You can have maximum enjoyment by playing high-definition games or watching your favorite shows on your smartphone. And you can do that anywhere seated, standing, lying down, or whatever, thanks to modern technology and the internet. But sometimes that convenience does not compare to lying back on a couch to indulge in that show or game on a wide-screen TV. No hassles, no stress to your fingers.
Not to worry. Now you have the option to connect your phone to a smart TV (or even a standard plasma TV or HDTV). You can achieve that either through wired/cabled means or wirelessly.
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Connect your Phone to a Smart TV: 4 Wireless Methods
It is very possible to connect your phone to a smart TV, even when both devices are not in the same physical location. Additionally, your phone’s version of Android software does not limit or stop this facility – especially in Android 4.2 and higher. However, it is important to find out if your phone and the Smart TV are compatible. That compatibility depends on the available (and compatible) connection methods/ports, and the model of your Smart TV. These two conditions are true for both wired and wireless methods you may wish to apply.
Let us explore how to connect your phone to a Smart TV using any of the 4 methods below.
Use Google Chromecast
Google Chromecast is a small hardware/device that plugs into your smart TV’s HDMI port. Once connected, the Chromecast device mirrors or projects your phone’s screen to the smart TV. To use this method, follow the steps below:
– Check to ensure that both your phone and the smart TV are connected to the same Wi-fi network.
– Now connect the Chromecast device to the HDMI port of the smart TV.
– Open the phone app you intend to mirror or cast onto your smart TV. It could be a Netflix app or Youtube videos, for instance.
– Search around the open app window to locate the Cast icon. You will recognize the Cast icon as a small rectangle with a Wi-fi icon in the corner. Proceed to click it
– A list of available devices is shown to you. Simply click on the Chromecast device.
– Your phone screen appears immediately on your smart TV.
Use Android Phones’ in-built Screen Mirroring feature
The in-built screen mirroring feature is actually found in most Android phones. This feature is made possible through the Miracast technology (available in Android 4.2 and above). Your phone needs to have the Miracast technology, but the smart TV may or may not have Miracast technology on it. Also, the actual steps taken to access the feature in the phone’s Settings may differ from one phone to another.
If you are sure both your phone and the smart TV use the MIracast technology, you can follow the steps below. Or search for similar steps on your Android device to get it done:
– Open your Android phone’s Settings app. Then click Connected devices > Connection preferences > Cast. Switch on the Cast toggle button.
– In the list of available devices that appear, check for the name of your smart TV and click it. Your phone’s screen should appear immediately on the smart TV.
On the other hand, if your smart TV does not use Miracast technology, then it will need a wireless display adapter. The wireless display adapter will plug into the smart TV’s HDMI port and act as a receiver for the phone.
Use Special Screen Mirroring Software
There are special screen mirroring apps such as AirDroid Cast that can be used to mirror or project your mobile device screen wirelessly. The mirroring app broadcasts the phone screen to the web browser of your smart TV. And such apps work with different mobile devices, be it a smartphone or a tablet. They are also available for both Android and iOS devices.
Use Apple’s Airplay Function
The Airplay function is available on all Apple devices – be it iPhone, iPad, or Mac laptop. With the Airplay tool, you can easily broadcast or mirror the contents of your phone screen onto your smart TV. With an Apple TV, it is even far easier. Follow the steps below:
– Check and ensure that both your iPhone and the smart TV are connected to the same Wi-fi network.
– Open the phone app you wish to mirror onto the smart TV.
– Search around the open app window to locate the Airplay icon. You will recognize the Airplay icon as a small rectangle with a triangle in the corner. Proceed to click it.
– A list of available devices will be displayed. Check the name of your smart TV and click it.
– Your phone’s screen should appear immediately on the smart TV.
Connect your Phone to a Smart TV With A USB Cable
A common method of connecting your phone to your smart TV without using an internet connection is via connection cables. You may use either a USB cable (for Android) or a lightning cable (for iOS). However, you will need to check for the following conditions on both your smartphone and the smart TV:
– Check the type of USB port on your smartphone. It could be USB type B (micro-USB), or USB-C. USB-B port appears like a trapezium, tooth-like at the end. While USB-C appears oval or cylindrical.
– Also check the type of USB port on the smart TV. Some smart TVs have the standard USB-B port. While some other modern ones have an additional USB-C port.
– The available type of USB ports (on both the phone and smart TV) will determine the type of USB cable you are going to use. It will also determine if you will need a special adapter for your smart TV to connect to the USB cable. Thus, if your smart TV lacks an HDMI port, you will either get a USB-to-VGA cable, or a USB-to-RCA cable (for older TVs that use RCA connections).
Android: Types of USB Cable for Screen Mirroring
Option 1: Use Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL). Connect your phone to the smart TV using an MHL cable (microUSB-to-HDMI cable) joined to an MHL adapter. This method works for Android smartphones and tablets compatible with the MHL technology. It also requires a power cable.
Option 2: Use USB-C cable with Displayport. If your phone has a USB-C port, use a USB-C to HDMI adapter (or docking station with HDMI port) to connect your USB-C cable from your phone to your smart TV.
Option 3: Use a Slimport cable. This would easily work with older Android phones. The Slimport cable has a micro USB input and several different output ports (HDMI, VGA, DVI, or Displayport). That way, it can connect to any of the available ports on your smart TV. It also does not require any power from your phone.
Option 4: Use Samsung Dex. Samsung devices allow USB-C to HDMI cable connection between your Samsung phone and a smart TV, using the Samsung Dex feature. You can activate it by turning on the Dex toggle button in the phone’s Settings app. Thereafter, select Dex on TV or Monitor > [TV name] > Start Now. (you may need to choose Dex on PC > More Options > Switch to TV or Monitor > [TV Name] > Start Now).
iOS: Use a Lightning cable
For iPhone 5 and above, connect a Lightning cable to a Lightning digital AV adapter for HDMI (or a Lightning digital AV adapter for VGA, on older TVs). Then plug the cable-adapter combination from your iPhone to your smart TV (or normal TV).