How to Mirror Your Phone to a TV Without Wi-Fi in 3 Steps (with Photos)

Key Points

• Mirroring your phone to a TV usually requires Wi-Fi, but there are methods to do it without Wi-Fi.
• One method is to use a hotspot, connecting the TV and second phone to the first phone’s hotspot.
• Another method is to use a spare router to create a Wi-Fi network for screen mirroring.
• If your TV doesn’t support wireless casting, you can use a USB-C to HDMI adapter to connect your phone to the TV.
• It’s important to note that screen mirroring may not allow you to watch copyrighted content.

Mirroring your phone to a TV is an easy way to show pictures and videos to your friends. Normally, mirroring your phone to a TV requires Wi-Fi. However, you may find yourself in a situation where your home’s Wi-Fi is not working or you don’t have access to a Wi-Fi network. Is it possible to mirror your phone to a TV without Wi-Fi? You’re in luck because there are several methods to mirror your phone to your TV that do not require Wi-Fi.

How Is It Possible to Mirror Your Phone to TV Without Wi-Fi?

Before we start, mirroring your phone to a TV requires Wi-Fi but not an internet connection. To work, both your TV and phone need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. It doesn’t matter what type of Wi-Fi network, it could be a hotspot or a spare router.

Another point to remember is that you can’t watch copyrighted content when screen mirroring to a TV. For example, media streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video won’t be playable through screen sharing if you do not have Wi-Fi.

On newer TVs, screen mirroring is usually enabled by default in the background. However, you might need to select screen mirroring from the TV’s source list manually. The setting can also be found in the TV’s network settings. The exact location will vary depending on the TV’s operating system. On Android or Google TVs, screen mirroring runs in the background.

However, if your TV supports Bluetooth, you should be able to connect to it from the phone that hosts the hotspot. It depends on your TV and phone capabilities, but most modern phones can’t screen mirror through their hotspots. Now, we’ll walk you through some easy ways to mirror your phone without Wi-Fi.

Method 1: Use a Hotspot

The easiest way to mirror your phone to a TV without Wi-Fi is to use a hotspot. Bear in mind, this method will only work if your TV supports Wi-Fi and Miracast or AirDrop. Miracast is a wireless technology that allows you to send media to a compatible display over a local area network. It’s often referred to as “Wireless HDMI.” AirDrop is Apple’s proprietary wireless service that allows data sharing among compatible devices. So, instead of connecting the TV and phone to your home Wi-Fi, we will connect them to your phone’s hotspot. Let’s walk through the steps.

Important: To use the hotspot method, you will need two phones. One is to create the hotspot, and then the TV and the second phone connect to that hotspot. From there, you will cast to the TV from the second phone. If you try to cast from the same phone that is hosting the hotspot, you will receive an error saying that your hotspot needs to be disabled in order to screen mirror.

Step 1: Turn on Your Phone’s Hotspot

On Android, swipe down from the top of your phone’s screen to open the quick access toolbar. From there, tap on Mobile Hotspot to turn it on. You will need to open Settings, Cellular, and Personal Hotspot for Apple phones. You can also use another device, such as a laptop, to create the hotspot.

Step 2: Connect the Second Phone to the First Phone’s Hotspot

Now you need to connect the second phone to the hotspot. You want the TV and second phone to be connected to the first phone’s hotspot.

Step 3: Connect Your TV to the Hotspot

Once the hotspot is turned on, you will connect your TV to it. Turn on your TV and use the remote to browse the network settings. Select your phone’s hotspot from the Wi-Fi list, then enter the password to connect.

Keep in mind, your phone doesn’t necessarily need to have a cellular data connection for this to work. Screen mirroring to a TV is done through either Miracast or AirDrop, wireless technologies that only require a local Wi-Fi network.

Step 4: Cast to the TV from the Second Phone

Once all the devices are connected, all you have to do is cast from the second phone to your TV. On Android, look for an option called Smart View in the quick access settings. You can also use the search function to locate it. Another way to find Smart View is to open your phone’s gallery, select an image, and tap the Smart View icon in the top right corner.

Turn on Smart View and wait for it to locate nearby devices. It should show your TV on the list of devices. Once connected, your TV should automatically start mirroring your phone’s screen. You can also flip the phone to enable fullscreen mode on the TV. If your TV supports Miracast, this method will work.

On Apple, open the control center, and tap on screen mirroring. Some apps will also have a dedicated AirPlay logo. Remember, Apple devices do not use Miracast. So, to mirror your phone to your TV from an IOS device, the TV needs to support AirPlay.

Method 2: Use a Spare Router

If you’re trying to do this at home, you can use an old router to create the Wi-Fi network you need. The best part about this method is the router doesn’t need to be connected to the internet. It only needs to be powered on and broadcasting a signal.

1. Plug the router into a power outlet.
2. Take note of the default wireless network it creates. If you have used the router before, it’s best to reset it.
3. Connect your TV and phone to its wireless network.
4. Mirror your phone’s screen.

In most cases, a router will have its default Wi-Fi network information printed on the back or bottom of the device. Once the router is powered on, it should start broadcasting the default Wi-Fi network, which will be visible on your phone and TV.

Step 3: Use a USB-C to HDMI Adapter

If your TV does not support Miracast or any other wireless casting technologies, then your choices are limited. The only way to screen mirror to a TV without built-in casting features is to use an HDMI adapter. Most phones support DisplayPort over USB-C, so it’s only a matter of using the right adapter. What you need is a USB-C to HDMI adapter.

1. Plug the USB-C end into your phone.
2. Insert an HDMI cable into the other end of the adapter.
3. Select the correct HDMI source on your TV.
4. It should automatically start screen mirroring your phone.

This method is much more reliable than the previous methods, and the performance is better too. If you’re using a flagship Samsung phone, a feature called Samsung Dex might automatically start when your phone is connected to an external display. It’s a feature that turns your phone into a desktop-style user interface. To disable Samsung Dex, swipe down from the top of the screen and disable Dex from the quick access tools.

Turn Your USB-C Port into an HDMI Port

Anker USB C to HDMI Adapter (4K@60Hz), 310 USB-C Adapter (4K HDMI), Aluminum, Portable , for MacBook Pro, Air, iPad Pro, Pixelbook, XPS, Galaxy, and More

$12.99

• You can connect to any TV or display that has an HDMI port
• Up to 4K resolution video streaming
• Plug and play with no software or drivers required
• 18-month warranty

Buy on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

09/22/2023 07:07 am GMT

How to Check if Your TV Supports Screen Mirroring

Lots of TVs can connect to Wi-Fi, but not all of them support casting features. The easiest way to check if your TV supports screen mirroring is to check the input sources. Press the source button on your remote and look for a source called Screen Mirroring. If you don’t see that option in the sources, it could be in Network or Connection settings. You might have to look up your TV’s model to find its list of supported features.

Every TV manufacturer uses a different name for their built-in casting features. For example, it can be called Screen Mirroring, Screen Sharing, or Miracast. They’re all the same.

Can You Use Chromecast Without Wi-Fi?

Unfortunately, Chromecast requires a Wi-Fi network with an internet connection for its casting features. You might be able to use a Chromecast if you connect it to a hotspot using a second phone like our first method on the list. However, it’s a bit tricky.

Chromecast is often confused with Miracast. One key difference between these technologies is Chromecast requires an internet connection, while Miracast does not. However, Miracast can’t cast copyrighted content such as Netflix. Miracast is generally used for screen mirroring and Chromecast is used for streaming media.

Remember, you can connect your Chromecast to your phone’s hotspot and use it normally to watch media. However, you won’t be able to cast to your Chromecast when it’s connected to your phone’s hotspot. Of course, be mindful of data usage when your Chromecast is connected to your phone’s hotspot.

Conclusion

To summarize, you can mirror your phone to your TV without Wi-Fi by using a second phone, a spare router, or an HDMI adapter. Keep in mind, mirroring your phone screen will prevent you from watching copyrighted content. We recommend using an HDMI adapter because it’s more reliable.

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