The three ways to connect your phone to your TV

You can connect your phone to your TV using a cable, a wireless connection, or a built-in casting feature. Which one works depends on what phone and TV you own, and what you want to do — watch video, mirror your whole screen, or just play music through the TV's speakers.

The fastest route is usually the wireless option your TV already supports. Most modern smart TVs have either AirPlay (for iPhones and iPads) or Chromecast (for Android phones), built in. If your TV is older, you can add a small device like a Chromecast dongle or Apple TV box to get wireless casting. The cable route works on almost any TV and phone combination, but requires you to buy an adapter and plug something in every time.

Key Takeaways

  • Most smart TVs have wireless casting built in — check your TV's settings or manual to see whether it supports AirPlay, Chromecast, or both.
  • iPhones use AirPlay, Android phones use Chromecast, and both work over your home WiFi without a cable.
  • If your TV is older or doesn't have the right wireless feature, a Chromecast dongle or Apple TV box plugs into an HDMI port and costs between $30 and $200.
  • A wired HDMI cable or USB-C adapter works with almost any TV but requires an adapter that matches your phone's port type.
  • Casting video and mirroring your whole screen use different amounts of battery and WiFi — casting a single app drains less power than mirroring everything.

Using AirPlay if you have an iPhone or iPad

AirPlay is Apple's wireless casting system. It works between any iPhone, iPad, or Mac and any TV that has AirPlay built in, or any TV connected to an Apple TV box. To cast, swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to open Control Center, tap the Screen Mirroring button, and select your TV from the list. Your whole phone screen appears on the TV within a few seconds.

If you want to cast just one app instead of your whole screen — which uses less battery and lets you use your phone for other things — open the app you want to watch, look for an AirPlay icon (usually a triangle with a circle underneath), tap it, and select your TV. Not every app has this button; video apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+ always do, but some others don't.

If your TV doesn't show up in the list, make sure your iPhone and TV are on the same WiFi network. If they are and it still doesn't appear, restart your TV and try again. If you have an older TV without AirPlay, you can add it by connecting an Apple TV box (the smallest model costs around $100) to an HDMI port on the TV.

Using Chromecast if you have an Android phone

Chromecast is Google's wireless casting system. It works between any Android phone and any TV that has Chromecast built in, or any TV connected to a Chromecast dongle. To cast your whole screen, swipe down twice from the top of your Android phone to open Quick Settings, tap Cast, and select your TV. Your screen appears on the TV within a few seconds.

To cast just one app, open the app you want to watch, look for a Cast icon (usually a rectangle with a WiFi symbol in the corner), tap it, and select your TV. Most video apps have this button. Casting a single app uses less battery than mirroring your whole screen and lets you keep using your phone for texts or email while the video plays on the TV.

If your TV doesn't appear in the Cast list, check that your phone and TV are on the same WiFi network. If they are and it still doesn't show, restart your TV and try again. If your TV is older and doesn't have Chromecast built in, you can add it with a Chromecast dongle (around $30 to $50) that plugs into an HDMI port.

Connecting with a cable if you don't have wireless casting

A wired connection works with almost any phone and TV combination, but you need the right adapter. iPhones use USB-C (on newer models) or Lightning (on older ones), and Android phones usually use USB-C. Your TV has HDMI ports. You need an adapter that converts your phone's port to HDMI.

For an iPhone with USB-C, buy a USB-C to HDMI adapter (around $20 to $40). Plug the USB-C end into your phone and the HDMI end into your TV, then switch the TV to the HDMI input that the cable is plugged into. Your phone screen appears on the TV. For an older iPhone with Lightning, you need a Lightning to HDMI adapter instead. For an Android phone with USB-C, a USB-C to HDMI adapter works the same way.

The cable route is slower to set up than wireless casting because you have to plug something in every time, and it drains your phone's battery faster because the phone is powering the video output. But it works reliably even if your WiFi is slow or your TV is very old, and it doesn't require you to buy a separate device.

What to do if your TV doesn't have the right wireless feature

If your TV is older or doesn't have AirPlay or Chromecast built in, you have two options: buy a streaming device or use a cable. A Chromecast dongle (Google's small HDMI stick) costs around $30 to $50 and adds Chromecast to any TV with an HDMI port. An Apple TV box (Apple's larger device) costs between $100 and $200 depending on the model, and adds AirPlay to any TV. Both plug into an HDMI port and connect to your WiFi.

If you already use other Google services like YouTube or Google Home, a Chromecast dongle is usually the cheaper choice. If you use Apple services and already own other Apple devices, an Apple TV box integrates more smoothly with your phone. If you want to use both AirPlay and Chromecast, some newer smart TVs have both built in, but older TVs don't — you would need to buy both devices or choose one.

A cable is the cheapest option if you only need to connect once in a while. But if you plan to cast regularly, a streaming device is faster and more convenient because you don't have to plug anything in each time.

Casting video versus mirroring your whole screen

Casting a single app (like Netflix or YouTube) and mirroring your whole phone screen are two different things, and they use different amounts of power and WiFi. When you cast a single app, only that app's video goes to the TV — your phone stays free to use for other things, and the battery drains slowly. When you mirror your whole screen, everything your phone does appears on the TV, your phone is locked to that task, and the battery drains much faster.

For watching a movie or show, cast the app instead of mirroring. For sharing photos, presenting slides, or showing someone something on your phone that doesn't have a Cast button, mirror your whole screen. Most video apps have a Cast button built in, so you don't have to mirror unless you want to.

Troubleshooting when your phone won't connect

If your phone doesn't show up on your TV or the connection drops, start by checking that both devices are on the same WiFi network. Open your phone's WiFi settings and your TV's network settings and confirm they're connected to the same network name. If they're on different networks, connect your phone to the TV's network.

If they're on the same network and it still doesn't work, restart both devices. Turn off your TV completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Restart your phone by powering it off and on. Then try casting again. If you're using a cable connection, try unplugging the adapter, waiting a few seconds, and plugging it back in. If the TV still doesn't recognize the phone, try a different HDMI port on the TV or a different cable if you have one.

If you're casting over WiFi and the video keeps stopping or freezing, move your phone closer to your WiFi router or TV. Walls and distance weaken the signal. If your WiFi is slow or crowded (many devices connected at once), the video may stutter. Restarting your router sometimes helps. If the problem continues, a wired cable connection is more stable than wireless casting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect my phone to a TV that doesn't have smart features?

Yes, but only with a cable. Older TVs without WiFi or built-in apps can't receive wireless signals, so you need a USB-C to HDMI adapter (for Android) or Lightning/USB-C to HDMI adapter (for iPhone). Plug the adapter into your phone and the HDMI cable into the TV, then switch the TV to that HDMI input.

Does casting use a lot of data from my phone plan?

No. Casting happens over your home WiFi, not your phone's cellular data. As long as you're connected to WiFi, casting doesn't count toward any data limit. If you're away from home and try to cast over cellular data, it won't work — both devices need to be on the same WiFi network.

Why does my phone screen go black when I mirror it to the TV?

Some apps block screen mirroring for copyright reasons. If you're trying to mirror Netflix, Disney+, or another streaming app, the app itself prevents the screen from appearing on the TV. Use the app's Cast button instead, which sends just the video to the TV without mirroring your whole screen.

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

Not with an HDMI adapter. HDMI adapters only send video and audio, not power. If you need to charge while casting, use wireless casting instead, or plug your phone into a charger separately while the HDMI cable is connected — though this can be awkward depending on where your TV's HDMI ports are located.

What's the difference between a Chromecast dongle and an Apple TV box?

A Chromecast dongle is smaller and cheaper (around $30 to $50) and works with Android phones and Google services. An Apple TV box is larger, more expensive ($100 to $200), and works with iPhones and Apple services. Both plug into HDMI and connect to WiFi. Choose based on what phone you use and what other devices you own.