To disconnect your TV from your phone immediately, open Control Center on your iPhone and tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, swipe down to open Quick settings, tap Smart View, then tap Disconnect.
How to disconnect your TV from your phone immediately
iPhone AirPlay mirroring and streaming
Apple's AirPlay mirroring page is for iPhone or iPad. Apple's streaming page is for iPhone and says to use the AirPlay or Screen Mirroring button to stop streaming or mirroring.
- Open Control Center on your iPhone.
- Tap Screen Mirroring (or the AirPlay button if streaming audio or video).
- Tap Stop Mirroring to end screen mirroring, or tap Turn Off AirPlay to stop streaming content.
Samsung Galaxy Smart View
Samsung's Smart View instructions are for Galaxy phones and say to disconnect with the Smart View icon.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick settings.
- Tap Smart View.
- Tap Disconnect.
On some Samsung TVs, you can also end the session by pressing the Return button on the TV remote control. On some Samsung TV help pages, ending the session can also be done from the TV by pressing the Return button on the remote control.
Stop casting from Android and Google Home
If you are casting your phone to a TV using an Android device, you can stop the connection from the notification drawer or the Google Home app. Google's casting help page covers Android devices for stopping audio casting, and the Google Home app path requires the mobile device or tablet to be on the same Wi‑Fi network or linked to the same account as the speaker or display.
From the notification drawer
- Swipe down to open your notifications.
- Find the casting notification and tap Disconnect.
From the Google Home app
- Open the Google Home app.
- Tap Home then All devices.
- Touch and hold the device tile for your TV or speaker.
- Tap Stop casting or Stop mirroring.
Prevent your phone from reconnecting to the TV automatically
iPhone: Stop automatic AirPlay
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to General → AirPlay & Handoff.
- Under Automatically AirPlay, select Never.
This stops your iPhone from automatically reconnecting to nearby TVs. If you still see unwanted connections, turn off Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth temporarily to break the link.
General advice for Android phones
Android phones do not have a single system setting to block all automatic reconnections. If your phone keeps reconnecting to the TV, turn off Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth, or forget the TV’s network in your Wi‑Fi settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting my phone from the TV affect other devices?
No. Disconnecting your phone only ends the connection between those two devices. Other devices like gaming consoles, streaming sticks, or cable boxes remain connected to the TV.
Do I have to disconnect my phone from the TV after every use?
It is not required, but it is a good practice if you want to free up the connection or prevent your phone from automatically reconnecting. Many phones will disconnect on their own when you leave the room or turn off screen mirroring.
How do I disconnect if the TV is controlled by a different brand's app?
The steps vary by TV brand and app. For example, Apple’s AirPlay disconnect steps work on any TV that supports AirPlay, while Samsung’s Smart View steps are specific to Galaxy phones and Samsung TVs. Check your TV’s app or settings menu for a disconnect option, or use the phone-side methods described above.
Is there a documented HDMI or MHL disconnect menu on the phone?
Not in the official pages retrieved.
