This page explains how to connect phone to TV after checking what the television and phone support. Use Google Cast or AirPlay when you want to send a video to a compatible smart TV. Use screen mirroring when the entire phone display must appear on the television. Choose HDMI when WiFi is unavailable or the TV has no compatible wireless receiver.
Choose the connection that matches your equipment
- Google Cast: Best for streaming from compatible Android and iPhone apps to Chromecast, Google TV, or a TV with Google Cast.
- AirPlay: Best for an iPhone and Apple TV or an AirPlay-compatible smart TV.
- Screen mirroring: Displays the complete phone screen, including menus, photos, presentations, and supported apps.
- HDMI adapter: Provides a direct cable connection when the phone supports video output.
- Streaming device: Adds Google Cast, AirPlay, Miracast, or a manufacturer-specific feature to an older TV.
Casting and mirroring are not identical. Casting sends selected media to the TV, so you can often use the phone for other tasks while the video plays. Mirroring copies everything shown on the phone and can reveal notifications or private information on the television.
Connect with Google Cast
Google Cast works with Android phones and iPhones when the app, phone, and receiving device support it. The receiver may be a Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, Google TV, or a television with Google Cast built in.
- Connect the phone and TV or streaming device to the same WiFi network.
- Open a Google Cast-enabled app such as YouTube.
- Tap the Cast button inside the app.
- Select the TV or streaming device.
- Start the video, music, or other supported media.
The Cast button becomes solid when the connection is active. To disconnect, tap it again and choose the option to stop casting or disconnect.
On an iPhone, allow Local Network access when the app requests it. Without that permission, the app may not discover a Google Cast device on the same network.
Google’s current Google Cast instructions confirm that the phone and receiving device normally need to share the same WiFi network.
Mirror an Android phone to a smart TV
Android manufacturers use several names for wireless screen mirroring, including Cast, Screen Cast, Smart View, Wireless Display, and Screen Mirroring. Availability depends on the phone and the protocol supported by the television.
- Connect the phone and TV to the same WiFi network.
- Enable screen mirroring or wireless display mode on the TV if required.
- Swipe down from the top of the phone to open Quick Settings.
- Tap the casting or mirroring control.
- Select the TV and approve the connection request.
A Samsung Galaxy phone normally uses Smart View. Swipe down twice to expand Quick Settings, tap Smart View, select the television, and follow the prompts. A TV that supports Google Cast but not Samsung’s mirroring protocol may still work from Cast-enabled apps even when it does not appear in Smart View.
If the phone repeatedly switches networks or drops the connection, use phone keeps disconnecting from WiFi before resetting the television.
Cast the Android screen through Google Home
The Google Home app can mirror the full screen of a compatible Android phone to a Chromecast or supported Google streaming device. Use this when an app does not provide its own Cast button and the content permits mirroring.
- Open Google Home.
- Select the compatible TV, Chromecast, or streaming device.
- Tap Cast my screen.
- Confirm the screen-casting prompt.
Stop mirroring from Google Home or the casting notification when finished. Some protected video services block full-screen mirroring even though their own in-app Cast button works. In that case, cast from the streaming app instead.
Connect an iPhone with AirPlay
AirPlay sends video or mirrors an iPhone to an Apple TV, an AirPlay-compatible smart TV, or another supported receiver.
Stream a video
- Connect the iPhone and AirPlay device to the same WiFi network.
- Open the video or photo you want to show.
- Tap the AirPlay button. In some apps, open Share first.
- Select the television or Apple TV.
Mirror the whole iPhone screen
- Open Control Center.
- Tap Screen Mirroring.
- Select the television or Apple TV.
- Enter the AirPlay passcode shown on the TV if requested.
To disconnect, return to Control Center, open Screen Mirroring, and tap Stop Mirroring. Apple’s current AirPlay instructions note that some video apps do not support AirPlay, even when ordinary screen mirroring works with the television.
Connect with an HDMI adapter
A wired connection avoids wireless discovery problems, but the phone must support video output through its port. A USB-C connector alone does not guarantee HDMI output.
For a compatible Android phone, use a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter or hub. For an iPhone, use the video adapter designed for its connector and model. You will also need an HDMI cable and an available HDMI input on the TV.
- Connect the video adapter to the phone.
- Connect the HDMI cable to the adapter and television.
- Change the TV source to the matching HDMI input.
- Unlock the phone and wait for the display to appear.
If the television reports no signal, confirm that the phone supports wired display output, try another HDMI input, and test the HDMI cable with another device. Charge the adapter if it has a separate power input. A basic USB charging cable connected to the TV normally transfers power or files rather than mirroring the phone screen.
Add a streaming device to an older TV
An older television can gain wireless features through an HDMI streaming device. Chromecast and Google TV devices support Google Cast. Apple TV supports AirPlay. Roku, Fire TV, and other products offer different combinations of app casting and mirroring depending on the model and phone.
Connect the streaming device to HDMI, complete its setup, and place it on the same WiFi network as the phone. Then use the compatible Cast, AirPlay, or mirroring option rather than expecting every phone to work with every receiver protocol.
Connect without internet access
HDMI is the most dependable option when no WiFi network is available. Some wireless systems can work over a local connection without internet access, but setup requirements vary. Google Cast apps may still need internet access to load and stream online media even when the phone can discover the receiver locally.
A phone hotspot is not always a simple substitute because the phone providing the hotspot may not be able to join that same network as a casting client. A second phone or travel router can create a shared network, but HDMI is usually easier for offline video.
When the phone cannot find the TV
- Confirm that the TV supports the method you selected.
- Place both devices on the same WiFi network and avoid an isolated guest network.
- Turn off mobile data temporarily if the phone keeps switching away from WiFi.
- Restart the phone, TV, and streaming device.
- Update the phone, television firmware, streaming app, and receiver software.
- Enable casting, AirPlay, or screen mirroring in the TV settings if it is disabled.
- Move the devices closer to the router and retry.
If the devices show a WiFi connection but online videos still fail, follow WiFi connected but no internet on Android. When you cannot remember the network password needed for the TV, find the saved WiFi password on Android without changing the router.
A TV that appears in one app but not another is usually not a general network failure. The second app may not support the same casting system or may block external playback. Try the app’s own TV version or use a permitted connection method.
Reduce lag and protect private information
For smoother mirroring, move closer to the router, pause large downloads, close demanding phone apps, and prefer 5 GHz or 6 GHz WiFi when both devices support it at short range. HDMI remains the better choice for games or presentations where delay is disruptive.
Remember that mirroring can display notifications, messages, and account information. Turn on Do Not Disturb before a presentation, avoid entering passwords while the phone is mirrored, and disconnect from shared or hotel televisions when finished.
The simplest reliable choice is app casting for video, AirPlay for compatible Apple equipment, full-screen mirroring for demonstrations, and HDMI when wireless compatibility or network quality is uncertain.
