The three ways to connect your phone to your TV
You can connect your phone to your TV using a cable plugged into the TV's HDMI port, by casting wirelessly through an app, or by mirroring your screen without an app. Which method works depends on what TV and phone you own, what cables you have on hand, and whether you want to show the whole screen or just video from one app.
The fastest route is usually a cable if your TV is within arm's reach — you plug one end into your phone and the other into the TV, and the picture appears in seconds. Wireless methods are slower to set up the first time but let you move around the room. Some phones and TVs work together seamlessly; others require extra steps or won't work at all.
Key Takeaways
- An HDMI cable with the right adapter for your phone is the fastest and most reliable way to connect, though it requires your TV to be close enough to reach.
- Casting through an app like Google Home or Apple TV works wirelessly but only sends video from apps that support it, not your whole screen.
- Screen mirroring copies everything on your phone to the TV without an app, but it drains your phone battery faster and may lag slightly.
- Before you buy a cable or adapter, check what port your phone has — USB-C, Lightning, or micro-USB — because the wrong one will not fit.
- Your TV must have an HDMI port for any of these methods to work; if it does not, you will need a separate streaming device like a Roku or Fire Stick.
Using a cable: the simplest method
A cable connection is the most straightforward approach because it requires no setup, no passwords, and no waiting for devices to find each other. You buy an adapter that matches your phone's charging port, plug it into your phone, connect an HDMI cable to the adapter, plug the other end into your TV's HDMI port, and switch the TV to that HDMI input. The picture appears when ready.
The catch is knowing which adapter to buy. If your phone charges with USB-C, you need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. If it charges with Lightning (iPhones), you need a Lightning to HDMI adapter. If it is an older Android phone with micro-USB, you need a micro-USB to HDMI adapter. These adapters cost between $15 and $40 and are sold at most electronics stores. Buy one that explicitly says it supports video output, not just charging.
Once you have the right adapter, plug it into your phone's charging port, connect a standard HDMI cable to the adapter, and plug the HDMI cable into any available HDMI port on your TV. Use your TV remote to switch to that HDMI input — usually by pressing the Input or Source button and selecting the correct port number. Your phone screen will appear on the TV within a few seconds.
Casting through an app: wireless video from specific apps
Casting sends video from a single app on your phone to your TV without mirroring your whole screen. Google Home (on Android phones) and Apple TV (on iPhones) are the most common casting apps. Casting works only if your TV has a built-in casting receiver — most modern TVs do, but older ones do not. If your TV does not have it built in, you can add casting with a separate device like a Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire Stick.
To cast from an Android phone, open Google Home, tap the device icon in the top right corner, select your TV from the list, and choose the app you want to cast from. Some apps like YouTube and Netflix have a cast button built in; tap it and select your TV. To cast from an iPhone, open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your TV. Then open the app you want to watch.
Casting is slower than a cable connection because your phone and TV have to find each other on your home network first. This usually takes 10 to 20 seconds. The picture quality is slightly lower than a cable connection, and if your WiFi is slow, the video may pause or stutter. Casting also drains your phone battery faster than watching directly on the phone.
Screen mirroring: wireless display of everything on your phone
Screen mirroring copies your entire phone screen to the TV, not just one app. This means you can show photos, text messages, web pages, or anything else on your phone. Screen mirroring is built into most phones and TVs made in the last five years and requires no app or adapter.
On Android phones, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the full Quick Settings menu, look for a button called Cast, Screen Cast, or Wireless Display, tap it, and select your TV from the list. On iPhones, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your TV. Your phone screen will appear on the TV in 5 to 15 seconds.
Screen mirroring works over your home WiFi, so both your phone and TV must be connected to the same network. If they are not, you can set this up in your phone's WiFi settings and your TV's network settings. Screen mirroring drains your phone battery faster than normal use and may lag slightly behind what you are doing on the phone — usually by less than a second, but noticeable if you are playing a fast game.
What to do if your TV does not have HDMI or wireless features
Older TVs without HDMI ports or wireless casting cannot connect directly to your phone. If your TV has only composite cables (red, white, and yellow plugs) or component cables (red, green, and blue plugs), you will need a separate streaming device to bridge the gap.
A Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, or Roku device plugs into your TV's HDMI port or composite input and adds casting and screen mirroring to any TV. These devices cost between $30 and $70 and set up in about 10 minutes. Once connected, you can cast from your phone the same way you would with a TV that has casting built in. If your TV has no HDMI port at all, look for a composite input and buy a device that supports it — most modern streaming devices do.
Troubleshooting when the connection does not work
If you plugged in a cable and nothing appeared on the TV, first check that you switched the TV to the correct HDMI input. Use your TV remote to press Input or Source, and select the HDMI port number that matches where you plugged in the cable. If the picture still does not appear, unplug the cable from both ends, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. If that does not work, try a different HDMI port on the TV.
If you are trying to cast or mirror wirelessly and your TV does not appear in the list of available devices, make sure both your phone and TV are connected to the same WiFi network. Check your phone's WiFi settings and your TV's network settings to confirm they are on the same network. If they are, restart both devices by turning them off completely, waiting 30 seconds, and turning them back on. Then try casting or mirroring again.
If the picture appears but the sound does not, check your TV's volume and make sure it is not muted. If the TV volume is on but you still hear nothing, go into your phone's settings and look for an audio or sound output option — some phones let you choose whether audio goes to the phone speaker or the TV speaker. Select the TV speaker and try again.
Choosing the right method for your situation
Use a cable if your TV is close to where you will be sitting and you want the fastest, most reliable connection with no setup. Use casting if you want to watch video from apps like YouTube or Netflix without showing your whole phone screen. Use screen mirroring if you want to show everything on your phone — photos, messages, web pages — and your TV has wireless features built in.
If you move between rooms often, wireless methods are more convenient because you do not have to unplug and replug a cable. If you are showing something for the first time on a TV you have never used before, a cable is faster because it requires no setup. If your phone battery is low, a cable connection uses less power than wireless methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect my phone to a TV that does not have WiFi?
Yes. A cable connection works on any TV with an HDMI port, regardless of whether it has WiFi. If your TV has no HDMI port, you can add a streaming device like a Chromecast or Fire Stick to enable both cable and wireless connections.
Will connecting my phone to the TV damage the phone or TV?
No. A cable connection is safe — it sends video and audio signals only. Wireless connections are also safe because they use the same WiFi your phone and TV already use every day. The only wear comes from repeatedly plugging and unplugging a cable, which can loosen the port over time.
Can I charge my phone while it is connected to the TV with a cable?
Not with most HDMI adapters. Some adapters have a second USB port that lets you plug in a charging cable at the same time, but this is rare. If you need to charge while connected, look for an adapter that explicitly supports pass-through charging, or use a wireless connection instead.
Why does my screen mirroring lag behind what I am doing on my phone?
Screen mirroring sends your phone screen over WiFi, which takes a fraction of a second. This delay is usually not noticeable for watching video or looking at photos, but it becomes obvious if you are playing a fast game or typing. A cable connection has almost no lag because the signal travels directly through the HDMI cable.
Do I need to buy a new TV to connect my phone wirelessly?
No. If your TV has an HDMI port but no built-in casting, you can buy a Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, or Roku device for $30 to $70 and plug it into the HDMI port. This adds wireless casting and screen mirroring to any TV.