To connect phone to smart TV, you can use wireless screen mirroring or a wired HDMI cable, depending on your device and preference. The most common wireless methods are Apple AirPlay for iPhones and Google Cast or Samsung Smart View for Android phones, all of which require both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network.
How to connect your phone to a smart TV wirelessly
The two most common wireless methods are organized by phone type. For iPhones, use AirPlay screen mirroring. For Android phones, use Cast (also called Screen Mirroring or Miracast) or Samsung Smart View. The shared prerequisite for both methods is that your phone and smart TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Connect an iPhone to a smart TV with AirPlay
AirPlay lets you mirror your iPhone screen to an AirPlay-compatible smart TV. For full AirPlay functionality, your TV must support AirPlay 2.
- Open the Control Center. On an iPhone X or later, swipe down from the top-right corner. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom.
- Tap the Screen Mirroring icon.
- Select your AirPlay-compatible smart TV from the list.
Your iPhone screen will appear on the TV. You can also cast from apps like YouTube by tapping the Cast icon within the app and selecting your TV. This is how you can make iPhone full screen on TV without needing extra cables.
Connect an Android phone to a smart TV with Cast or Smart View
Android phones offer both generic Cast functionality and manufacturer-specific options like Samsung Smart View. The generic method mirrors your entire screen, while in-app casting lets you send video or audio to the TV and continue using your phone for other tasks.
Generic Android Cast
- Go to Settings, then navigate to Display.
- Select Cast or Screen Mirroring.
- Choose your TV from the list of available devices.
Samsung Smart View
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick settings panel.
- Tap the Smart View icon.
- Select your TV's name and tap Start now if prompted.
This method is ideal for screen mirroring to a TV when you want to share photos, videos, or apps on the big screen.
Use a streaming device to connect your phone to a TV
Streaming devices like Chromecast and Roku Streaming Stick act as wireless bridges between your phone and TV. For Roku devices, the supported app must be installed on both your mobile device and the Roku streaming device. The Roku mobile app can also function as a remote control. Chromecast setup uses the Google Home app. Once set up, open a casting-enabled app (like YouTube or Netflix) on your phone, tap the Cast button (often a rectangle with Wi-Fi wave lines), and select your TV or streaming device. Casting allows you to use your phone for other tasks or turn it off after initiating playback, unlike screen mirroring which typically requires the phone screen to remain active.
Connect your phone to a smart TV with an HDMI cable
A wired connection provides a reliable, low-latency link. You will need an HDMI cable and an adapter specific to your phone's port. For iPhones with a Lightning connector, an Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter is required. For USB-C Android phones, use a USB-C to HDMI adapter. For older Micro USB phones, a Micro USB to HDMI adapter is needed.
- Plug the adapter into your phone's charging port.
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the adapter.
- Connect the other end to an available HDMI port on your TV.
- Turn on your TV and select the correct HDMI input source using your remote.
Many Samsung Galaxy devices support Samsung DeX, which provides a desktop-like interface when connected to a TV via a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter. This is a practical solution for connecting phone to TV without Wi-Fi and is also how you can connect tablet to TV with HDMI using the same adapters.
Stream media files from your phone using DLNA
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) lets you stream photos, videos, and music directly from your phone to a smart TV over Wi-Fi without mirroring your screen. Enable DLNA sharing on your phone in the Settings menu under Media Sharing or DLNA options. Then, on your smart TV, navigate to the DLNA or Media playback option, search for available devices, and select your phone to browse and play media files.
Troubleshooting phone-to-TV connection problems
If you encounter issues, start by checking that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart both your phone and smart TV. Update your TV's firmware to the latest version. For wired connections, verify that you have selected the correct HDMI input source on your TV. These steps resolve most common problems and ensure a smooth experience when you connect your phone to your TV.
