Do you sometimes prefer to watch YouTube videos or other streaming content on your TV instead of your smartphone or tablet? You can now binge-watch your favorite TV shows like Hulu’s hit The Handmaid’s Tale or Apple TV’s Ted Lasso by mirroring what’s playing on your phone’s streaming apps.

You will learn how to do it step by step with no cables or the need for additional apps.

Why Mirror Your Mobile Device to Your TV?

If you want to watch videos or stream music and podcasts on your television but only have access through the internet – no problem! You can still enjoy streaming content from anywhere in just one simple step: screen mirroring (or casting).

Unlike other devices, streaming videos directly to your TV is a much more versatile and engaging experience. Whether you want the convenience of watching Netflix in bed or not being tied down by cords while viewing online content at home during busy days – there’s no wrong answer!

  • Your TV does not support the streaming service or app you subscribe to.
  • Your TV has better video quality than your phones, like Ultra HD or HDR.
  • You purchased an online subscription limited to one device.
  • The problem with streaming apps is that they often don’t work, even when your phone does. It can be due to network problems or factors like something blocking the signal from reaching you.
  • You may want to stream music from an app and hear it on your TV speakers or a connected sound system.

Will My Mobile Device Work?

Only certain phones and tablets can mirror their screens successfully with another device.

  • Android phones and tablets (e.g., LG, Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.) running Android 5.0 or later
  • Android phones and tablets running Google Cast
  • iPhones and iPads with Airplay installed – including any iPhone X or later and all Apple devices running iOS 11. Some earlier model iPhones will also support it.

Will Mirroring Work On My TV?

You can only use your smartphone’s screen to mirror onto certain smart TVs connected with the same WiFi network as your mobile device.

  • LG – Smart TVs running webOS, including the LG 32-inch HD Ready Smart LED TV
  • Samsung – Smart TVs running Tizen OS, including the Samsung 55-inch Wondertainment Series Ultra HD LED Smart TV
  • Sony – Smart TVs running Android TV OS, including the Sony Bravia 43-inch Full HD Smart LED TV

Whether you’re mirroring from an Apple or Android device, before beginning, make sure that your TV, tablet or smartphone is connected to the same WiFi network.

How To Mirror Your Apple Device to a Smart TV

With AirPlay, you can mirror your iOS device’s screen to any smart TV.

  1. Open Control Center: On your iPhone X or later, swipe the screen from the upper right corner downward; on iOS 11 and earlier versions of phones, swipe the screen from the bottom edge upward.
  2. Tap Screen Mirroring.
  3. Select your smart TV. If you find an AirPlay passcode on your smart TV, enter it into the iOS device connected to this screen.

When you want to stop mirroring your iPhone screen, open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring. Then select Stop Mirroring.

How To Mirror Android Device to a Smart TV

There are several ways you can cast your screen on an Android device, but one that’s natively supported in all versions 4.2 and higher is called “Screen Cast.”

Using Screen Cast

  1. Swipe down from the top of the android phone to open the quick setting panel.
  2. Find the Screen Cast button and tap it.
  3. Tap your TV’s name in the list that comes up. If it doesn’t appear, click on “the pencil icon” to try and find them.” You can also restart the screencast until it shows itself!

To stop streaming, follow the same steps.

Using the Google Home App

The Google Home app is a great way to mirror your screen on the go.

  1. On your Android device, turn off Power Saving Mode.
  2. Open the Google Play Services app.
  3. Ensure that the “Microphone” permission in Google Play Services has been enabled. If it is not there, go to settings and scroll down until you find apps. Tap on it, then Google Play Services, followed by Permissions, to ensure that the “Microphone” setting is enabled for both of these services before proceeding forward.
  4. Open the Google Home app.
  5. Press and hold the tile with your TV’s name.
  6. Tap Cast my screen, then tap Cast Screen.

To adjust your volume, tap Media on the Google Home app. Suppose you want to stop mirroring altogether; press and hold that tile for when it’s broadcasting from one device, then select Stop Mirroring.

Summary

When you want to watch content on your TV mirrored from the phone in landscape mode, instead of portrait orientation like most smartphones and tablets today, it’s best to turn them sideways. Be aware of your device’s orientation when trying to use the Auto-rotate option.

If it doesn’t turn into landscape mode, ensure that this feature is enabled and not disabled by checking “Auto rotate.”