We are living in a time when you can do everything using just your mobile device: watch movies, order clothes or food, transfer money to someone, and so on. And of course, it’s natural to have a desire to replace old gadgets like a remote controller with your smartphone. If you are looking for ways to connect your phone to a TV — here they are.
There are methods of connecting phones to TVs that are decent only for Android devices or just for iOS ones, but also there are some ways of connecting phones and TVs suitable for both of them. We will describe all these methods of connecting phones and TVs, so you can choose which one is easier for you to use.
Inside This Article
How to Connect Your Phone to a TV: Android and iOS
Essentially your phone would assume the role of a computer monitor that will display the content of the CPU thanks to cables and wires. This concept is somehow the inspiration for some ways how to connect your phone to a TV. Of course, there are more efficient and fuss-free ways as well. Read through for more!
1. Using HDMI
HDMI cable is the most reliable way to connect your phone to the TV. All TVs nowadays have the HDMI port, which transfers both video and audio from a single source. The general standard for HDMI cables is HDMI 2.0.
Of course, your phone doesn’t have the HDMI port on it, but there are plenty of adaptors that will bold HDMI onto micro USB, lightning, or USB Type-C.
Some Android tablets have a mini HDMI port that can let you make a connection using just one cable.
For connecting your iOS gadget using an HDMI port, you will necessitate purchasing a Lightning Digital AV adapter, which allows a simple connection with the TV. The price of Apple’s adapter is about $50, so you can look for cheaper models on Amazon. The advantage of the Lightning Digital AV adapter from Apple is that it has an extra port for charging your phone while it’s connected to your TV.
2. USB Connector
Charging cables of almost all the smartphones end with a USB connector which helps us easily connect with our laptop or just with power adaptors. But here’s the thing: a significant percent of smart TVs nowadays have a USB port on them, and this is the simplest way of transferring your files on the TV screen.
But the disadvantage of this method is that you are technically transferring files to open on the TV. So, this one mostly suits best if you’re looking for a different channel to play your photo albums or videos with a bigger screen. Do note that you’ll need to allow your device to transfer your files to the TV for it to work.
3. DLNA Applications
The third way of connecting your phone to your TV requires an Internet connection. If you have an internet-enabled TV, it probably supports DLNA. It is a generic form of streaming media available on many different manufacturers’ products. Using the right apps, you can stream unprotected files. So for music purchased from, for example, iStore won’t work as it has Digital Rights Management.
The advantage of using this method is that using the right application, you can stream media not only from your phone but also from other devices like your laptop or tablet. Also, the great thing about DLNA is that you can stream not only to your TV but, for instance, to your gaming console. And you don’t even need to convert your files to make everything work properly.
LocalCasts is an Android app that will let you stream your files to a DLNA device. Another application for Android devices is AllCast, which has an extra option of streaming to more devices; e.g., PlayStation 4. Also, AllCast can stream files from your Dropbox account.
How to Connect Your Phone to a TV: Android Devices
Given Android’s flexible nature, it is quite easy to connect your Android phone to a smart TV. Below are ways to accomplish this.
1. Chromecast
If your TV supports Chromecast or you have a Chromecast dongle, you can stream some apps to your TV from your phone. Apps that support casting include HBO, Netflix, Google Photos, and so on.
The first thing you will need to check is the connection of your devices to the same Wi-Fi. Then simply tap the cast icon in the application you want to stream, choose the exact device, and that’s it.
This is a great solution for streaming content with copyright, which you can’t stream using, for example, a cable streaming method or screen mirroring.
2. Screen Mirroring
For the apps that are not supporting the casting method, this is the best way to make a connection.
This method has two ways of connection. It varies from your phone model. On some devices, you can pull down the settings shade, and you will see the cast button (it is the same as in the apps that support casting). Just tap that icon and you will share your screen with the device you want.
If this doesn’t suit your phone model, download the Google Home application. Open the Account > Mirror device > Cast Screen/ Audio and simply stream your screen to the TV.
3. Amazon FireStick
Similar to Chromecast, Amazon FireStick is one of the best streaming media players that supports endless movies, TV shows, live TV, and more. However, Amazon FireStick doesn’t work directly on Android devices. But, with a little tweak on the settings and the help of the third-party apps, you can mirror Amazon FireStick onto your Android devices.
One of the best apps to make it happen is the AllCast on Android. All you need is to download the app, launch it and it’ll give you the option to choose the media you wish to mirror with your FireTV Stick.
However, a good note is your Android phone should have the ability to support Miracast. Though not every mobile works the same, as long as it supports Miracast with WiFi-enabled, you’re good to go. Of course, you’ll also have to enable the ‘Mirror’ function on FireStick beforehand. Otherwise, none of it will be happening.
4. Samsung Galaxy Smart View
Samsung Galaxy devices have an implemented function which is called Smart view. This feature enables a connection and content sharing from your device to another gadget or vice versa.
How to Connect Your Phone to a TV: iOS Devices
Gone are the days when it is virtually impossible for Apple devices to be connected to bigger smart TV screens that aren’t Apple TV. Below are ways you can cast the screens of your Apple devices to both Apple TV, smart TV, and Android TV.
1. Apple AirPlay
The simplest way of connecting your iPhone to your TV is the AirPlay feature, which allows you to stream your content via the Apple TV or TVs that support AirPlay.
If you own an Apple TV set up, connect it to the same Wi-Fi your phone is connected to. Open the Control Center by swiping up from down, tap the screen mirroring button and choose a device you want to stream your content to.
The second way is for those who don’t have the Apple TV device but own one of the newest models of the TV, like Samsung (2018 and 2019 models), LG (2019), Vizio (2017, 2018, 2019), and Sony (2019). Apple announced that these models now support AirPlay 2 streaming, and you can enjoy the casting features just by simple connection without the need for cables.
Related: Best Ways to Mirror iPhone to iPad Easily Without AirPlay
2. Android TV Stick Or Chromecast
This is a little more hackerish way of connecting your iPhone to your TV, but if you urgently need this connection, this may help you. In cases when you need to stream unprotected files and you own an Android-powered TV stick you can plug it into your TV, install the Kodi media server app, and the stick will play your content on the screen when you tap the AirPlay button.
But again, remember that this is not the best way to make the connection, as these sticks are extremely slow and unreliable.
3. Third-Party Apps
The world is dramatically becoming more and more connected thanks to third-party apps. Some of these apps blur the lines separating the impossibility from the possibility. Such is the case for your Apple devices in order to connect them to a smart TV.
For iPhones, iPads, and Macs whose screens you want to mirror on an Android TV, screen mirroring apps like Fast Cast can help you watch a movie on a bigger screen with your Apple device as your source. Of course, Fast Cast is not the only app that works. However, we have given it a try, and it works absolutely fine.
Download Fast Cast for Apple Devices
Takeaway
There you have it. Those are some of the best ways you can connect your phone to TV and vice versa. It’s simple, easy, and definitely working. The information is correct as of now, though it might change in the future and we might get some cool new updates. Should you require any more information, please drop us an email. We’ll try our best to answer them.
