How do you cast from your phone to your tv

Pairing your smartphone screen with a smart TV can result in the perfect match.  Connecting your phone to a smart TV is a great way to look at photos, watch movies, videos, music, photos, games, online TV shows, applications, and more.

You can connect your phone to your smart TV in multiple ways. But the most popular way is wirelessly. The type of phone and TV that you have determines how you connect the two devices.

Here are different methods of connecting your phone and your TV and what you need to know about each. The process can differ slightly depending on whether you have an Android phone or an Apple phone, and whether you have a Smart TV or a standard HDTV.

In this article we are focusing on Android smartphones and Smart TVs. To wirelessly connect your smartphone to your TV, you need to have a Smart TV.

Use AirPlay to stream or share content from your Apple devices to your Apple TV, AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV, or Mac. Stream a video. Share your photos. Or mirror exactly what's on your device's screen.

Stream video from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a TV

If video automatically streams to an AirPlay device

Your device might automatically stream video to the Apple TV or AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV that you frequently use. If you open a video app and see 

To use AirPlay with a different device, tap 

Mirror your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a TV or Mac

1. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV, AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV, or Mac.2
2. Open Control Center:
   • On iPhone X or later or iPad with iPadOS 13 or later: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen.
   • On iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen. 
3. Tap Screen Mirroring 
   
    .
4. Select your Apple TV, AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV, or Mac from the list.
5. If an AirPlay passcode appears on your TV screen or Mac, enter the passcode on your iOS or iPadOS device.

To stop mirroring your iOS or iPadOS device, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring. Or press the Menu button on your Apple TV Remote.

1. Some video apps might not support AirPlay. If you can’t use AirPlay with a video app, check the App Store on your Apple TV to see if that app is available.
2. Find out which macOS versions and Mac models are compatible with AirPlay to Mac.

Published Date: October 24, 2022

Your Android phone's small screen wasn't designed for following along with fitness classes online or joining a Zoom call. So instead of squinting to see what's going on, you can magically cast or mirror your phone's screen to a nearby TV with just a few taps. You'll need the proper hardware to get the job done, but it'll save you from potential neck strain. 

In addition to a comfortable viewing experience, casting your screen comes in handy if you want to play a few rounds of Among Us or show everyone the latest TikTok trend you just can't get enough of. 

The best part? You just might already have everything you need. If not, well, it's not horribly expensive to get set up. Here's how you can start mirroring or casting your Android phone or tablet's screen to your TV.

Everything you need to mirror your Android phone to your TV

To start, you'll need an Android phone or tablet running Android 5.0 or later. That version of Android was released in 2014, so odds are your phone or tablet is running a newer version of Android. You can check by opening the Settings app and going to About phone and looking for Android version. 

In addition to an Android phone or tablet, you'll also need a Google Chromecast streaming device, like the recently released Chromecast with Google TV, a TV with Chromecast built in or a smart display like the Google Nest Hub. If you don't know whether your TV has Chromecast support, the best way to check is to see if it shows up as an available casting device when you follow either method below.

Cast your screen to a TV using the Google Home app

The most reliable and consistent way to mirror your Android phone's screen is to use the Google Home app. If you've already set up any of Google's smart speakers, Nest Wifi or Chromecast devices, you likely already have it installed. If not, you can download it from the Play store.

Open the Home app and select the Chromecast device you want to use. At the bottom of the screen will be a button labeled Cast my Screen; tap it. You'll have to accept the prompt reminding you that whatever is on your phone's screen will be visible on your TV to anyone in the room with you. You may also see a second prompt warning you if your device isn't optimized for mirroring. I haven't had any issues casting my screen when I've run into the warning. To stop casting your screen, tap on the button labeled Stop mirroring in the Home app.

There's an easier way, depending on your phone 

Using the Home app isn't a lot of work, but there's an even easier way: Use the Casting shortcut in the quick settings panel. Access the quick settings panel by swiping down from the top of your Android phone or tablet's display. There should be an option labeled Screen cast -- if you can't find it, you may have to tap on the pencil icon to edit what is and isn't available in your quick settings panel. 

Once you find the Screen cast button, select it and then pick the device you want to mirror your display on from the list. It can take a few seconds for your phone to connect to the Chromecast-enabled device, but once it does, your screen will show up on your TV. Stop casting by repeating the same steps we just outlined. 

But here's the rub: Not every phone includes a cast button option in the quick settings panel. It's not clear why, but if your phone doesn't have the shortcut option, don't give up. You can still mirror your phone using the Home app. 

Remember, whenever you're mirroring your screen, anything and everything that shows up on your phone or tablet's display will also show up on the TV. Meaning, any alerts and notifications, along with their contents, will be broadcast for all to see. I suggest turning on Do Not Disturb to keep the disruptions at a minimum. Also, since there will potentially be a lag between your phone and TV when casting, stick to playing slower games and avoid more intensive titles such as Fortnite.

If you're looking for ways to get more out of your Chromecast, check out these tips. Google Assistant has a trick you'll want to keep in mind the next time you have a song stuck in your head.

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