You can connect your smartphone to the TV using both wired and wireless methods. How to do it – let’s consider each of them in detail.
More and more often people buy TV sets not to watch TV programs, but to enjoy movies on a big screen, play games, or just look at photos. Let us see how you can connect your smartphone to the TV and show you all the basic ways.
Almost all the latest models of TVs are equipped with a mobile device connection feature. You can synchronize the screens of your phone and TV with the help of various adapters or via a Wi-Fi network with the help of apps.
The methods of connection depend directly on the phone model and operating system: iOS or Android. Let’s look at each of them.
- For iPhone
iPhones can be connected using a USB cable and HDMI system. You can use the HDML wire and special applications from the Apple Store, such as iMediaShare. But the most proven and reliable way is to synchronize the TV and iPhone screens is considered a Wi-Fi network.
- For Android
Android smartphones are easiest to connect using special adapters. If your TV supports Wi-Fi Direct or DLNA, it’s easy to connect without a wire. If you have a Smart TV, you can display the picture on the big screen without using wires. But to do so, your TV must have the Miracast wireless media transmission standard and connect to Wi-Fi.
- Samsung
Samsung phones are easiest to connect to your TV using a Screen Mirroring or Miracast source. There is also a special accessory “Dex Station” that allows you to connect Samsung Galaxy smartphones via HDMI cable to any TV.
- Xiaomi
Redmi Note 3 Pro, Redmi Note 4, Redmi Note 5, and other newer versions of the phones can connect to the TV via HDMI cable and via USB. There are also third-party programs for Xiaomi, such as BubbleUPnP, Wireless Display.
- Honor
Honor and Huawei smartphones are easiest to connect to the TV using a USB cable. If you use a Smart TV-Box, you can use HDMI.
Wireless connection
This is the most convenient type of connection because you do not need to think about where to put another wire and bother to match connectors.
How to connect your phone to the TV via Wi-Fi Direct
This type of connection is suitable for Android owners, and both devices must support Wi-Fi Direct. The smartphone and TV will connect directly via Wi-Fi, without the involvement of the router. The TV here acts as an access point to which the smartphone connects. You can send media files to the big screen using the standard “Send” function.
- How to set up
- Open the network settings on your TV and connect the Wi-Fi Direct feature.
- Go to “Settings” on your phone, select Wi-Fi Direct from the menu, and press “connect”.
- After searching for devices, select your TV.
- Use the “Send” menu on your smartphone to send photos, videos, and audio to the TV.
How to connect your phone to your TV through DLNA
Here, the connection is made through a router, and the phone must have an Android operating system, and the TV must support the DLNA system. Thanks to this system, you will be able to view media files from your phone memory on the big screen.
- How to set up
- Connect your phone and TV to the same network. To do this, connect the cable from your Wi-Fi router to your TV. Then go to the settings and make sure there is a connection.
- Activate the DLNA function on your TV.
- Open the desired media file on your smartphone, then go to the menu and select the TV name as the player.
- For advanced settings and to stream files from other apps, install the media server app from Google Play. You can use BubbleUPnP.
How to connect your phone to your TV via AirPlay
The AirPlay system is one of the easiest ways to connect your Apple device. But in addition to a smartphone and a TV, you will also need an Apple TV set-top box, which is fully compatible with the iPhone and immediately offers the user all the additional options.
- How to set up
- Make sure your iPhone and Apple are connected to the same network.
- Go to “Control Point” on your phone and run “Screen Repeat.”
- Select Apple TV equipment from the list of receiving devices.
- Enter the code that appears on the TV screen into the active window on your smartphone display.
How to connect your phone to a TV through Miracast
The technology involves wirelessly transmitting video images from mobile devices to the TV and works similarly to AirPlay. It’s suitable for Android phones and only works on modern Smart TV models. And with a special adapter, you can add it to any TV with an HDMI port.
- How to set up
- Open the network settings on your TV and turn on Miracast.
- Go to Settings on your smartphone and turn on Miracast.
- Select your TV in the list of found Miracast devices.
- Immediately after synchronization, the images from your smartphone will appear on your TV.
How to connect your phone to your TV via Chromecast
The technology of wireless transmission of media content developed by Google. To use it, you will need a branded set-top box that connects to any TV through an HDMI connector.
- How to set up
- Download the Google Home app on your phone.
- Make sure that your mobile device and Chromecast are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open Google Home and follow the simple step-by-step instructions on the screen.
- Confirm the code in the active window on your smartphone, which will soon appear on the TV as well.
Wired connection
A wired connection between your phone and your TV isn’t as convenient, but if you can’t install an app, a wired connection easily makes up for its versatility and compatibility with any TV.
How to connect your phone to the TV via USB
With this type of connection, the mobile device is used as a flash drive: the screen will not duplicate the actions performed on the smartphone, but you can play media files.
- How to set up
- Connect one end of the USB cable to your phone and the other end to your TV.
- On the TV, select USB as the signal source. Do the same on your smartphone.
- The big screen will display a folder structure or list of files that the TV has scanned and recognized. What you see on the TV screen will depend on the model of the device.
- Use the remote control to navigate and browse.
How to connect your phone to the TV with an HDMI cable
In this case, you can use the TV as an external display while playing games, watching movies and searching the Internet. The picture from your mobile device is fully displayed on the TV.
Depending on the phone jack, you will need the appropriate adapter or cable to connect. There will be an HDMI connector on one side and microUSB, Lighting, or USB-C on the other.
- How to set up
- Connect your mobile device to the TV with a cord or adapter.
- In the menu on the TV screen, press “Source” and select HDMI.
- This will automatically adjust the picture to the resolution of the screen. If this does not happen, then specify the necessary parameters (image frequency, resolution) manually in the phone settings.
These are the basic ways of connecting your smartphone to the TV with or without a cable. Which one suits you better? Decide based on the model of your phone and TV, and never hesitate in case some of the devices need to be repaired – Repairs Bay is here to help you!