How to Mirror Your Phone to a TV
Photos, videos and apps on the big screen — here is how to mirror or cast from an iPhone or Android using AirPlay, Google Cast, Miracast or a simple cable.
Putting your phone's screen on the TV is one of those features that feels like magic until it refuses to connect. The trick is knowing which method your devices actually support: Apple's AirPlay, Google's Cast, the cross-platform Miracast, or a plain HDMI cable when wireless fails. Most wireless methods need both devices on the same Wi-Fi network and a compatible TV or streaming stick. This guide covers each approach for iPhone and Android, then the fixes for when nothing appears on screen.
Key takeaways
- iPhone uses AirPlay; Android uses Google Cast or Miracast.
- Same Wi-Fi network is the most common requirement and the most common failure.
- Casting sends just one app's content; mirroring copies your whole screen.
- An HDMI adapter is the reliable fallback when wireless will not cooperate.
Mirroring vs casting
These two words get muddled but mean different things. Mirroring copies your entire phone screen to the TV in real time — whatever you do on the phone appears on the TV, including the home screen and notifications. Casting sends only a single app's content (a video, a photo slideshow) to the TV, and the phone then acts as a remote, freeing you to use it for other things. Casting is smoother for video; mirroring is better for showing apps, presentations or anything without a cast button.
AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad
AirPlay is Apple's wireless system, built into iPhones, iPads and Macs. It works with Apple TV and many smart TVs that advertise "AirPlay 2" support. To mirror: make sure the iPhone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring, choose your TV, and enter the four-digit code if it appears on the TV. To cast a single video, tap the AirPlay icon inside the app instead. To stop, open Control Centre again and tap Stop Mirroring. Apple's support pages list which TVs are AirPlay 2 compatible.
Google Cast from Android
Google Cast (the technology behind Chromecast) is the main route on Android. Many apps — video, music, photos — have a Cast icon (a rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol); tap it, pick your Chromecast or Cast-enabled TV, and the content plays on the big screen while your phone becomes the remote. For full-screen mirroring, many Android phones offer "Cast screen" in Quick Settings or the Google Home app. As always, both devices must share the same Wi-Fi network. Google's support documentation walks through casting from individual apps and the Home app.
No smart TV? A small streaming stick (Chromecast, Apple TV, Fire TV or a Roku) plugged into any HDMI port adds casting and mirroring to an older television for very little money.
Miracast and built-in mirroring
Miracast is a cross-platform wireless display standard certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, supported by many Android phones (often branded "Smart View", "Cast" or "Wireless display") and Windows PCs. Unlike Google Cast, Miracast creates a direct device-to-device link, so it can sometimes work without a shared router — useful in a meeting room. On supported Android phones, look in Quick Settings for "Smart View" or "Wireless display", then select your Miracast-capable TV or adapter. Note that iPhones do not support Miracast; they use AirPlay only.
Wired HDMI adapters
When wireless will not behave, a cable is the most reliable option. A USB-C to HDMI adapter (for modern Android phones and iPads) or a Lightning to HDMI adapter (for older iPhones) connects the phone directly to a TV's HDMI port and mirrors the screen with no Wi-Fi involved — ideal for presentations or a hotel TV. Make sure your phone's USB-C port supports video output (DisplayPort Alt Mode); not all do. To understand which USB-C ports carry video, see USB-C explained.
When it won't connect
Most failures trace to a handful of causes. Different networks: the phone is on a guest or 5 GHz network and the TV on another — put both on the same Wi-Fi. TV not woken: some TVs only appear when their AirPlay/Cast feature is enabled in settings. Outdated software: update both the phone and the TV's firmware. Router isolation: a "client isolation" or "AP isolation" setting blocks devices from seeing each other — disable it. If video stutters or audio lags, the Wi-Fi may be congested; our Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide and speed-up tips will help. As a last resort, fall back to the HDMI cable.
Which method should you use?
iPhone or iPad: AirPlay to an Apple TV or AirPlay 2 TV. Android: Google Cast for video, Miracast/Smart View for full-screen mirroring. Any phone, no Wi-Fi or unreliable connection: an HDMI adapter. If you find yourself mirroring photos a lot, you might prefer to copy them over first — see how to transfer photos to a computer. And if this is part of a wider smart-living setup, our smart home beginner guide ties it together.
A couple of practical extras improve the experience. Audio usually follows the video to the TV automatically, but if sound stays on the phone, check that the TV is selected as the audio output in Control Centre (iPhone) or the system audio menu (Android). Orientation matters for video: rotating the phone to landscape fills the TV screen, while portrait leaves black bars on the sides. For protected content — some streaming services such as paid film apps — mirroring may show a black screen by design (digital rights restrictions); in those cases use the app's own Cast or AirPlay button, which streams the licensed content directly rather than mirroring it.
Battery and quality round things out. Wireless mirroring keeps the phone's screen and radios active, so it drains the battery quickly — keep the phone on a charger for long sessions, which is another quiet advantage of a wired HDMI adapter that can pass power on some models. And remember that mirrored quality is capped by your Wi-Fi: a congested network produces stutter and lag no method can overcome, so if playback is rough, fixing the connection first (see the troubleshooting links above) does more than switching apps. For the smoothest result with video specifically, prefer casting over mirroring whenever the app offers it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I mirror my iPhone to a TV?
Make sure the iPhone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Apple TV or AirPlay 2-compatible TV. Enter the four-digit code if it appears. To stop, open Control Centre again and tap Stop Mirroring. iPhones use AirPlay and do not support Miracast.
What is the difference between casting and mirroring?
Mirroring copies your entire phone screen to the TV in real time, including the home screen and notifications. Casting sends only one app's content — like a single video — and lets your phone act as a remote for other things. Casting is smoother for video; mirroring suits apps and presentations.
Why won't my phone connect to the TV?
The most common cause is the phone and TV being on different Wi-Fi networks — put both on the same one. Also check that the TV's AirPlay or Cast feature is enabled, that both devices' software is updated, and that your router's 'client isolation' setting is off, since it blocks devices from seeing each other.
Can I mirror my phone without Wi-Fi?
Yes. A wired adapter — USB-C to HDMI for modern Android phones and iPads, or Lightning to HDMI for older iPhones — connects directly to the TV's HDMI port and needs no Wi-Fi. Miracast can also work as a direct device-to-device link on supported Android phones without a shared router.
Sources & further reading
- Apple Support — Use AirPlay to stream or mirror to a TV
- Google Chromecast Help — Cast from your device
- Wi-Fi Alliance — Miracast wireless display
This guide is independently produced. We reference primary documentation from device makers and security authorities (NIST, CISA). Tudug is reader-supported and may earn from ads.