The fastest way: use Samsung's built-in wireless connection
Samsung phones and TVs talk to each other through a feature called SmartThings or Screen Mirroring, depending on your model year. You do not need cables, apps from other companies, or a computer in between. The connection happens over your home WiFi network, and it takes about 30 seconds to set up the first time.
Start on your Samsung phone. Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the full quick settings menu. Look for Screen Mirroring or Smart View — the name depends on whether your phone runs Android 11 or newer. Tap it. Your phone will search for nearby Samsung TVs on the same WiFi network and show you a list.
On the TV side, nothing needs to happen first. Your TV is already listening for connection requests if it is turned on and connected to WiFi. When your phone finds it, tap the TV name from the list. The TV will ask you to confirm the connection — you may see a prompt on the screen asking "Allow?" Just say yes, and within a few seconds your phone screen appears on the TV.
Key Takeaways
- Screen Mirroring or Smart View on your Samsung phone connects wirelessly to your TV over WiFi in about 30 seconds, with no cables or extra apps needed.
- Both devices must be on the same WiFi network and the TV must be powered on, but you do not need to set up anything on the TV beforehand.
- Once connected, everything on your phone screen shows on the TV — photos, videos, apps, or your entire home screen — and you control it from your phone.
- If Screen Mirroring does not appear in your quick settings, update your phone's software or use the SmartThings app as a backup method.
- HDMI cables work on any Samsung TV model and are the most reliable option if wireless connection fails or your TV is older than 2016.
What happens after you connect
Once the connection is live, your phone becomes a remote control for what appears on the TV. Everything you see on your phone screen — apps, photos, videos, web pages — shows up on the TV at the same time. You swipe, tap, and type on your phone, and the TV responds to those actions.
This is useful for showing photos to people in the room, playing videos from your phone's storage or from apps like YouTube or Netflix, or mirroring a presentation. The TV does not need its own app or account — it just displays what your phone sends. Audio comes through the TV speakers by default, so you get full sound without plugging in headphones.
To disconnect, swipe down to your quick settings again and tap Screen Mirroring to turn it off. The TV goes back to its normal input. You can reconnect to the same TV when ready the next time without any setup.
When wireless connection does not work
If your phone cannot find the TV, or if the connection keeps dropping, the problem is usually one of three things: the devices are not on the same WiFi network, the TV is too far from the router, or the TV software is out of date.
Check that both your phone and TV are connected to the same WiFi network — look in your TV's network settings and your phone's WiFi settings and make sure the network name matches. If your TV is in a different room from the router, move it closer temporarily to test. If the TV has not been updated in several months, go to Settings on the TV, find Software Update, and check for new versions.
If none of that works, restart both devices. Turn off the TV completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Restart your phone the same way. Then try Screen Mirroring again. This fixes most connection problems that software updates do not catch.
Using an HDMI cable as a backup
If wireless mirroring is not working and you need to connect right now, an HDMI cable is the most reliable option. Samsung TVs have at least one HDMI port on the back or side. You will need a USB-C to HDMI adapter for your phone — this is a small device that plugs into your phone's charging port and has an HDMI connector on the other end.
Plug the USB-C end into your phone and the HDMI end into any available HDMI port on the TV. Switch the TV to that HDMI input using the remote or the input button. Your phone screen appears on the TV when ready. The connection is when ready and does not depend on WiFi, so it works even if your network is down.
The downside is that your phone stays plugged in and you cannot move around the room. But for watching videos, giving presentations, or troubleshooting a wireless connection problem, HDMI is faster and more stable than trying to fix WiFi issues.
Using the SmartThings app if Screen Mirroring is missing
Some older Samsung phones or phones running older versions of Android do not have Screen Mirroring in the quick settings. If you cannot find it, read the SmartThings app from the Google Play Store on your phone. It is free and made by Samsung.
Open SmartThings and tap the plus icon to add a device. Select your TV from the list of nearby devices. The app will guide you through connecting — it is the same process as Screen Mirroring, just accessed through an app instead of the quick settings menu. Once you connect through SmartThings once, the TV stays in your device list and you can reconnect with one tap.
SmartThings also lets you control your TV like a remote — change the volume, switch inputs, or turn it on and off from your phone even when you are not mirroring the screen. This is useful if you lose the physical remote or want to control the TV from another room.
Connecting multiple phones to the same TV
You can switch between phones on the same TV, but only one phone can mirror at a time. If two people want to show something, one person disconnects first, then the second person connects. The process takes about 10 seconds each time.
If you want to avoid disconnecting and reconnecting, use the SmartThings app on both phones. Both phones can control the TV at the same time — one person can mirror the screen while another person uses the app to adjust volume or change inputs. This is helpful in a family setting where multiple people want to interact with the TV.
Troubleshooting audio or video problems
If the video appears on the TV but there is no sound, check the TV volume first — it may be muted or turned all the way down. If the volume is fine, go to your phone's Settings, find Apps or Sound, and look for any app-specific volume controls. Some apps like Netflix have their own volume slider separate from the system volume.
If the picture is choppy or freezes, move your phone closer to the TV or the WiFi router. Wireless mirroring uses a lot of bandwidth, and distance or obstacles like walls can cause lag. If you are streaming video from the internet, the problem may be your WiFi speed rather than the connection itself — try closing other apps that use the internet and try again.
If the TV shows a black screen or says "No Signal," disconnect and reconnect. Swipe down to Screen Mirroring, turn it off, wait 5 seconds, and turn it back on. If that does not work, restart both devices and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Samsung account to connect my phone to my TV?
No. Screen Mirroring works over your home WiFi network without any account or login. You do not need to sign into Samsung, Google, or anything else. Just make sure both devices are on the same WiFi and powered on.
Can I connect a non-Samsung phone to a Samsung TV?
Not through Screen Mirroring — that feature is only for Samsung phones and tablets. However, most modern TVs support a standard called Miracast, which works with many Android phones from other brands. Look for "Miracast" or "Cast" in your phone's quick settings. iPhones can use AirPlay if your Samsung TV supports it, though this is less common on older models.
Will connecting my phone to the TV drain the battery?
Yes, mirroring uses more battery than normal because your phone is constantly sending video and audio to the TV over WiFi. If you are mirroring for more than an hour, plug your phone into a charger. HDMI connections also drain the battery slightly because the adapter draws power from your phone's USB port.
Can I use my phone while the screen is mirrored to the TV?
Not really. When you are mirroring, everything on your phone screen appears on the TV, so if you open a different app or notification, it shows on the TV too. If you want to use your phone privately while the TV is on, disconnect the mirror first or use the SmartThings app to control the TV without mirroring the screen.
What if my TV is older than 2016?
Older Samsung TVs do not have built-in wireless mirroring. Use an HDMI cable with a USB-C to HDMI adapter instead. This works on any TV with an HDMI port, regardless of age or brand. If your TV does not have HDMI, you can buy a separate streaming device like a Chromecast or Roku that plugs into the TV and supports wireless casting from your phone.