How to Connect a Phone to a TV Wirelessly

There are several popular methods for connecting a smartphone to your TV wirelessly. Some techniques work using just the TV and phone while others require the purchase of additional hardware.

How Do I Connect My Phone to My TV Wirelessly?

The main methods for connecting a phone to a TV wirelessly include:

• AirPlay: Apple’s proprietary streaming technology allows compatible devices to use AirPlay mirroring send media to each other as long as they’re on the same Wi-Fi internet connection.
• Chromecast: Google Cast is a wireless protocol created by Google that allows for the transmission of data between devices.
• Gaming console or Blu-ray: Another option for wirelessly casting content to your TV is to use a gaming console or a network-enabled Blu-ray player.
• Streaming devices: Streaming sticks are small devices that plug into one of your TV’s HDMI ports and essentially turn your regular TV into a smart TV by adding support for wireless connectivity and apps.
  

Use AirPlay to Connect Your Phone to Your TV

AirPlay can be used to send media from a phone to an Apple TV device that’s connected to your TV or a mirror to a smart TV with built-in AirPlay support.

All iPhone models come with built-in AirPlay support straight out of the box. The easiest way to access the feature is to open Control Center and tap the AirPlay icon to choose the TV you want to cast to.

Or, from an app like Spotify, you can use Spotify Connect and follow these steps:

1. Select a song to play.

2. Tap the Devices Available icon.

3. Choose AirPlay or Bluetooth.

4. Select the TV you want to connect to from the AirPlay options.

Apple’s Apple TV set-top devices, which connect to your TV via an HDMI cable, can receive media sent via AirPlay as can a growing number of smart TVs which come with AirPlay functionality built in. 

Android-powered TVs that don’t support AirPlay can add this functionality with the installation of a third-party app such as Airscreen.

Send Media to Your TV Wirelessly With Google Cast

Another option is to wirelessly connect your phone to your TV with Google Cast. It’s commonly referred to as Chromecast with many smart TVs that support the protocol carrying the label, “Chromecast built-in.”

Smart TVs running Android TV and Google TV usually feature built-in support for Google Cast, as do many other smart TVs on the market. Google Cast can be used for casting Apple TV, Apple Music, and Google Photos media to TVs in addition to a wide range of other content and screen mirroring.

Here's an example of how to cast to a TV from Google Photos:

1. Open Google Photos.

2. Select a photograph from an album or your library.

3. Tap the Chromecast icon at the top of the screen.

4. Choose the TV to connect to.

Add Wireless Functionality to Your TV With a Streaming Device

If your TV lacks any kind of built-in wireless functionality, a cheap and affordable way to add it is to purchase an HDMI adapter, more commonly referred to as a streaming stick.

Here are some of the more popular streaming sticks used by people to wirelessly connect smartphones to TVs:

• Google Chromecast: Google Chromecast devices let smartphones cast and mirror content on TVs. Chromecasts usually work better with Android mobile devices, though iPhones still offer some support for certain apps and functions.
• Apple TV: Apple TV devices let you stream from your iPhone to your TV using Apple AirPlay. They also allow for the installation of a growing number of streaming apps and video games from the App Store. Apple TV generally is not recommended if you primarily use an Android smartphone and don’t already have an Apple account.
• Amazon Fire Stick: Amazon’s large range of Fire Stick streaming sticks enable wireless connectivity via Google Cast (Chromecast) and also allow for the installation of streaming apps and games. Fire Sticks feature built-in support for casting and mirroring from Android smartphones though AirPlay functionality for iPhones can be added with a third-party app. 
• Roku: Roku streaming sticks allow for the wireless casting and mirroring of content from both iPhones and Android smartphones. Roku devices also feature a large number of channels and apps.

Wirelessly Cast to a Video Game Console or Blu-ray Player

Many modern video game consoles and Blu-ray players support wireless casting and mirroring of content from smartphones. When you connect your phone to one of these devices, it will display your content on the connected TV.

Devices that support wireless connectivity will usually mention Chromecast, AirPlay, or “casting” on their packaging or within their setting's menus.

On network-connected Blu-ray players, this feature might be labeled as Screen Mirroring, Display Mirroring, or some other combination.

Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 consoles all support wireless connectivity of some kind or another.

Connect via Built-In Smart TV Apps

If you just want to connect to your TV so you can watch content from Netflix, Disney Plus, and other streaming services, you don’t actually have to make a wireless connection at all as most of these services can be accessed directly via their official apps without the need for a smartphone.

All you need to do is install the app onto your smart TV and use your remote control to log in directly to the service on your TV. Once done, you can then use your remote to navigate the app and select what content to consume.

Apps can be installed on the following types of devices:

• Smart TVs
• Video game consoles
• Streaming sticks
• Some modern Blu-ray players

In addition to streaming services, many cloud storage platforms also have official apps you can access on your TV or its connected devices. Instead of casting content from your smartphone, you can log in to your cloud service on your TV and access your photos, videos, and documents directly. For example, OneDrive content can be accessed via the OneDrive app on Xbox consoles.