Tv phone connect: How to connect an Android phone to your TV

Miscellaneous

How to connect an Android phone to your TV

For many people, phones have become the primary device for content consumption. However, some content deserves to be watched on a bigger screen, and maybe with a banging sound system, too.

Sure, many people have Smart TVs these days and lots of content can be accessed via the TV’s native apps. But there’s always something that’s missing from the list, and that’s almost never the case with smartphones, which can access just about everything.

So, how do you go about sharing content from your Android phone to your TV? There’s a variety of methods, and they’re all fairly easy to set up, so let’s get you hooked up.

Wireless connection with a Chromecast or Android TV

Our favourite method for connecting Android phones to the big screen is Chromecasting. To do this, you’ll either need to buy a Google Chromecast device or have a TV with Chromecast built-in. Most Android-based smart TVs have this functionality without the need for additional hardware.

The good news is that Chromecast dongles are very affordable, and if you opt for the newer Chromecast with Google TV, you can turn any old TV into a full-featured Android TV for a reasonable price.

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If you need to set up a Chromecast, we’ve got a simple guide that you can follow here. Once it’s up and running, all you need to do is look out for the square-shaped cast icon within the apps on your android phone, the vast majority of content providers will have one.

When you tap the cast icon, the content from the app will be streamed to your TV rather than the phone, and you can control the playback with your handset.

If your desired content doesn’t feature a cast button, don’t worry, you can still cast it to your TV. You’ll just have to mirror your screen instead.

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Screen mirroring is activated differently on different devices, on a Google Pixel, for example, you can just pull down the notification/settings shade and tap on Screen Cast. The same is true for Realme, Oppo and OnePlus phones. Samsung works the same but it’s called Smart View instead.

If you can’t find a screencast option on your phone, try opening the settings menu and searching for “Cast” as you’ll often find something in there.

Wired connection with an adapter

If Chromecasting doesn’t fit your needs, you can always plug things in the old-fashioned way. This method is particularly suited to mobile gaming, as it’s much lower latency than a wireless link. Plus, if you hook up a wireless controller, you can basically use your phone like a Nintendo Switch.

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You have a wealth of options when it comes to adapters, but you’ll most likely be looking for a USB-C to HDMI adapter. You’ll then need an HDMI cable to connect the TV to the adapter.

Another great option is a USB-C hub, this can allow for connecting additional USB devices and even charge the phone while connected. The phone will need to support HDMI Alt Mode in order for these adapters to function correctly.

Older phones with micro USB might still work, but you’ll need a different adapter, and make sure the phone supports MHL.

Once connected, your screen will be mirrored on the TV, just as if you were screencasting wirelessly. There are some phones, like Samsung for instance, that support a Windows-style desktop experience when connected via HDMI. If that’s the case you’ll be given the option to choose between the desktop experience or screen mirroring.

DLNA wireless streaming

If you don’t want to purchase anything, and you already have a smart TV or games console, there’s a good chance they’ll support DLNA streaming over Wi-Fi.

This technology works a little differently to Chromecasting, you won’t be able to mirror your screen, nor will you be able to watch DRM-protected content such as Netflix.

You will, however, be able to wirelessly transmit your photos, videos and music to the TV – which is what a lot of people are looking to achieve.

The easiest way to do this is by downloading a DLNA casting app on your Android phone, there are loads to choose from, but popular options include AllCast, Cast to TV and LocalCast.

Connect a Phone to a Smart TV in 4 Steps

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Do you want to watch your favorite content on the big screen? With modern technology, you can now do this with ease. You can connect your phone to your smart TV with just a few simple steps and start streaming.

This article shows you how to do this in four steps. First, we’ll cover what type of connection you need, the cables to use and how to get your phone and TV talking to each other. You’ll be watching all your favorite shows on the big screen by the end of the day.

Overview of what’s needed

Before we get started, a few items will make connecting your phone to your smart TV much easier. First, you need a compatible TV (ideally a smart tv with casting built-in) and a compatible phone. Secondly, you’ll also need any necessary cables and adapters. Depending on the type of connection you’re going for, this could be an HDMI or USB cable.

Step 1: Enable screen mirroring

The next step is activating screen mirroring on your phone and TV. Again, this process will vary on your phone, depending on your device. For example, if you’re using an Android device, you must go into Settings > Display > Cast menu and enable it from there. On iOS devices, this can usually be found under Control Center > Airplay (or Screen Mirroring).

With your phone enabled for screen mirroring, it’s time to turn on your smart TV’s feature. Again, the procedure will vary depending on the model and brand of TV you own. Still, you can typically find this under the Settings menu or in the Video Options section.

Step 2: Connect devices

Once screen mirroring is enabled on both devices, it’s time to connect them using a wireless or cable network. To go wireless, turn on Wi-Fi on both devices and ensure that they are connected to the same network (this could be your home Wi-Fi router). Once confirmed, both devices should be automatically connected.

If you’d rather use a cable connection for better-quality streaming, then you’ll need an HDMI or USB cable. Many choose HDMI cables for HD streaming; however, some TVs may not have enough ports for an HDMI connection, so USB cables can also be used. In this case, most phones usually come with suitable USB cables. It’s important to note that USB cables may require an adapter to work with some smart TV models.

Step 3: Select TV from the device

Once connected via wireless or cable, it’s time to locate your TV from your device’s list of compatible screens. Next, an icon representing your TV should appear, which you can click to begin connecting them (you may have to initiate pairing first on the TV before it appears).

Step 4: Enjoy!

Once the connection is established, it’s time to start watching! Anything displayed on your phone should now appear on your TV, whether pictures, movies, or even online streaming services like Netflix or Hulu.

Conclusion

Watching content from your phone on your smart TV is a great way to enjoy your favorite shows and movies on the big screen. Thanks to the advances in modern technology, connecting your phone to your TV couldn’t be easier. You can now stream your content in no time by simply following these four steps. Just remember to make sure that you have all the necessary cables or adapters, activate screen mirroring, and connect both devices using wireless or cable connections. With the right instructions, you’ll enjoy your favorite shows and movies in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Get your phone and TV connected, and start streaming!

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How to connect a phone to a TV: instructions

. Detailed instructions that will definitely come in handy one day

Updated August 31, 2022, 19:24

Watch a video from your phone on a large screen or show a presentation at a meeting – a TV can come in handy in a situation where the smartphone display is too small for current tasks. RBC Life has compiled instructions on how to quickly display an image on a TV.

Connect telephone to TV via cable

You can display the image from your phone even on old TVs without the Smart TV function. The main thing is the presence of ports on the case where you can connect the wire.

Via HDMI

Using an HDMI cable, you can display the image from your phone to an old TV. Since the phones do not have an HDMI connector, an adapter is required.

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HDMI cable

For Android devices, choose an HDMI to USB adapter, often referred to as a TV adapter. For iPhone, you will need a multi adapter with an HDMI and Lightning connector.

  1. Plug the cable into the TV and phone. Use the adapter to connect the cable and smartphone.
  2. On the TV screen, select “Connect via HDMI” in the settings. A screen connection notification will appear on the smartphone screen – allow screen recording to be broadcast.
  3. The operating screen of the smartphone appears on the TV screen. When you have displayed the image on the screen, control the picture also through the device.

Via USB cable

Even older LCD TVs have a USB port. With it, you can duplicate the image on the big screen, watch photos and videos, play music. The cable can be connected to smartphones via MicroUSB, Type-C or Lightning. But in the latter case, you may need a multi-adapter.

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Depending on your smartphone, you will need a MicroUSB, Type-C, or Lightning cable

Before buying a TV cable, find out what data port your phone has. To do this, enter your device model and “which connector” into Google. For example, “what connector does the iPhone 11 have”, “what connector does the Samsung a50 have”, and so on. Depending on the model, choose a cable that has a USB port on the other end.

Not all smartphones can play video via USB, so before connecting, please make sure your device supports video output via connector.

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USB connectors are more often located at the end of the TV

  1. Plug the cable with the USB connector into the TV port, the MicroUSB connector into the phone.
  2. Select File Transfer mode on your phone.
  3. Select USB as the source in the TV settings.
  4. After connecting, folders with files will appear on the screen.
  5. Manage files with your phone or TV remote control.

Via MHL

MHL stands for Mobile High-Definition Link (high-definition mobile communications). This is a standard that allows you to use the microUSB connector as an HDMI port for image transfer.

The phone must have a built-in MHL module. Most often, Samsung and Sony Xperia models have it. To find out if your Android device supports MHL, use the MHL Checker program.

Devices are connected through a special adapter. Connect one end of the cable to the TV and the other end to the adapter. Connect the adapter to your smartphone, the image will immediately appear on the TV screen.

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MHL adapter links phone and TV

Wireless phone to TV connection

Devices connect to each other directly via Wi-Fi. Wires are not needed for a wireless connection.

Via DLNA

DLNA stands for Digital Living Network Alliance, which can be translated as Digital Home LAN Alliance. With DLNA, multiple devices connect to the same local area network and exchange data. In this case, the media file will be stored on one device and broadcast on others.

To connect, you need a router and a phone on OC Android – almost all modern devices are equipped with this technology. On iPhone, you need to download an application that supports technology, such as iMediaShare.

The method is suitable for TVs with DLNA support and the ability to connect to Wi-Fi. To find out about the function, enter in the search “enable and configure DLNA on the TV” and add the device model. After that, proceed to the step-by-step instructions.

  1. Connect your TV and smartphone to Wi-Fi.
  2. Activate the DLNA connection method via the remote control on the TV screen.
  3. On your smartphone, open the desired file and find “Select player” in the menu.
  4. Select a TV and send the file.

Use apps such as BubbleUPnP for DLNA/Chromecast to create a queue of videos to play.

Via WiFi Direct

This option is supported by modern Smart TVs. The file transfer speed is slow, so a full-length movie may take longer to load than usual.

  1. Find Wi-Fi Direct in the Wi-Fi settings on your TV. Connect your smartphone to the same network.
  2. The model name of your smartphone will be displayed on the TV screen. If this does not happen, select “Wi-Fi Direct Connection” in the settings.
  3. A list of available devices will be displayed on the screen. Find your phone and connect.
  4. Once the smartphone is connected to the TV, media files can be sent.

Via Miracast

Miracast is an improved version of Wi-Fi Direct, so they have a similar installation principle. In modern TVs, Miracast technology may be called Screen Mirroring, SmartShare, AllShare, Screen Mirror, “Mirror” or “Broadcast”.

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Miracast has various names

If your TV is equipped with technology, all you need is a smartphone.

  1. On your TV, go to Settings and open Miracast. It may be called differently depending on the device model.
  2. On your smartphone, open “Settings”, go to “Screen”. Turn on the Wireless Monitor feature.
  3. In the list of detected devices, connect to the TV. The image will appear on the screen.

If your TV does not have the technology, purchase a Miracast-enabled adapter in advance.

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Adapter required for non-Miracast TVs

  1. Plug the adapter into the HDMI port.
  2. In the TV settings, open HDMI and select the one to which the adapter is connected.
  3. A QR code will be displayed on the screen. Use your smartphone’s camera to scan it and connect to your TV.

Via set-top box (Chromecast example)

The principle of operation of most set-top boxes is the same. The device allows you to transfer content from YouTube or online cinema to the TV screen. Outwardly, it resembles an adapter or a USB drive.

Some set-top boxes require a smartphone. This way you can control the device. Consider the connection on the example of Chromecast.

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Chromecast streams content over Wi-Fi

  1. Plug your Chromecast into your TV’s HDMI port.
  2. Connect the set-top box to Wi-Fi.
  3. Download the Google Home app (Google Play / App Store) to your smartphone.
  4. Log in to the application using your Google account.
  5. From the Chromecast menu, select a device that is available to you. Files from the connected phone will appear on the TV screen.

Via AirPlay

The method is only suitable for users of Apple smartphones/tablets. If your TV is equipped with AirPlay (for example, the technology was introduced into LG TVs), then you only need a smartphone to transfer. Otherwise, you need to purchase an Apple TV add-on.

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Apple TV will turn your TV into a home theater

  1. Connect the extender to the TV with a cable. If your TV is already equipped with AirPlay, skip this step.
  2. Connect your TV and smartphone to the same Wi-Fi.
  3. On iPhone, swipe up or down (depending on model) and tap Screen Mirroring.
  4. Find your TV model in the list of displayed devices. Click on it.
  5. The connection code will be displayed on the screen. Enter the resulting combination in the pop-up window on your phone. The workspace of your smartphone will appear on the screen.

Which connection method to choose

If you have Android , you can connect to almost any TV with a cable. The most convenient ways are through a USB port (most smartphones are equipped with it) and a DLNA connection.

If you have iPhone , to connect to TVs without Smart TV technology, you need to purchase not only a cable, but also a multi-adapter with multiple connectors. The most convenient option for iPhone owners is to connect via AirPlay.

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Five easy ways to watch video from your phone on your TV

How to use it

9 0002 Even though smartphone screens have approached almost seven inches, they are far from TVs. But by connecting these two devices, you can arrange a home gym, games room, disco, cinema and a modern conference hall.

It is worth trying to connect your smartphone to the TV in order to do fitness or hold conference calls in Zoom. FitStars CEO Ilya Kapustin, in an interview with Gazeta. Ru, noted that playing sports with the help of video training on a large TV screen can give better results than using a smartphone.

“Doing sports at home is much more convenient not from the small screen of a smartphone, but from the TV screen. Thanks to the wide screen, all the nuances and details of the exercises offered by trainers in video workouts are clearly visible. In this way, exercise techniques are better visible to the practitioners and the likelihood of injury is reduced. Moreover, doing sports at home with a large screen completely immerses the trainee in the atmosphere of the gym, increasing the intensity and effectiveness of training, ”Kapustin believes.

Smartphone screen projection is also useful for those who have long wanted to try their favorite match-3 game on a big screen or show funny TikTok videos in a noisy company.

For music lovers and owners of an audio system connected to a TV, there is also a great reason to throw a party — by connecting a smartphone to a TV, you can transfer music directly from YouTube Music, Yandex. Music or other music streaming platforms to it.

“Use scenarios depend only on the requirements and imagination of the user. By connecting your smartphone to a TV, you can watch movies and videos on the big screen or view vacation photos with the whole family. Even mobile games can sparkle with new colors – in short, there are a huge number of applications for this, ”said Svetlana Mureeva, an expert at itel, to Gazeta.Ru.

However, the indisputable advantage of transferring an image from a smartphone to a TV is the number of available services and applications. Even if the TV is equipped with the Android TV operating system, this does not mean at all that it supports all the same applications as the mobile device. Starting from games and ending with a collection of culinary recipes, not all applications are equally conveniently controlled by the remote control, so in such cases it is more useful to use the familiar interface and control method, simply by duplicating everything on the big screen.

This method should also be considered by owners of smart TVs who prefer to watch YouTube from the big screen. In the event that Google leaves Russia completely or video hosting is blocked, not every Smart TV will be able to support VPN. Therefore, the method of projecting YouTube from a smartphone to TV in this case turns out to be in a more advantageous position, because many have already learned how to use a private network on a smartphone.

How to display a picture from Android to TV

To pair your smartphone and TV, you first need an Android smartphone running Android 5.0 or later, i.e. manufactured no later than 2014.

You need a Smart TV to project smartphone content onto your TV. This can be either the Tizen operating system built into the TV (on Samsung TVs), webOS (on LG TVs), Android TV, Google TV, or a set-top box on one of these OSes. The latter work especially well with the Chromecast feature.

The easiest way to connect to a TV is to find the “Screen Cast” shortcut in the shortcut menu on your Android smartphone. To do this, you need to drag the upper right corner of the screen and find the corresponding icon. If it is not there, you can click on the pencil icon and add this function to the quick access menu.

By clicking on “Screen Projection”, a window with available devices for image transmission will open. You must select the TV on which you want to display the smartphone display. At the same time, you do not need to configure something on the TV or go into the settings.

If the Screen Projection shortcut cannot be found, you can also try to find this function in Settings by going to the Connections section.

It is important that the TV and smartphone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

If your TV does not have a “smart” prefix, then there is a solution for such devices – to buy a so-called dongle in the form of Google Chromecast. You can also use third-party applications that will broadcast the smartphone screen to the TV via Wi-Fi.

“Typically, these applications use Miracast technology, a standard for wireless transmission of multimedia signals. Sometimes this method may cause a delay in the broadcast and is more suitable for viewing images. Also, many manufacturers have their own tools for broadcasting content from a smartphone screen,” Citylink’s press service told Gazeta.Ru.

How to display picture from iPhone to TV

iPhone owners can also connect it to Smart TV wirelessly if the TV is compatible with AirPlay 2. To do this, on a smartphone, swipe down from the top right corner to open the “Control Center” , then click the “Screen Repeat” button. TVs that you can connect to will appear in a pop-up window.

After selecting a suitable output device, you may be prompted for a password, which must be confirmed on the iPhone, after which the entire screen of the smartphone will be displayed on the TV.

Streaming services and media

If you don’t need to transfer the entire screen of your smartphone to a large TV screen, but only need to open a YouTube video, movie or music from any platform, you can go the easier way.