How to connect your phone to your TV wirelessly

what to know

• AirPlay: Control Center > AirPlay icon > TV. Alternatively, select the AirPlay option in the app.
• Chromecast: Open Media > Select the Cast icon > Select TV.
• Game consoles, Blu-ray and streaming sticks also offer built-in casting options.

There are several popular ways to wirelessly connect your smartphone to your TV. Some technologies work using just a TV and phone, while others require the purchase of additional hardware.

The technology described in this article works on Android smartphones and Apple's iPhones, but compatibility may vary depending on the TV model used and the type of media sent to the TV.

The main methods for wirelessly connecting your phone to your TV include:

• AirPlay : Apple's proprietary streaming technology allows compatible devices to send media to each other using AirPlay Mirroring, as long as they are on the same Wi-Fi internet connection.
• Chromecast : Google Cast is a wireless protocol created by Google that allows data to be transferred between devices.
• Game Console or Blu-ray: Another option for wirelessly casting content to your TV is to use a game console or a network-enabled Blu-ray player.
• Streaming device : A streaming stick is a small device that plugs into one of your TV's HDMI ports, essentially turning your regular TV into a smart TV by adding support for wireless connections and apps.
  

AirPlay can be used to send media from your phone to an Apple TV device connected to your TV, or to a smart TV with built-in AirPlay support.

All iPhone models come with built-in AirPlay support from the factory. The easiest way to access the feature is to open Control Center and tap the AirPlay icon to select the TV you want to cast to.

Alternatively, from an app like Spotify, you can use Spotify Connect and follow these steps:

1. Select a song to play.

2. Click on the available devices icon.

3. Choose AirPlay or Bluetooth .

4. Select the TV you want to connect to from the AirPlay options.

Apple's Apple TV set-top device connects to a TV via an HDMI cable and can receive media sent via AirPlay, as can a growing number of smart TVs with built-in AirPlay capabilities.

Android TVs that don't support AirPlay can add this functionality by installing a third-party app, such as Airscreen.

Another option is to use Google Cast to wirelessly connect your phone to your TV. It's often called Chromecast, and many smart TVs support the protocol labeled "Chromecast Built-in."

Chromecast is also the name of a series of streaming stick devices developed by Google that support Google Cast or Chromecast wireless technology. More information about these devices is below.

Smart TVs running Android TV and Google TV often have built-in support for Google Cast, as do many other smart TVs on the market. Google Cast can be used to cast Apple TV, Apple Music, and Google Photos media to your TV, in addition to a variety of other content and screen mirroring.

Here's an example of how to cast from Google Photos to your TV:

1. Open Google Photos.

2. Select a photo from your photo album or gallery.

3. Click the Chromecast icon at the top of the screen.

4. Select the TV to connect to.

Android smartphones offer extremely strong support for Google Cast, while the iPhone prefers Apple's own AirPlay protocol. That being said, a fair number of iOS apps still support Google Cast wireless connections to your TV, and some third-party apps can add support where it lacks.

If your TV lacks any kind of built-in wireless functionality, a cheap and affordable way to add that functionality is to buy an HDMI adapter, often called a streaming stick.

Here are some of the more popular streaming sticks people use to wirelessly connect their smartphones to their TVs:

• Google Chromecast : Google Chromecast devices allow smartphones to cast and mirror content on TVs. Chromecast generally runs better on Android mobile devices, although the iPhone still offers some support for certain apps and features.
• Apple TV : The Apple TV device lets you stream from your iPhone to your TV using Apple AirPlay. They also allow the installation of a growing number of streaming apps and video games from the App Store. Apple TV is generally not recommended if you primarily use an Android smartphone and don't already have an Apple account.
• Amazon Fire Stick : Amazon's various Fire Stick streaming sticks enable wireless connectivity via Google Cast (Chromecast) and also allow the installation of streaming apps and games. Fire Sticks have built-in support for casting and mirroring from Android smartphones, but iPhone AirPlay functionality can be added through third-party apps.
• Roku : The Roku streaming stick allows wireless casting and mirroring of content from iPhone and Android smartphones. Roku devices also have a ton of channels and apps.

Many modern video game consoles and Blu-ray players support wireless casting and mirroring of smartphone content. When you connect your phone to one of these devices, it will display your content on the connected TV.

Devices that support wireless connections will often mention Chromecast, AirPlay, or "casting" on their packaging or in their settings menu.

On networked Blu-ray players, this feature may be labeled screen mirroring, display mirroring, or some other combination.

Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles all support some type of wireless connection.

In addition to wireless casting and mirroring options, such devices often support streaming apps that you can control via a remote or phone. For example, you can watch Netflix on your Xbox console without installing anything on your TV.

If you just want to connect to your TV in order to watch content from Netflix, Disney Plus, and other streaming services, you don't actually need to set up a wireless connection at all, as most of these services can be accessed directly through their official no smartphone required app.

All you need to do is install the app onto your smart TV and use your remote to log into the service directly on your TV. Once done, you can use the remote to navigate the app and select what you want to use.

Applications can be installed on the following types of devices:

• Smart TV
• video game console
• streaming stick
• Some modern Blu-ray players

In addition to streaming services, many cloud storage platforms also have official apps that you can access on your TV or its connected devices. Instead of casting content from your smartphone, you can log into cloud services on your TV and access your photos, videos, and documents directly. For example, OneDrive content can be accessed through the OneDrive app on the Xbox console.

FAQ

• The easiest way to watch videos and photos on your TV is to mirror your phone screen wirelessly. Both iPhone and Android smartphones support mirroring content on your TV relatively easily. Alternatively, you can connect your phone to the TV via a USB or HDMI cable to create a wired connection.

• If you're using a method like Apple's AirPlay to connect to your TV, you first need to make sure your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. You should also keep your devices within range of each other; for safety, keep them within 10-15 feet. If you are using the app, please check for updates or restart your device.