How To Connect A Phone Or Tablet To Your TV Via Usb
Plus reasons why you want to do this
Smartphones and tablets provide a convenient and ideal way of accessing content for on-the-go use, but there still remains something to be said for viewing on a big screen television.
You may be watching something on your phone, and want to see it on a larger display or share with others in the room.
Thankfully, smartphones and tablets are built with multitasking capabilities such as listening to music, gaming, and streaming video. Most of them also pack the power of computers in a portable device, and this includes the ability to connect it to another screen or monitor, such as your TV.
Android and iOS device users have an arsenal of devices and wireless options to connect a phone or tablet to a TV. In this guide, were going to show you how to link up your phone or tablet to your TV via USB.
Cast From Phone To Roku
From Hdmi To Usb And Everything In Between Here’s How To Connect Your Phone To The TV So That You Can Show Off Those Stunning Holiday Snaps
Wanting to connect your phone to the TV? Then you’ve come to the right place. While a lot of us are put off this task thinking it’s going to be too time consuming and complicated, the reality is it’s a lot less hassle than you think. Many of us have more smart devices in our homes than ever before, but we dont know how to easily share content between them. But thanks to this guide, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Connecting up the best TV with your smartphone or the best tablet opens up a whole range of ways to stream and cast things from your mobile device to the big screen of your TV. Why might you want to do this we hear you ask? Well, for starters, it’s a great way of showing off all those stunning holiday snaps to your friends and family without them all having to crowd around your phone.
And when it comes time to connect your phone to the TV, you’ll be pleased to learn that the benefits don’t stop there. Let’s say you’ve were engrossed in one of the best Netflix shows on your commute home from work and want to finish watching it when you get in the door. Instead of having to fast forward through Netflix on your TV to get to the right spot, you can cast it straight from your phone to your TV and pick up right where you left off. It’s also ideal for streaming a YouTube clip of video file in higher resolution that your phone can handle.
Read Also: How To Connect Lg TV To iPhone
Use Google Chromecast Ultra
If cords arent your thing, try a gadget that plugs into your TV, connects to Wi-Fi and communicates between your phone and the big screen. Googles Chromecast Ultra lets you play video in breathtaking 4k resolution. It plugs into a TVs HDMI port and connects via your existing Wi-Fi, so you can stream movies, music and games from your smartphone, tablet and other connected devices.
Chromecast Ultra works with iOS and Android phones, including the Pixel 4 XL, iPhone 11 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S10+. Use your phone like a remote control to skip content, pause or rewind your favorite scene. Or go completely hands-free by issuing commands over your , or . This simple, compact attachment gives you access to over 1,000 Cast-enabled apps, including streaming services like Spotify, Netflix and YouTube.
How To Connect The Phone To A TV Wirelessly
There are three possible ways to connect your Android smartphone to a TV wirelessly. You can either use a Google Chromecast, Android TV Box that supports MiraCast or a Smart TV that supports MiraCast or has a built-in Chromecast.
You also need to ensure that youre phone and TV are connected to the same network for it to work.
Also Check: What Channel Is TV One On
Connect Phone To TVs Usb Port:
Another easy option that does not require you to use HDMI is to connect your phone to your TV via the TVs USB port.
Most TVs manufactured in the last decade have at least one USB port either on the rear or side panels. You can use your phones USB charging cable to connect to the TVs USB port.
Remember to navigate to the input or source settings on the TV and select the USB option to find your phones files. You might need to unlock your phone and allow USB data access too.
The downside with this option is youll only be able to access your phones files. Use the TVs remote to navigate through your phones system folders to find the files you want to watch. You wont be able to watch apps on your phone with this option.
Its also important to note that this option will only work if you downloaded movies to your phone. Another point to consider is your TV might not be able to read certain video file formats.
Most TVs support the usual image formats, so if you want to show pictures on the TV, its a good option to consider.
How To Set Up A Wireless Display Adapter
Each wireless display adapter may have a slightly different setup. Below well describe the steps required to connect newer Samsung phones to a TV using the ScreenBeam Mini2 wireless display adapter. This particular device comes with a Receiver, a USB power cord, and a Quick Start Guide. To use this device, your TV will need to have an available HDMI port and an available USB port*.
Thats it! You should be connected and ready to start mirroring your Samsung phone screen to your TV.
* If a USB port is not available on your TV, alternatively you can plug the power cord into an outlet using a spare power adapter.
Also Check: How Do You Watch Discovery Plus On TV
Which Method Do You Use
I actually have the option of using all of the above methods. But the one I find myself using the most is the Chromecast. Mirroring my screen isn’t a major need for me, and when I do need it , the Chromecast gets the job done.
If you’re an iOS user, you can also mirror your iPad or iPhone screen to your TV.
Do you use your Chromecast to mirror your Android’s screen or do you prefer one of the other methods here?
Why Connect Phone To TV With Usb
Nowadays, most smartphones allow you to connect them to TV and then cast contents from phones to the TV. In most cases, you will choose to connect phone to TV wirelessly, so that you can watch TV while playing phones occasionally.
However, there are some problems that may make you abandon to connect phone to TV, for example:
- There is something scrambling your Wi-Fi, causing stutter, lag, buffering, and other annoying problems.
- You forget to charge phone when the battery is not enough, disrupting the wireless connection.
If you connect phone to TV with USB, you can eliminate these issues, because your device and your TV can share data directly and the TV may provide power directly to your device.
Don’t Miss: How To Watch Beachbody On TV
Big Screen Or Small Screen You Decide
Once you connect your iPhone to your TV with the option best for you, you can start viewing everything that you see on your phone on your TV you arent limited to just video, you can also mirror the screen, which is great for looking at pictures and even browsing websites.
Remember that for a better view you can turn your phone sideways, usually, videos do this automatically on both your phone and your TV, and even if your phone is horizontal, it will change to full landscape view on your TV.
The apps that only work horizontally wont change to sideways or vertically since they are not programmed to do so.
Remember: If you want to know how to connect your iPad to your TV you can use the same steps.
Need Wireless Display For Your Business Or School
ScreenBeam modernizes your meeting spaces and classrooms with app-free, dongle-free wireless presentation from any device with ability to wirelessly markup content on in-room displays. Bring your remote and on-site team content front and center for effortless collaboration.
Turn on screen mirroring from the Display menu of your smartphones settings app.
3. Pair Up
Pair your devices following the on-screen queues using the instructions provided by the wireless display adapter manufacturer.
Recommended Reading: How To Connect Internet To Vizio TV
Why Use Usb To Connect Phones Tablets And TVs
With the ease and prevalence of casting to mirror a phone screen wirelessly, you might be curious why you should use a USB to TV connection for your phone.
If you hook a phone to your TV with a hardwired connection, you benefit from a low-latency signal.
For instance, if you plan to mirror your phone to a television for gaming, you’ll want a USB connection rather than a wireless configuration. This vastly reduces lag. The same goes for watching movies on a TV over a USB cable from the phone.
Plus, for situations where you lack Wi-Fi or have a weak wireless signal, you’ll need a wired connection instead.
To connect your phone or tablet to a TV, you can use one of the following methods:
How you connect your phone to the TV depends on your specific device and operating system. Although all methods are similar, the process differs for connecting an iPhone versus an Android device.
Similarly, your connection method varies depending on your needs. Simply viewing photos on a compatible television requires your charging cable and mobile device. But for screen mirroring, you’ll need a USB adapter.
Note that for USB connections between a phone and TV, the model of TV shouldn’t matter, however. The steps below outlining how to connect your phone to a TV apply to Samsung, LG, and many other manufacturers. Better still, the same steps can be used to connect a phone to non-smart TV.
How Do I Play Movies On My TV From A Usb
Prepare the Android smartphone and Micro USB cable. Connect the TV and smartphone with the Micro USB cable.Open the TVs Media Player app.
How can I watch Netflix on my computer?
If you have a Chromecast device connected to your TV or your TV has Chromecast built-in, you can use the Chrome browser on your computer to cast Netflix to your TV. On your computer, open the Chrome browser . Sign In to netflix.com. Select the More icon in the upper or lower right corner of the browser.
You May Like: How To Cast From Pixel To Samsung TV
Mirroring To Fire TV And Chromecast
If you dont want to buy a compatible AirPlay device or HDMI adapter, you can use mirroring apps to share your iPhone or iPad screen on Fire TV and Chromecast devices instead.
Several apps offer this with varying degrees of success, but Ive gotten good results from 2kit Consultings Screen Mirroring apps for Fire TV, and Chromecast. These apps use iOSs Screen Recording feature to capture video from your iOS device and send it to the streaming player.
2kit Consultings Screen Mirroring apps arent as sharp or responsive as AirPlay mirroring, but theyre a good enough alternative for Fire TV and Chromecast devices.
Jared Newman / IDG
Some caveats do apply: Youll experience some delay, video quality isnt perfect, and youll usually have to sit through an ad before you can mirror unless you upgrade to the paid versions of these apps. Still, these apps are good enough for mirroring photos, websites, presentations, and social media feeds.
With Chromecast, be aware that you can also send video, audio, pictures, and information to your TV from thousands of supported apps. These apps will allow you to play content directly on the television, so you dont need to mirror your iPhone or iPad display.
To stream media directly through Chromecast instead of mirroring your display, just look for the Cast button in supported apps.
Jared Newman / IDG
How To Cast iPhone To TV With Chromecast
Many popular smart TV brands now come with Chromecast already built in. Just look for the Cast button!
Also Check: How To Connect To TV
How To Connect Your iPhone To Your TV
The easiest way to connect your iPhone to your TV is to do it wirelessly. To do that, you’ll need a TV that supports the most recent version of AirPlay, AirPlay 2. Most TV manufacturers started building AirPlay 2 into their products in 2018 or 2019. You can check for your model on Apple’s list of AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and streaming devices.
To use AirPlay:
If you have an older TV that doesn’t support AirPlay or need to plug your iPhone directly into a TV, you can purchase a Lightning to HDMI adapter. Once you connect your iPhone using the adapter to your TVs HDMI port, you’ll be able to see whatever is on your iPhone’s screen on your TV. Some apps will only display vertically. However, apps like Netflix support screen rotation so you can fill the screen.
I’ve been using and recommend Apple’s Lightning to HDMI adapter, which has a power passthrough port to keep your iPhone charged. You’ll find it for under $50 on Amazon.
How To Connect iPhone To TV With Hdmi
Recommended Reading: What Happened To Spike TV
How To Connect With An Adapter Or Cable
In case you don’t have a Chromecast-compatible device, then you can connect your TV with your smartphone by using an HDMI adapter or cable to connect your phone to your TV and mirror your screen.
It is one of the most reliable methods to connect your smartphone with your TV. Most TVs come with an HDMI port which can be used to transfer audio and video files from a single source. Since your phone doesnt have an HDMI port you will need an adapter that can connect your phone with your TV.
USB connector
Most smartphones come with a USB connector and charging cables, which easily let you connect your laptop and power adapters. Smart TVs also have a USB port, through which you can connect your smartphone and easily transfer all your files, data, videos, etc.
DLNA applications
DLNA applications are an excellent way to connect your Smart TV to a mobile phone connection. You will need to connect your phone to your TV through an internet connection. In case you have a smart TV, it will mostly support DLNA. This is a form of streaming media and allows you to stream all kinds of files from your smartphone to your TV. The method also allows you to stream data from other devices like a tablet or a laptop. You can also stream your TV and any gaming console with DLNA. LocalCasts and AllCast are some Android apps that allow you to connect your TV with other devices.
How To Connect An Android Phone To Rca TV
Youll need this equipment before you start connecting your Android to TV: a micro-USB to HDMI cable, HDMI to the composite converter, and RCA cables. First, connect the micro-USB end of the micro-USB to the HDMI cable to your Android and the HDMI end to the HDMI port of the composite converter. Next, plug in the RCA cable ends to the composite converter AV outputs and the RCA AV inputs of the TV. Now, switch to AV mode on your large screen and your Android phone will be mirrored to the TV.
Don’t Miss: Can I Watch Curiositystream On My TV