How To Stream On Smart TV From Phone

Screen Mirroring Your Android Phone To TV

If you have a modern smart TV, the big manufacturers tend to include built-in screen mirroring software, allowing you to broadcast your phones screen as long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.

The exact location of this will vary from TV manufacturer to TV manufacturer, so the sensible thing is to search for instructions for your model. Sony, LG, Samsung and Philips all have specific pages to help you hunt down the option, but if you use an obscure brand, try looking in the TVs network settings or seeing if it shows up as a selectable input source .

Once this is enabled, the next part of the puzzle is finding the corresponding setting on your smartphone, and unhelpfully each manufacturer has its own name for what is essentially the same functionality. Here are the biggest brands:

– Samsung: Screen Mirroring or Smart View

– Xiaomi: Cast

– LG: Miracast

– HTC: HTC Connect

These are usually accessible in the quick settings found by swiping down from the top of your home screen, but if you cant immediately see it, try searching in the network settings.

How To Connect iPhone To TV With Hdmi

How To Play Video From iPad To TV

Want to know how to play video from iPad to TV? If you have already downloaded an AirBeamTV Screen Mirroring app for instance, you can start watching video right away. Open the app on your iPad. A window should appear. Make sure that the target device matches the television you wish to use. The source should show the name of your iPad. You can also choose the streaming quality, enable sound on the TV or display video to fit the screen.

When settings meet your preferences, click the Start Mirroring button. The video on your iPad will instantly appear on the TV. Sit back and enjoy!

Also Check: Connect Samsung To Vizio TV

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.

How Are Video Game Streaming And TV Streaming Different

When someone talks about streaming content on a smart TV, they usually mean watching media via a streaming app like Netflix, YouTube, or Disney Plus.

While streaming video games via the cloud with services such as and Xbox Cloud Gaming is growing in popularity, when people mention video game streaming, theyre most likely talking about broadcasting gameplay to a service such as Twitch for others to watch.

Video game streaming requires more than just a TV, and the process varies slightly depending on whether youre using an Xbox and PlayStation or a Nintendo Switch or computer.

Recommended Reading: How To Download Peloton App On Lg Smart TV

Software Is Important And TVs Cant Always Keep Up

Software is as crucial as hardware in avoiding obsolescence. Standalone streamers are more liable to get feature and security updates, for the simple reason that TV makers dont have the software focus you see at companies like Roku or Google. For the latter group, platforms are often a core component of their business, generating ad revenue and/or sales from media rentals and downloads. TV makers are naturally focused on selling hardware, so they tend not to have the resources for frequent updates, or much of anything to gain from them.

Software is equally as important as hardware in avoiding obsolescence.

Choosing a separate streamer also wins you the freedom to switch between app and smart home ecosystems. You might enjoy Google TV, for example, but find yourself tempted by the games on the . Moving in a different direction, an Apple fan might find the companys smart home tech limited and decide to go all-in on Alexa, including a Fire TV Cube.

See also:Android TV vs webOS

Any TV with a proprietary OS can severely hinder your app experience. While you can usually access major services like Spotify and Netflix, niche options may be missing, and youll likely miss out on many games and non-media apps. Even when a TV does have the same apps as other platforms, they may not be up to feature parity. Companies always concentrate development where their biggest user bases are.

How To Connect Phone To TV With Screencast

To connect your smartphone to your smart TV you can use a screencast. However, you need to make sure that both devices are compatible with one another. The cast for Android-powered devices may not work with Apple products. Apple devices have different requirements for the screencast to a smart TV and can require additional adapters or equipment.

· An Android smartphone with version 4.2 or higher can be connected to the TV with Miracast wireless display standard.· For Apple devices, Apple iOS smartphones can connect to the TV with Airplay.

You May Like: Smart View On Vizio TV

Connect With An Adapter Or Cable

If you don’t have a Chromecast-compatible device, use an HDMI cable and adapter to connect your phone to your TV and mirror what’s on your screen. You have a few different options here, and which one you choose will depend on the type of display you’re connecting to, how long, andmost importantlywhether or not you’ll need to charge your phone while doing it.

The simplest option is a USB-C to HDMI adapter. If your phone has a USB-C port, you can plug this adapter into your phone, and then plug an HDMI cable into the adapter to connect to the TV. Your phone will need to support HDMI Alt Mode, which allows mobile devices to output video. This method will take up your charging port, unless your adapter has a charging port.

If you have an older Micro USB-style port, you will need a micro USB to HDMI adapter. With this method, your phone will need to support a different protocol called MHL. If you have a supported phone, hook it up to the adapter, then attach an HDMI cable and connect it to a TV.

Do I Need A Streaming Device If I Have Smart TV

Whether you need a streaming device in addition to your smart TV or not will greatly depend on what features your smart TV has, which functionalities its lacking, and what kind of services you want.

For example, if your smart TV has an app for a streaming service on it, you wont have to buy a steaming stick or box to use it as the app can run directly off of the smart TV.

Here are three example scenarios to give you an idea of what to consider when buying a streaming device for your smart TV.

Also Check: Casting Oculus Quest To TV

Does A Smart TV Have A Better Picture Or Sound

Not necessarily. Built-in Wi-Fi and a processor for decompressing video do not directly affect picture quality. However, since manufacturers initially added smart TV features to more expensive, higher-end HDTVs, shoppers will find that the picture quality on some smart TVs beats that of lower-priced models that lack the smarts.

• The best cable TV alternatives: Live TV services that save you money

Mirror Your Device Using Bluetooth

You can mirror your smartphone to a smart TV by using Bluetooth. It is possible due to the Miracast technology thats built in on most modern smart TVs today. It mainly uses a Bluetooth connection on both your smartphone and smart TV.

Heres how to mirror your phone to your TV using Bluetooth:

Tip: If you have enough credits on your Mobile or Cellular data, you can also turn it on to search for movies directly on the installed streaming apps on your device.

We have even more methods in our guide on Casting Oculus Quest to Your TV without a chromecast. So if you are still stuck, check out that article as well.

Also Check: How To Mirror Android To Vizio TV

How To Watch Videos From Android Phone On TV

Users have several different options to watch videos from Android phone on TV:

• Chromecast

  Use a Chromecast dongle to cast video to a compatible TV. The attachment for Android phones supports a range of popular streaming services.

• Screen mirroring

  For apps without a casting option, you can use screen mirroring to watch videos from Android Phone on TV. Open your phone settings and click on Cast to begin.

• Samsung Galaxy Smart View

  If you own a Samsung Galaxy, you can use the Smart View to mirror your phone on your TV. Look for the option in Settings.

• HDMI USB Adapter

  You can connect a cable from your phone to your TV with a USB-C to HDMI adapter. However, this may not support certain paid streaming services.

Why settle for the small screen? With screen mirroring apps, like AirBeamTV, you can instantly cast any video from your phone to the TV. Remember, these apps arent just limited to videos either. You can mirror the screen, which is great for showing presentations, viewing pictures and browsing websites, too. Whichever you prefer, enjoy all your favorite content on the big screen casting directly from your phone or tablet.

Can I Use My Smart TV With Amazon Alexa Or Google Home

The biggest trend in smart home technology is the smart speaker, a speaker with built in microphone and hardware to run a voice-enabled assistant. Amazon made the first big splash here with the and other Alexa-enabled devices, but Google’s own Google Assistant has made strides in products like the . And Apple’s HomePod puts Siri into a similar form factor.

The great news is that these devices will usually work with most smart TVs, and compatibility is improving all the time as new software updates add capability to existing smart TVs. As it stands, all of the major TV manufacturers have smart speaker compatibility with at least one of the three main smart assistant platforms . These options often require using an additional device, such as a smart speaker or mobile device, but it will give you a way to control your TV and smart devices with the convenience of simple speech.

Many of the smart TVs on the market now have these voice assistants built in. Google Assistant can be found in Android TVs from Sony and Hisense. Amazon Alexa is now offered Amazon Fire Edition TVs as well, and Sony has announced compatibility with a new Amazon Alexa app for Android TV. Even better, smart TVs from LG and Samsung now have both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built in.

Read Also: Ways To Watch The Chosen

Download Sign Up And Sign In To Streaming Apps

Smart TVs usually have all of the popular apps on the homepage. Devices such as Apple TV allow you to customize your layout so you must go into the Apple Store and download the apps you want.

Then go into the streaming apps and sign up or sign in.

Once youve done so, you can start watching Tiger King while you cook, put on Elena from Avalor for the kiddos, or watch How to Train Your Dragon with the family on Saturday night.

Streaming on your smartphone

If youre wanting to stream on your iPhone or Android smartphone, we recommend an unlimited data plan so you can stream as much as youd like without worries.

Its also the future. No one wants to be stuck on a one-hour train ride without being able to watch Star Treks Picard.

Our best unlimited data cell phone plans include Verizon , T-mobile , AT& T , and Visible Wireless .

Best unlimited plans comparison

How To Stream To Your TV Using Airplay

With AirPlay support, Samsung customers can stream videos, photos, music, podcasts, and more from Apple devices to select Samsung Smart TVs and Smart Monitors. Read on to find out how to use AirPlay to stream to your Samsung TV or monitor and whether your TV is compatible with AirPlay.

The AirPlay feature is available on specific Samsung TVs and monitors produced from 2018. You can find the full list of compatible devices on the Apple website.

You can also check if your device is compatible in the settings menu.

Navigate to Settings, select General, if there is an option for Apple AirPlay Settings then your device is compatible. If there is no option for AirPlay, then your device is not supported.

Using AirPlay you can easily stream photos and videos captured on your device to you your Samsung TV. Before starting, make sure that your TV and Apple device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Open the appSelect the or video that you want to shareTap the icon at the bottom left of the screenTap the AirPlay iconTap the TV that you want to stream to

Please note: if a code appears on the TV screen, you will need to enter it on your device to connect

Once your Samsung and Apple device are connected to the same Wi-Fi connection, you can easily play all your favourite songs through your TV or monitor speakers.

Make sure that your Apple device and Samsung device are connected to the same Wi-Fi networkOpen the music player on your device and choose a songSelect General

Also Check: How To Clean Samsung 4k TV Screen

A Streaming Device Or Smart TV

If you already have a great 4K TV, you might want to go the streaming device route. Chances are, though, that your 4K TV already has a smart TV built in, but possibly not all the streaming apps you need.

But if you want a device that has everything, like an Apple TV, it might be worth the investment. Just plug it into your existing television.

Streaming devices

• Apple TV: An Apple TV has Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, iTunes, HBO Max, YouTube, Disney+, Sling, and more. And when a new app comes out, it will be available in the app store for you to download to the homepage of your Apple TV device.
• Roku Streaming Stick: This device works with Alexa and has apps such as Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, STARZ, SHOWTIME, NBC, ESPN, Disney NOW, and HGTV.
• : Even though its one of the least expensive options, the Fire TV has most of the apps youll need. Watch Disney+, Prime Video, HBO, Netflix, Sling, Hulu, and more.
• Xbox One: Get two in one with this game console. Play your favorite video games and also stream Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more.

Smart TVs

If youre looking for a cheaper option, check out our best 4K TVs under $400.

Can I Mirror My Phone To My Smart TV

Connect your Android and Fire TV devices to the same Wi-Fi network. It also helps to have your phone and your device within 30 feet of each other. Then, simply hold down the Home button on your Fire TV remote and select Mirroring. Now you should be seeing the same thing on your TV that you see on your phone.

Also Check: Mirror Android To Vizio TV

Which Companies Make Smart TVs

Every major TV manufacturer has shifted away from dumb TVs, with the trend toward making every set “smart.” A partial list of the biggest smart TV makers includes Hisense, LG, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TCL, Toshiba and Vizio.

While most of these companies tout their smart platforms as the latest and greatest, watch out for budget-priced TVs that only vaguely mention smart TV capability. These off-brand smart TV platforms may leave you stuck with limited app selection, sub-par performance and worrisome security holes.

How To Use Smartthings App To Stream Samsung Phones To Samsung TVs

Samsung phones already have the Smartthings app loaded. However, if it isnt already installed on your phone, you may quickly get it from the Google Play Store. After that, make sure your Samsung TV and Samsung phone are both linked to the same wifi network. Follow the below procedure to start streaming your Samsung phone to Samsung TV :

• Open the Smartthings app on your Samsung TV.
• Enter your password into the SmartThings app on your Samsung phone.
• From the dashboard, choose your television.
• In the drop-down menu, choose Mirror Screen .
• On your television screen, the contents of your phone will be displayed.

Read Also: How Do I Connect My Sanyo TV To The Internet