How to Connect Your Phone to Your TV

Ever lose your TV remote and wish you could use telepathy to control your TV instead? Well, even though you can’t use the power of your mind to queue up your favorite show, there is a second best option: using your phone as a smart TV remote. Even better, you can use your phone for broadcasting whatever content you want to see on your larger TV screen.

Long gone are the days of being stuck without a way to operate your TV when your remote control grows legs and wanders off. Similarly, you can make your streaming services portable and use them on any TV, whether it’s a smart TV or not, without having to actually log in on that TV by casting them from your phone. Maybe you’re thinking, “But I don’t know how to connect my phone to my TV!” Luckily, gaining TV control by phone is a fairly simple process. Read on to learn a few different methods for connecting your phone to your TV, including casting, mirroring and using your smartphone as a remote control for popular streaming devices like Roku.

To cast your phone to your TV, you'll typically need a streaming device like Google Chromecast or a smart TV with built-in casting capabilities. Google Chromecast is a small device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port, allowing you to cast content from your phone or other devices to the TV. To use it, simply plug the Chromecast into your TV, connect it to your Wi-Fi network and cast your content from your phone using supported apps.

To start, make sure your TV and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. On your phone, open the app or content you want to cast. Look for the cast icon and tap it. A list of available devices should appear, including your TV. Select your TV, and your phone's screen will be displayed on the TV.

An advantage of casting vs. mirroring is that there’s a user interface, whereas mirroring simply displays exactly what’s on your phone and may not format quite as well. Additionally, any phone can support Chromecasting, but not every phone can do screen mirroring without installing additional applications.

Mirroring your phone to your TV is a simple way to connect the two devices and give you even more viewing options than your streaming services provide. For example, if you have videos or photos living on your phone that you want to see on a bigger screen, learning how to screen mirror on Roku TVs or any other type of smart TV is useful.

To mirror your phone screen to your TV, the process may vary depending on the make and model of your phone and TV. However, most modern smartphones and smart TVs offer screen mirroring options.

For Android users, navigate to your phone's settings, and find the "Screen Mirroring" or "Smart View" option. Select your TV from the list of available devices, and your phone's screen will appear on your TV. You may also have to set up the mirroring capabilities on your streaming device or smart TV.

If you’re an Apple enthusiast, you’re probably already familiar with what Apple TV is and how it works. But did you know iPhone users can use the AirPlay feature to mirror the phone’s screen to an Apple TV? Swipe down from the upper right corner to access the Control Center and select "screen mirroring." Choose your TV from the list, and your iPhone will be mirrored on the big screen—it’s that simple.

Learning how to connect an iPhone to a Samsung TV, Roku TV or any other non-Apple TV for mirroring is a bit different and requires an extra step. If you’re using a non-Apple TV, you can still screenshare your iPhone to a TV, but first you’ll need to download an app in your streaming player’s app store that enables you to connect an iPhone to a smart TV for mirroring, and then follow the installation and setup instructions from there. 

Another valuable feature for connecting your phone to your TV is using it as a remote control. This can simplify the navigation and enhance your TV-watching experience. Most smart TVs offer apps that allow you to control your TV using your smartphone.

For instance, Samsung Smart TVs can be controlled using the Samsung SmartThings app on your smartphone. Similarly, Roku remotes on phones are available with a simple app as well. Download the corresponding app, connect it to your TV and you can easily control your TV functions, change channels, adjust volume and more, all from your phone—which you’re much less likely to misplace than your TV remote controls.