Huh. That’s odd.
My Netflix won’t work today.
However, it’s no bother…
I can just use my smartphone and display its screen on my TV.
Good thing I know how.
Curious?
Keep reading to discover:
- If you can wirelessly connect your phone to a dumb TV.
- 5 effortless methods to connect your phone to a TV wirelessly.
- 3 quick ways to fix a phone that won’t wirelessly connect to a TV.
- AirPlay vs. Chromecast: What’s the difference, and which should you use.
- And so much more…
How to connect phone to TV wirelessly – 5 ways
#1: Screen mirroring
So, you want to connect your phone wirelessly to your TV.
The most straightforward way of doing so?
Use the in-built screen mirroring function available on most phones.
This method won’t require you to download any apps.
Instead, here’s all that you need to do to mirror a phone to your TV:
- Connect your TV and phone to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open your Settings menu.
- Navigate to Connection & Sharing.
- Select Screencast.
- Choose your TV from the list of devices.
Note: This is only for Android devices. iOS phones have a different method of connecting, which we’ll get to later.
#2: Miracast
Here’s the thing:
The standard screen mirroring function on your phone might be the most used…
But there’s a more trusted alternative out there.
In fact, some phones have started using it as their screen mirroring choice.
This app is called Miracast.
Why is it preferred, you ask?
Miracast has these over other screen mirroring apps out there:
- Almost lossless.
- More widely supported.
- Less RAM usage (128 MB RAM vs. the standard 256 MB).
The trade-off?
Unfortunately, Miracast only supports up to 30 Hz of 1080p content.
So, this might not be the most optimal choice for movie viewing.
On the other hand, if you need to share your screen for a presentation…
This might be for you.
Now, do these instructions to use Miracast on your smart TV:
- Press the Home button on your TV remote.
- Go to Apps or Applications.
- Select Miracast.
Note: If the app isn’t on your app list, download it first.
- Download and open the Miracast app on your phone (Available on Android and iOS).
- Tap the Devices option.
- Select your TV from the list.
#3: Chromecast
When it comes to smartphones…
There are only a handful of manufacturers I trust.
And one of them is Google.
That’s why it’s hard to ignore Google’s screen mirroring function.
Here’s the catch:
This is only available for Android devices, including on TVs.
You’ll need a TV that runs on Android or Google OS for this to work…
Or you’ll need to spend a couple of bucks for a streaming device. (More on that later.)
Got any of those?
If so, here’s what you need to do to cast your phone’s screen to the TV:
- Connect your phone and TV to the same network.
- Open the Google Home app on your phone.
- Locate your TV from the list of devices on the app.
- Hold the tile that corresponds to your TV.
- Under Cast, select Cast Screen.
#4: AirPlay
Told you we’re going to discuss iOS devices.
After all, almost 30% of the entire world uses iOS, and 60% in the United States. That’s what experts say.
That aside, it’s an easy process to connect your iPhone to the TV too.
You’ll just need AirPlay.
iOS’ AirPlay is what Google Home is for Android Devices…
Something that Apple themselves developed to make connecting to other Apple devices easier.
But, like Google Home…
You need a TV that’s AirPlay-compatible for this to work.
To be sure, check your TV’s specs online.
Once you’ve confirmed that your TV can use AirPlay, proceed to:
- Connect your TV and phone to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Control Center on your iPhone.
- Press the Screen Mirroring option.
- Select your TV from the list of available devices.
- Enter the passcode shown on your TV to your iPhone.
You may also be interested in: AirPlay Not Working On Smart TV
#5: Through the streaming app
Why do you need to connect your phone to the TV?
For me? It’s always when I need to watch something on my TV that can only be played through a phone…
And it’s almost always on a streaming app.
If this is the case for you too…
It might help to know there’s a way to connect your phone to the TV using the app.
How?
For video streaming apps
- Open the app on your phone.
- Play the movie or show you want to watch.
- Tap the screen once.
- Press the Cast button.
- Select OK to confirm.
For Spotify
- Open Spotify on your phone.
- Play any music.
- Press the Devices button on the lower-left side of your screen.
- Select your TV.
Furthermore, you can also watch this video to see how to connect any device with Spotify to your TV…
BONUS: Fix wireless connection issues
“Peter, nothing is working. What should I do next?”
If you still can’t work out how to connect your phone to the TV wirelessly…
Chances are, something is blocking the connection between them.
And, most likely, it’s a software issue.
Don’t worry. I’ll teach you how to get rid of them.
Power cycle both devices
Now, there’s one way you can almost always get rid of software issues on your TV:
A power cycle.
This type of restart gets rid of all stuck processes and glitches on your TV.
How?
You see, a normal restart won’t cut it.
Your TV will only be on Standby Mode if you turn it off as most people do.
The proper way of restarting is a power cycle or by doing these 4 quick steps:
- Turn your TV off.
- Unplug it from the socket.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in and power it on.
But that’s just one part of the equation…
After all, it takes 2 to tango.
Or, in this case, it takes your phone and TV to connect.
So you’ll have to power cycle your phone too.
To do that, shut your phone down and remove its battery.
However, most phones don’t have a removable battery nowadays. So…
Simply turn your phone off and wait a minute before you boot it up again.
That should do the trick.
Get a streaming device
If your phone and TV won’t connect, instead of fixing the issue…
You can just bypass it instead.
How?
Buy a streaming device with a screen mirroring feature.
Here’s what I recommend:
Update the software on your phone
Lastly, what if the problem is with your phone? What can you do?
Simple. Update its software.
Manufacturers usually patch out issues with each update.
Not only that, but some TVs can only connect to the latest versions of your phone.
Here’s what you need to do to update your phone:
For Android
- Open the Settings menu on your phone.
- Head to the About section.
- Go to Software Update.
- If an update is available, press Update Now.
For iOS
- Open the Settings menu on your phone.
- Head to the General section.
- Press Software Update.
- If there are two updates available, select the one you want.
- Tap Install Now to confirm.
How to connect phone to TV wirelessly – FAQ
How can I display my phone screen on my TV?
You can display your phone screen on the TV wirelessly using any of the steps I’ve listed above.
However, if you want to mirror the display of your phone with a cable…
Follow these steps:
- First, get a USB-C to HDMI cable adapter.
- Connect your phone to the adapter.
- Insert the HDMI adapter to your TV.
- Press the Input button on your remote.
- Select the HDMI port where you connected the adapter.
Your TV should now mirror your phone.
This process, while more costly, is the optimal way of sharing your screen with a TV.
Not only is this more reliable…
But it also ensures that the images transmitted from your phone to the TV is lossless.
How can I connect my phone to my TV wirelessly without a smart TV?
You can wirelessly connect your phone to a dumb TV using a streaming device.
A streaming device can turn your TV into a smart one…
Which will allow it to use any screen mirroring app with your phone.