.

iPhones with USB-C, meaning 15 and newer, output video through a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Older iPhones with a Lightning port need the original Apple Lightning Digital AV adapter - cheap knockoffs are often unreliable. Plug a charger into the adapter's extra port too, so the phone does not die during a long movie night.

A TV without smart features

You can hook up a regular TV with nothing but HDMI too. The cheapest wireless route is a streaming box: a Chromecast with Google TV, an Apple TV, or an Android TV device plugged into HDMI - it turns an old TV into a target for casting and AirPlay. Pick the box that matches your phone.

The second option is a cable with an adapter straight into the HDMI port - no Wi-Fi and no box needed, as long as the phone supports video output. After connecting, switch the TV to the right HDMI input with the remote, using the Source or Input button.

Frequently asked questions