The simplest ways to get your phone's screen on your TV

You can connect your phone to your TV using either a wireless connection or a cable. Wireless is faster to set up if your TV and phone are made by the same company — Apple to Apple, or Android to Android. A cable works with almost any combination and costs $15 to $40, but you have to plug it in every time. Most people start with wireless and keep a cable as a backup.

The method you choose depends on what you want to do. If you are streaming video from Netflix or YouTube, wireless works fine. If you want to play a mobile game on a big screen with no lag, a cable is more reliable. If your TV is older than five years, wireless may not work at all — check your TV's manual or the back panel first.

Key Takeaways

  • Wireless connections (AirPlay, Miracast, Chromecast) work best when your phone and TV are the same brand, but they require both devices to be on the same WiFi network.
  • HDMI cables are the most universal option and work with any phone and TV combination if you have the right adapter for your phone's charging port.
  • Casting apps like Google Home and Apple TV let you send video to your TV without mirroring your entire phone screen, which uses less battery and works over slower WiFi.
  • Older TVs without built-in wireless may need a separate device like a Chromecast stick or Apple TV box plugged into an HDMI port.
  • Test the connection with a video or photo first — if the picture is choppy or keeps disconnecting, switch to a cable or move your phone closer to the router.

Wireless connection with AirPlay (iPhone to Apple TV)

If you have an iPhone and an Apple TV box, AirPlay is the fastest wireless option. Make sure both devices are plugged in and on the same WiFi network. On your iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, tap the Screen Mirroring icon (it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom), and select your Apple TV from the list. Your phone's screen will appear on the TV in about three seconds.

If you do not see your Apple TV in the list, check that both devices are on the same WiFi network — not a guest network. Restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. If it still does not appear, restart your iPhone by turning it off and back on. AirPlay works over WiFi, so the connection will drop if you move too far from your router or if someone else on the network is downloading large files.

To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring. Your phone screen will no longer appear on the TV, but the TV will stay on whatever app was open.

Wireless connection with Miracast (Android to most TVs)

Android phones can connect to most modern TVs using Miracast, which is built into Android and many TVs made after 2015. On your Android phone, pull down the notification shade twice to open Quick Settings, look for an option called Screen Cast, Smart View, or Wireless Display (the name varies by phone brand), and tap it. Your phone will search for nearby TVs. Select your TV from the list and wait for the connection to establish.

If your TV does not appear, make sure it is turned on and that both devices are on the same WiFi network. Some TVs require you to turn on Miracast in the settings menu first — check your TV manual or search the model number plus "Miracast" online. If your TV is older than 2015 or does not support Miracast, you will need a cable or a separate device like a Chromecast stick.

Miracast drains your phone battery faster than AirPlay because it is less efficient, so plug your phone in if you plan to mirror for more than an hour. The connection is also more prone to lag than a cable, so avoid using it for fast-paced games.

Casting video without mirroring your entire screen

If you only want to send video from one app to your TV — not your entire phone screen — use casting instead of mirroring. Casting uses less battery and works over slower WiFi. Open the app you want to watch (YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, or another streaming service), look for a cast icon (usually a rectangle with WiFi waves), and tap it. Select your TV from the list. The video will play on your TV while your phone screen goes dark or shows the app's menu.

Casting is built into most streaming apps, but not all. If you do not see a cast icon in the app, the app does not support it. You can still mirror your entire phone screen instead, but that will drain your battery faster. Casting works with Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and most modern smart TVs that have Google TV or Roku built in.

To cast from your phone to a TV that does not have a built-in receiver, plug a Chromecast stick into the TV's HDMI port. Chromecast sticks cost $30 to $50 and turn any TV into a casting receiver. Once plugged in, set it up by following the on-screen instructions, and then any app on your phone can cast to it.

Connecting with an HDMI cable (works with any phone and TV)

An HDMI cable is the most reliable way to connect your phone to your TV, but you need an adapter that matches your phone's charging port. iPhones use a Lightning to HDMI adapter (about $15 to $20), and Android phones use a USB-C to HDMI adapter (about $10 to $25). Plug the adapter into your phone's charging port, plug one end of an HDMI cable into the adapter, and plug the other end into any HDMI port on the back or side of your TV.

Switch your TV to the correct HDMI input using the remote. Most TVs have a button labeled Input or HDMI; press it and select the port you plugged the cable into. Your phone's screen will appear on the TV when ready. Unlike wireless, there is no setup, no WiFi needed, and no lag. The downside is that you are tethered to the TV by a cable, and your phone will not charge while connected unless you use an adapter that supports both video and power.

If the picture is upside down or sideways, rotate your phone to the orientation you want and it will correct itself. If the picture is too small or too large, check your TV's picture settings — some TVs zoom or crop the image by default. If nothing appears on the TV, try a different HDMI port or restart both devices.

Using an older TV without wireless built in

If your TV does not have WiFi or does not support Miracast or AirPlay, you have two options: use a cable, or plug in a separate device. A Chromecast stick, Apple TV box, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Roku device plugs into an HDMI port and adds wireless casting to any TV. These devices cost $30 to $150 depending on the brand and features, and they work with both iPhones and Android phones.

To set up a Chromecast stick, plug it into an HDMI port, turn on your TV, and follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to connect it to your WiFi network using your phone. Once set up, any app on your phone can cast to it. An Apple TV box works the same way but is more expensive and works best with iPhones.

If you do not want to buy a separate device, a cable is the cheapest option and works with any TV. An HDMI adapter and cable cost less than $30 total and require no setup or WiFi. The trade-off is that you have to plug your phone in every time you want to use it.

Troubleshooting when the connection drops or does not work

If your wireless connection keeps disconnecting, the first thing to check is your WiFi. Move your phone closer to your router or move the router closer to your TV. If other devices on your network are downloading large files or streaming video, they may be using all the bandwidth — ask others to pause their activity and try again. Restart your router by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in.

If the picture is choppy or lags behind the sound, wireless is not reliable enough for what you are doing. Switch to a cable instead. Wireless works fine for watching video or looking at photos, but it can lag for games or live sports. If you are playing a game and the lag is unacceptable, a cable is the only solution.

If your phone and TV are on different WiFi networks (for example, if your phone is on your main network and your TV is on a guest network), they cannot connect wirelessly. Make sure both devices are on the same network. If your TV does not have WiFi at all, you need either a cable or a separate casting device like a Chromecast stick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I charge my phone while it is connected to the TV with a cable?

Not with a standard HDMI adapter — the adapter only carries video, not power. You can buy a dual-purpose adapter that carries both video and power, but they cost more ($25 to $40) and are less common. The easiest solution is to plug your phone into a power outlet with a separate charger while the HDMI cable is connected.

Why does my phone screen appear zoomed in or cut off on the TV?

Your TV is probably zooming the image to fill the screen. Look in your TV's picture settings (usually under Display or Picture Size) and change the zoom setting to Fit or 1:1. Some TVs call this Overscan or Just Fit. If you are using a cable, restart your phone and TV after changing the setting.

Do I need to be on WiFi to use a cable connection?

No. A cable connection does not use WiFi at all — it sends the video signal directly through the HDMI port. You only need WiFi for wireless connections like AirPlay, Miracast, or casting.

What if my TV has no HDMI ports?

Older TVs sometimes have only composite (red, white, yellow) ports or VGA ports instead of HDMI. You can buy an adapter that converts HDMI to one of these older formats, but the picture quality will be lower. A cheaper option is to buy a Chromecast stick or Fire TV Stick and plug it into the TV's composite port using an adapter, though this is less common. Check your TV manual to see what ports it has.

Is it safe to leave my phone connected to the TV all the time?

Yes, both wireless and cable connections are safe. Wireless uses the same WiFi signal as your phone normally does. A cable connection sends only video and does not damage your phone or TV. The only concern is battery drain with wireless — your phone will lose battery faster when mirroring than when casting, so plug it in if you plan to use it for more than an hour.