The three ways to get your phone's picture on the screen

You can connect your phone to your TV through a cable plugged into the TV's HDMI port, through a wireless connection that both devices support, or through a streaming app that sends the signal over your home wifi. Which one works depends on what TV you have, what phone you have, and what you're trying to do — watching a video you shot, mirroring your entire screen, or just playing audio through the TV's speakers.

The cable method is the most reliable because it's a direct physical connection. The wireless methods are faster to set up once they're working, but they can drop the connection or lag slightly, especially if your wifi is slow or crowded. Most people end up using whichever method their TV and phone support most easily, then switching to another method when that one doesn't work for what they need.

Key Takeaways

  • HDMI cables work with almost any TV and phone if you have the right adapter, and they never drop the connection or lag.
  • Wireless casting through Chromecast, AirPlay, or Miracast is built into most modern TVs and phones, but requires both devices on the same wifi network.
  • Streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ send video directly to your TV without mirroring your phone's screen, so they use less battery and work even if your wifi is weak.
  • Older TVs without built-in wireless features can use a separate device like a Chromecast dongle or Apple TV box to add wireless casting.

Using an HDMI cable and adapter

An HDMI cable plugged directly into your TV's HDMI port is the oldest and most straightforward method. Your phone connects to one end of the cable through an adapter — the adapter depends on what phone you have. iPhones use a Lightning to HDMI adapter, Android phones usually use a USB-C to HDMI adapter, and older Android phones might need a Micro-USB adapter. You can buy these adapters at any electronics store or online for $15 to $40.

Once the cable is connected, your TV automatically switches to the HDMI input and shows whatever is on your phone's screen. The picture is sharp, the connection never drops, and there is no lag. The downside is that you have a cable running from your phone to the TV, which limits where you can hold your phone and drains the battery faster because the phone is powering the video output. If you're watching a video or presentation, this is usually fine. If you want to move around the room or use your phone for something else while the TV plays, wireless is better.

Wireless casting through your TV's built-in features

Most TVs made in the last five years have wireless casting built in. Samsung and other Android-based TVs use Miracast, which is also called "Screen Mirroring" or "Wireless Display". Apple TVs and some newer Samsung and LG models support AirPlay, which works with iPhones and iPads. Google TVs and many other brands have Chromecast built in, which works with Android phones and iPhones.

To use any of these, your phone and TV must be on the same wifi network. Open your phone's settings, find the screen mirroring or casting option, and select your TV from the list. The TV's screen will appear on your phone as a confirmation, and then your phone's display shows on the TV. You can then use your phone normally — open apps, take screenshots, show photos — and everything appears on the TV. The connection usually takes a few seconds to establish and can occasionally drop if your wifi is unstable, but reconnecting is quick.

If your TV is older and does not have wireless casting built in, you can add it with a separate device. A Google Chromecast dongle plugs into an HDMI port and adds Chromecast to any TV for about $30. An Apple TV box does the same for AirPlay and costs more but also lets you use other Apple services. A Roku device or Amazon Fire TV stick adds their own casting systems. These devices all sit between your TV and the wall outlet, so you only need to plug in one extra cable.

Using apps that stream directly to your TV

Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Hulu, and most other video apps have a built-in button to send video directly to your TV without mirroring your phone's screen. Look for a rectangle with a triangle in the corner — that's the casting icon. Tap it, select your TV, and the video plays on the TV while your phone shows a small player you can use to pause, rewind, or change the volume. Your phone's screen stays dark the rest of the time, which saves battery and lets you use your phone for other things while you watch.

This method works even if your wifi is slow, because the app sends the video stream directly from the internet to your TV rather than sending it from your phone to your TV. It's the most efficient way to watch anything that has its own app. The downside is that it only works with apps that support it — you can't use it to show a photo, a web page, or anything else that's not in an app with a casting button.

What to do when wireless casting is slow or keeps dropping

If your TV and phone are far apart, if there are walls between them, or if your wifi network is crowded with other devices, the wireless connection can lag or disconnect. Move closer to your router or TV, or move your router to a more central location in your home. If you have a 5GHz wifi network available, connect your phone to that instead of 2.4GHz — it's faster but has shorter range, so it works better when you're close to the router.

If the problem persists, restart both your TV and your phone. Unplug the TV for 30 seconds, turn it back on, then restart your phone. This clears out temporary connection problems that build up over time. If you're still having trouble and you need a reliable connection right now, use the HDMI cable method instead — it will never drop or lag because it's a direct physical connection.

Connecting audio only, without video

If you want to play music or a podcast through your TV's speakers without showing anything on the screen, you have two options. You can use Bluetooth if your TV supports it — go to your phone's Bluetooth settings, find your TV's name, and tap it to connect. Once paired, any audio from your phone plays through the TV's speakers. This works for music apps, podcasts, phone calls, and anything else that makes sound.

The other option is to use an audio cable. A 3.5mm audio jack cable (the old headphone jack size) plugs into your phone's headphone port on one end and into the TV's audio input on the other. Older TVs have a dedicated audio input jack. Newer TVs without a headphone jack can use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter plus an audio cable. This method is reliable and works with any TV, but requires a cable and limits where you can put your phone.

Which method to use for different situations

Use an HDMI cable when you need the most reliable connection and don't mind having a cable attached to your phone — this is best for presentations, showing photos to a group, or anything where the connection dropping would be annoying. Use wireless casting when you want to move around the room or use your phone for other things while the TV plays — this works well for showing videos, photos, or your phone's screen to other people. Use a streaming app's built-in casting button when you're watching Netflix, YouTube, or another service with its own app — this saves battery and works even on slower wifi.

If you're not sure which method your TV supports, check the TV's manual or look in the settings menu for "Screen Mirroring", "AirPlay", "Chromecast", or "Miracast". If you don't find any of those, your TV is older and you'll need either an HDMI cable or a separate casting device like a Chromecast dongle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy anything to connect my phone wirelessly?

Not if your TV was made in the last five years — it almost certainly has wireless casting built in. If your TV is older, you can buy a Chromecast dongle for about $30, which plugs into an HDMI port and adds wireless casting to any TV. You don't need to buy anything for the HDMI cable method except the adapter that matches your phone type, which costs $15 to $40.

Can I connect my phone to my TV if we're not on the same wifi network?

An HDMI cable works without any wifi at all. Wireless casting requires both devices on the same network. If you're at someone else's house and can't connect to their wifi, use an HDMI cable instead. Some apps like YouTube let you cast without being on the same network, but this is rare.

Why does my wireless connection keep dropping?

This usually happens when your phone and TV are far apart, when there are walls between them, or when your wifi network is slow or crowded. Try moving closer to the TV or router, switching to a 5GHz network if available, or restarting both devices. If it keeps happening, use an HDMI cable instead — it will never drop.

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

With an HDMI cable, your phone drains battery faster because it's powering the video output, so you may want to plug it in. With wireless casting, your phone uses less battery, but you can still plug it in if you want. Just make sure the charger cable doesn't tangle with the HDMI cable or get in your way.

What if my phone doesn't have an HDMI port?

No modern phone has an HDMI port — they all use adapters. iPhones use a Lightning to HDMI adapter, most Android phones use USB-C to HDMI, and older Android phones use Micro-USB to HDMI. Buy the adapter that matches your phone's charging port, and it will work with any TV that has an HDMI input.