How to Connect Phone to TV?

Connecting a phone to a TV enhances the versatility and functionality of both devices–you can enjoy the content on the phone screen through the larger display and even effortlessly control the TV using the phone.

How to connect phone to TV? There are many ways to establish a connection between your smartphone and smart TV. Whether to use the built-in screen mirroring feature on your smartphone, a screen mirroring app, or a streaming device, the whole process is straightforward.

Apart from a wireless connection, a wired connection through a USB cable or a USB-to-HDMI cable incubates more reliable media transmission from the phone to the TV.

How to Connect Phone to TV Wirelessly?

Given convenience and effectiveness, a wireless connection might be the optimal workaround. There are three different ways to set up a wireless connection between the two devices but they have a common premise: the smartphone and TV should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (the same network with different bands is not allowed here).

Method 1. Enable Screen Mirroring Feature

Most modern smartphones come with a screen mirroring feature that allows you to project the content on the phone screen to another larger screen.

Utilize AirPlay to connect iPhone to TV:

As it is known, iPhones (4.0 and later) boast the AirPlay technology, and it is symbolized as two overlapping rectangles in the Control Center.

find the screen mirroring icon on the iPhone's control center

AirPlay is a proprietary wireless technology that allows you to share various types of media files (audio, video, and photos), and screen mirroring between Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac) and other AirPlay-compatible streaming devices, like Apple TV, Roku TV, LG TV, etc.

Connecting your iPhone to a TV through AirPlay requires the steps below:

Step 1. Ensure the two devices are connected to the same WiFi network.

Step 2. Enable the AirPlay feature on both devices.

turn on AirPlay on Roku

Step 3. Choose the TV from the device list.

Step 4. If asked, enter the code displayed on the TV screen on the iPhone. Then, what shows up on your iPhone screen will cover the TV screen.

Note: Android TVs don’t offer AirPlay support. For example, if you have an iPhone and Firestick, you need to install an AirPlay receiver app on your TV to AirPlay to Firestick from the iOS mobile device.

Leverage Cast feature to connect Android phones to TV:

Most Android phones running Android 8.0 or later versions have a feature to wirelessly stream content to TVs and displays. Manufacturers name the feature differently. For example, on my Android phone, the feature is called Screencast, while it is labeled Cast on my sister’s Android phone.

find the cast feature on different Android phones

Step 1. Ensure the two devices use the same WiFi network.

Step 2. Enable the cast feature on the Android phone and choose the target TV. If the TV is unavailable in the list, check if the TV is set to block all requests for screen sharing.

check screen mirroring mode on Roku

Step 3. Choose to accept the request for screen sharing from the Android phone. Then, you can watch videos on the TV screen instead of staring at the small screen.

Method 2. Use a Universal Screen Mirroring App

The universal Screen Mirroring app from BoostVision can help you connect your Android smartphone to mainstream TVs in a rather easy way. Once the two devices are connected, you can share photos and videos and screen mirroring between them.

the universal screen mirroring app from BoostVision

Here’s the connection process through the app:

Step 1. Confirm that the WiFi network connection on the phone and TV is the same.

Step 2. Launch the app on the phone and click “Tap to connect”.

Step 3. Choose the target TV from the list and tap “Connect”.

Step 4. Once the TV name appears on the app interface, the connection finishes. Tap “Screen Mirror”, “Video”, “Web Video”, or “Photo” and follow the on-screen instructions for screen mirroring or content sharing.

With the screen mirroring app, you will find it easy to share your life moments with important people without hassles.

Method 3. Connect Phone to TV via Chromecast

A wireless link can also be established between your phone and TV through Chromecast. Chromecast is a digital media player developed by Google that allows you to stream content from a smartphone, tablet, or computer to TV.

So, connecting your smartphone to your TV is a breeze if you have a Chromecast connected to TV or TV with Chromecast built-in. Here’s how to connect phone to TV through Chromecast.

Step 1. Make sure your phone is on the same WiFi network as your Chromecast device.

Step 2. Open the Google Home app, then go to “Favorites” or “Devices”.

Step 3. Choose the device you want to cast your phone’s screen to.

Step 4. Go to “Cast” > “Cast screen”.

What’s on your phone’s screen will replace what’s shown on your TV. If you just want to cast a specific video on YouTube, tap the Cast icon on the phone’s screen.

How to Connect Phone to TV with USB?

A wireless connection is more convenient than a wired one but weakens stability. How to set up a wired connection between your smartphone and television? Use a USB cable.

Most modern TVs come equipped with one or more USB ports on the back or side panels. Check your TV for a USB port. Once you’ve found the port, prepare a USB compatible with your phone and TV, then use it to connect your smartphone and television.

Now literally, the connection has been done with the USB cable. But to duplicate the phone’s screen on the TV, one step you need to take is to change the input source: press the source/input button on the TV remote, and change the source to USB.

press the input button on LG TV remote

Once your phone’s screen appears on the TV, you can easily share your travel videos and photos from the phone on with family and friends.

How to Connect Phone to TV with HDMI?

Alternatively, a wired connection can be built through a USB-to-HDMI cable. All modern TVs come equipped with HDMI ports as a standard feature, allowing connecting modern devices like game consoles, media players, streaming devices, and computers.

the HDMI port on LG TV

Smartphones are also allowed as long as there is a right cable for connection. For example, if your phone has a USB-C port, you can connect it to your TV with a USB-C to HDMI cable.

Plug the USB-C connecter into the phone’s USB-C port, and then connect the HDMI end of the adapter to the HDMI port on the TV. Then, press the source/input button on your TV remote and set the TV to the correct input source.

As mentioned at first, the connection between phone and TV is not only for screen mirroring or media casting but also for remote control. To control the TV with your phone, you need to set up the connection using a remote app.

Conclusion

The wireless connection is more convenient but requires a reliable WiFi network; the wired connection is more stable but requires an accessory, a compatible cable.

Undeniably, the process is simple, whether a wireless connection or a wired one. Leveraging the connection method that suits your situation can significantly elevate your entertainment experience.