Smart TVs today have come a long way and can do a lot of different things. They can watch our favourite shows and videos from YouTube, play games, hold video calls, and even let us browse the web on their big, bright screens.
Our phones and tablets can do a lot of other things, like take pictures and movies and use apps. But sometimes you want to show everything on a big TV screen for everyone to see. You might be wondering how to mirror from a phone or computer to a TV. If you have the right gear, it’s straightforward. What choices do you have? It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone, an Android phone, or a computer.
There are two types of streaming: casting and mirroring.
Let’s quickly go over what it means to “stream” from a phone or computer to a TV before we get into how to do that.
“Mirroring,” also called “screen mirroring,” turns your phone, tablet, or computer into a mini-TV station that sends everything you see on the screen of your device to your TV. This includes interface elements, multiple app windows, and more. This can be very helpful if you want to use your TV as a monitor so that family or friends can see what you’re seeing and follow along. This is great for planning trips or showing someone how to do something on their own devices.
When you want to watch a movie, TV show, YouTube video, or song on your TV instead of your phone or computer, this is called “casting.” It’s kind of like giving a link to a friend, but this friend is your smart TV or online media player. The media starts to play on your TV as soon as you send the link. The device you used to transfer the link also has the capability to pause, fast-forward, or rewind the stream.
The only thing we’ll talk about in this piece is how to mirror your devices.
A guide on mirroring your iOS device’s screen to a television
Showing an iOS or iPadOS device to your TV requires an Apple AirPlay 2 smart TV or streaming device. Sony, TCL, Hisense, Samsung, LG, and Vizio make new smart TVs. Newer Rokus and Apple TV HD/4K are too.
Step 1: Turn on the TV. If the TV works with AirPlay 2, go to step 3.
Step 2: Turn on a streaming gadget that works with AirPlay 2.
Step 3: Swipe down from the upper right corner of the home screen to access Control Center on an iPhone X or later or iPad with iPadOS 13.
Step 4: You can reach Control Center on iPhones older than 8 by swiping up from the bottom of the home screen.
Step 5: Press the Screen Mirroring button, which looks like two squares that fit together.
Step 6: Select your compatible smart TV or streaming device from the available AirPlay 2 devices.
Step 7: The mirrored session will begin on its own, and you should be able to see what’s on your screen on your TV.
Step 8: Repeat steps 3–5 to stop reflecting the screen.
It’s easy to get a bigger landscape view on your phone if the TV shows it in portrait mode. Just flip your phone to landscape mode. You’ll need to turn off the movement lock on your iPhone for this to work.
If your streaming or TV device doesn’t appear in the list of AirPlay 2 listeners, you may need to turn AirPlay 2 on that device.
Insights into how to activate AirPlay 2 on Roku TV and streaming players
You can find Roku’s excellent operating system on its own streaming devices as well as TVs made by TCL, Hisense, and other companies. These days, Roku is also making its TVs.
Step 1: Pick out an AirPlay-compatible TV or streaming device and link it to the same Wi-Fi network as your iOS device.
Step 2: Use your remote to go to the home screen and then to Settings to turn on AirPlay 2.
Step 3: Pick HomeKit and Apple AirPlay.
Step 4: Turn on AirPlay.
The steps to set up AirPlay 2 on an Android or Google TV device
You can find the Google TV and Android TV operating systems on TVs made by Sony, TCL, Hisense, and other makers. Here’s how to get the famous OS to work with AirPlay.
Step 1: Press the “Input select” button on the remote of your Google TV or Android smart TV.
Step 2: Look for AirPlay.
Step 3: Choose the settings for AirPlay and HomeKit.
Step 4: Turn on AirPlay.
Get the most out of your Vizio SmartCast TV with AirPlay 2!
On a Vizio TV that works with SmartCast, you should be able to see a small AirPlay icon in the upper right part of the Home screen. You can go if it’s there. If not, do the following:
Step 1: Press the V button or the Home button on your remote to go to SmartCast Home.
Step 2: Go to the top of the screen and choose the Add-Ons menu.
Step 3: Click on the AirPlay choice and make sure it’s set to “On.”
Instructions for setting up AirPlay 2 on a Samsung smart TV
Step 1: If your Samsung smart TV is compatible with this guide, use the remote to go to Settings.
Step 2: Click on General.
Step 3: Go to Apple AirPlay Settings.
Step 4: Go to AirPlay and make sure it’s turned on.
Get AirPlay 2 working on your LG TV
Step 1: On an LG TV that is suitable, use the remote to go to the Home Dashboard.
Step 2: Choose AirPlay from the cards that are shown.
Step 3: Make sure AirPlay is turned on.
The process of casting content from an Android device to a television set
You can also show your Android phone or tablet’s screen to a TV. You’ll need an Android phone, tablet, smart TV with Chromecast built-in, streaming media player with Chromecast built-in, or just one of Google’s Chromecast devices to do this. Some Android phones, like Samsung’s, have a screen mirrored feature called Smart View. You can also use the quick steps below to get to this feature.
Your Android phone or tablet can be mirrored in two ways: the quick settings panel is faster, but not all Android devices can use it; the Google Home app is slower, but more devices can use it.
How to use the quick settings panel to mirror an Android phone or computer to your TV
Step 1: Scratch the top edge of your home screen and swipe down.
Step 2: Swipe down even more if you don’t see the complete list of settings.
Step 3: Find the Screen Cast button and press it. On Samsung devices, this button is called Smart View.
Step 4: Pick the Chromecast device you want to mirror from the list.
Step 5: Choose “Start Now” from the following text box.
Step 6: The mirrored session will begin on its own, and you should be able to see what’s on your screen on your TV.
Step 7: Just follow steps 1-3 again, and then hit Disconnect, to stop screen mirroring.
Methods for including the Screen Cast button on the Android phone’s fast settings panel
The Screen Cast button might not be showing up for you. You should add it to your quick settings board.
Step 1: Scratch the top edge of your home screen and swipe down.
Step 2: Swipe down even more if you don’t see the complete list of settings.
Step 3: To change the options, tap the pencil icon.
Step 4: Tap the Screen Cast button, then hold it down and drag it to the main list of quick settings apps.
How to use Google Home to mirror an Android phone or computer to your TV
Step 1: Start up the Google Home app. Get it from the Google Play Store if you don’t already have it.
Step 2: Touch the device you want to mirror.
Step 3: Tap the “Cast my screen” button on the next screen.
Step 4: Tap the Cast screen in the following conversation box.
Step 5: Choose “Start Now” from the following text box.
Step 6: The mirrored session will begin on its own, and you should be able to see what’s on your screen on your TV.
Step 7: Repeat steps 1 and 2 and then tap Stop mirroring to stop the screen mirroring process.
How to enable Chromecast on your Sony smart TV
Chromecast is always on and can’t be turned off on most gadgets that come with Chromecast built-in. If your TV or streaming device doesn’t appear in the list of Chromecast receivers, turn it off and on again or follow the instructions in the owner’s manual to do a factory restart. Sometimes, like when you’re using a Sony TV that works with Chromecast, you may need to turn it on.
If you have a Sony TV, you may need to:
Step 1: On the controller, hit the Home button.
Step 2: Click on Settings.
Step 3: Pick out apps.
Step 4: Pick and check out all the apps.
Step 5: Pick Show system apps.
Step 6: Choose Google Chromecast built-in.
Step 7: Make sure that this choice is turned on.
How to enable Chromecast on your Sony smart TV (alternative) Or:
Step 1: On the controller, hit the Home button.
Step 2: Click on Settings.
Step 3: Go to Apps and pick Google Chromecast built-in.
Step 4: Make sure that this choice is turned on.
