How to Mirror Android to TV in Easy Steps

How big is your Android phone’s screen? It might be of decent size, but a bigger screen is always better for you to enjoy playing games and watching videos. The ability to view content on large TV displays truly elevates a phone’s functionality in an era where phones have become objects of entertainment. In this case, there are different ways of mirroring your Android device to your TV. These methods vary depending on the capabilities and features of your TV. Devices with Android 5 and above have the feature. This article will examine three ways of mirroring your Android device to your TV. 

Method 1: Chromecast Device or TV

Google TVs with built-in Chromecast enable you to mirror Android to TV. But if your TV doesn’t have a built-in Chromecast, you can buy a Chromecast device and connect it to the TV via HDMI. You then need to download and install the Google Home app on your Android device to make it compatible with Chromecast. 

Step 1: Create a New Home

Ensure that you have connected your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network. Locate and open the Google Home app, then tap the plus icon in the top left corner of the screen. Next tap on “Continue”.

Step 2: Set up a Device

On the next screen, tap “Set up a device”, then select the “New Device” option.

Step 3: Allow Nearby Devices

On the “Allow Nearby Devices” screen, tap “Next”. 

Step 4: Pair Your Phone and TV

If the app finds your Chromecast, tap “Yes”. Your Android device and TV show the same code. Confirm the code with your phone. Next, accept the legal terms. Then enter the location of the device in your home and tap “Next”. Set the name of the room if you want. After that, tap “Continue”.

Step 5: Connect to Wi-Fi

Choose your Wi-Fi network on the following screen, then type the password. The app should then establish a network connection together with your Chromecast device. Complete the setup and permit Chromecast to install any upgrades. You might need to restart your Chromecast.

Step 6: Select your Device

Tap your device’s name on the Google Home app screen. Choose “Cast my screen” from the menu on the bottom left of the screen. 

A notification describing how to mirror your device appears.

Step 7: Start Casting

After selecting the “Cast screen” option, select the “Start now” button.

The display will show on your screen. You can use either landscape or portrait mode to view your content.

Method 2: TV Screen Mirroring

Most modern TVs have a screen mirroring feature. In addition, many Android devices can connect to a compatible TV. 

For instance, this feature is known as Smart View on Samsung phones. The most compatible choice in this scenario is mirroring a Samsung phone to a Samsung TV. The name of this setting differs from one Android device to the other. 

To access these settings, swipe down the quick settings menu and search for the screencasting option. Then follow the steps below to mirror your Android to your TV.

Step 1: Position the Android Device Close to the TV

Put your Android device near your TV, then select the appropriate settings. If it’s a Samsung phone, select Smart View. Tap “Next” to view nearby compatible TVs.

Step 2: Select Your TV

Following a few setup screens, your Android phone will display all nearby TVs with the mirroring functionality. Select the one you prefer.

Step 3: Start Mirroring

Tap the TV you want to connect to, then choose the Start option.

Step 4: Locate Mirroring Controls

A mirroring control will appear on your phone’s screen, but it depends on the type of phone. On a Samsung phone like the one we’ve used in this example, you can disconnect, pause Smart View, pause a specific program, darken the screen, or capture a selfie video from the menu. 

While there are a handful of different methods on how to mirror your Android phone to your TV, there are also countless ways to explain each method. If you’d like a step-by-step tutorial, we found this helpful video on YouTube you can watch that will guide you through the process.

Method 3: Using an Adapter and Cable

You can try the wired method if you can’t effectively mirror your phone to the TV using a wireless option. This method only works for phones with a USB-C port. You’ll require a USB-C to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable. 

Plug the USB-C into your phone, then connect the HDMI cable between the TV and the adapter. Your Android phone’s screen should immediately appear on the TV screen after plugging in the converter and cable. 

Pros and Cons of Screen Mirroring Your Android to TV

Like anything else, mirroring has its pros and cons. Let’s look at them.

Pros

• Compatibility: Besides Android phones and tablets, several TVs, some video projectors, laptops, and media streamers also support screen mirroring. 
• No network requirements: Network issues do not affect mirroring since you don’t need a network connection to view content. 
• Convenience: Screen Mirroring gives an easy way to watch your Android content on a bigger screen.
• Easy to make business and class presentations: You can wirelessly project a business or school presentation stored on your Android smartphone on a large screen using a video projector with a bridge device that supports screen mirroring and an Android phone or tablet.

Cons

• You can’t mirror to Apple TV: You can’t mirror your Android phone to an Apple TV without installing a separate program like Mirroring 360 or Airmore.
• Issues crop up if the phone and TV are different brands: The Android device and TV should be the same brand for the best results. For instance, Kindle Fire tablets work best with Fire TV sticks and Samsung Android devices with Samsung TVs. 
• You can’t use your phone when mirroring: You cannot use your phone for any other purposes. The content will stop playing if you select an alternative icon or application.
• Connection is not guaranteed: The connection and setup are not guaranteed, even if you can screen mirror your phone to most smart TVs.

Final Thoughts

By using screen mirroring, you can wirelessly display everything on your Android device’s screen, including emails, streaming services, platforms, pictures, videos, and web pages, on your TV. This feature is built into most modern Smart TVs and almost all Android smartphones.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©diy13/Shutterstock.com.