We are living in a time when you can do everything using just your mobile device: watch movies, order clothes or food, transfer money to someone and so on. And of course, it’s natural to have a desire of replacing old gadgets like a remote controller with your smartphone. If you are looking for ways to connect your phone to a TV – here they are.

There are methods of connecting phones to TVs that are decent only for Android devices or just for iOS ones, but also there are some ways of connecting phones and TVs suitable for both of them. We will describe all these methods of connecting phones and TVs, so you can choose which one is easier for you to use.

How To Connect Your Phone To A TV: Both Android and iOS Devices

1. Using HDMI

HDMI cable is the most reliable way for connecting your phone to the TV. All TVs nowadays have the HDMI port which transfers both video and audio from the single source. The general standard for HDMI cables is HDMI 2.0.

Of course, your phone doesn’t have the HDMI port on it, but there are plenty of adaptors that will bold HDMI onto micro USB, lightning, or USB Type-C.

Some Android tablets have a mini HDMI port that can let you make a connection using just one cable.

For connecting your iOS gadget using HDMI port, you will necessitate purchasing a Lightning Digital AV adapter which allows a simple connection with the TV. The price of Apple’s adapter is about $50, so you can look for cheaper models in Amazon. The advantage of the Lightning Digital AV adapter from Apple is that it has an extra port for charging your phone while it’s connected to your TV.

2. USB Connector

Charging cables of almost all the smartphones end with a USB connector which helps easily connect with our laptop or just with power adaptors. But here’s the thing: a major percent of smart TVs nowadays have a USB port on them and this is the simplest way of transferring your files on the TV screen.

But the disadvantage of this method is that as you are technically transferring files to open on the TV. So, this one mostly suits best if you’re looking for a different channel to play your photo albums or videos with a bigger screen. Do note that you’ll need to allow your device to transfer your files to the TV for it to work.

3. DLNA Applications

The third way of connecting your phone to your TV requires an Internet connection. If you have an internet-enabled TV, it probably supports DLNA. It is a generic form of streaming media available on many different manufacturers’ products. Using the right apps, you can stream unprotected files. So for music purchased from, for example, iStore it won’t work as it has Digital Rights Management.

The advantage of using this method is that using the right application you can stream media not only from your phone but also from other devices like your laptop or tablet. Also, the great thing in DLNA is that you can stream not only to your TV but, for instance, to your gaming console. And you don’t even need to convert your files to make everything work properly.

LocalCasts is an Android app that will let you stream your files to a DLNA device. Another application for Android devices is AllCast, which has an extra option of streaming to more devices, e.g. PlayStation 4. Also, AllCast can stream files from your Dropbox account.

How To Connect Your Phone To A TV: Android Devices

1. Chromecast

If your TV supports Chromecast or you have a Chromecast dongle, you can stream some apps to your TV from your phone. Apps that support casting include HBO, Netflix, Google Photos, and so on.

The first thing you will need to check is the connection of your devices to the same Wi-Fi. Then simply tap the cast icon in the application you want to stream, choose the exact device and that’s it.

This is a great solution for streaming content with copyright, which you can’t stream using, for example, a cable streaming method or screen mirroring.

2. Screen Mirroring

For the apps that are not supporting the casting method, this is the best way for making a connection.

This method has two ways of connection. It varies from your phone model. On some devices, you can pull down the settings shade and you will see the cast button (it is the same as in the apps that support casting). Just tap that icon and you will share your screen to the device you want.

If this doesn’t suit your phone model download the Google Home application. Open the Account > Mirror device > Cast Screen/ Audio and simpy stream your screen to the TV.

3. Amazon FireStick

Similar to Chromecast, Amazon FireStick is one of the best streaming media player that supports endless movies, TV shows, live TV, and more. Though Amazon FireStick doesn’t work directly on Android devices. But, with a little tweak on the settings and the help of the third-party apps, you can mirror Amazon FireStick onto your Android devices. One of the best apps to make it happen is the AllCast on Android. All you need is to download the app, launch it and it’ll give you the option to choose the media you wished to mirror with your FireTV Stick.

However, a good note is your Android phone should have the ability to support Miracast. Though not every mobile works the same, as long as it supports Miracast with WiFi-enabled, you’re good to go. Of course, you’ll also have to enable the ‘Mirror’ function on FireStick beforehand. Otherwise, none of it will be happening.

4. Samsung Galaxy Smart View

Samsung Galaxy devices have an implemented function which is called Smart view. This feature enables a connection and content sharing from your device to another gadget or vice versa.

How To Connect Your Phone To A TV: iOS Devices

1. Apple AirPlay

The simplest way of connecting your iPhone to your TV is the AirPlay feature, which allows you to stream your content via the Apple TV or TVs that support AirPlay.

If you own an Apple TV set up, connect it to the same Wi-Fi your phone is connected to. Open the Control Center by swiping up from down tap Screen mirroring button and choose a device you want to stream your content to.

The second way is for the ones, who don’t have the Apple TV device but owns one of the newest models of the TV, like Samsung (2018 and 2019 models), LG (2019), Vizio (2017, 2018, 2019) and Sony (2019). Apple announced that these models now support AirPlay 2 streaming and you can enjoy the casting features just by simple connection without the need for cables.

2. Android TV Stick Or Chromecast

This is a little more hackerish way for connecting your iPhone to your TV, but if you urgently need this connection this may help you. In cases when you need to stream unprotected files and you own an Android-powered TV stick you can plug it into your TV, install the Kodi media server app, and the stick will play your content on the screen when you tap AirPlay button.

But again remember that this is not the best way for making the connection, as these sticks are extremely slow and unreliable.

Takeaway

There you have it. That’s some of the best ways you can connect your phone to TV and vice versa. It’s simple, easy, and definitely working. The information is correct as of now, though it might change in the future and its update. Should you require any more information, please drop us an email. We’ll try our best to answer them.