Ignacy Giżyński
In the age of increasingly larger smartphone screens, it may seem that watching pictures or films on your phone is fully satisfying. However, it is only when you connect your phone to the television that you get the true freedom to share multimedia with family or friends. If you are wondering how to connect your phone to the television, how to link your phone with the television, or how to share your phone's screen on the television, this article is for you.
What cable to use to connect a phone to a TV?
The simplest method to connect a phone to a TV (especially if your TV does not support wireless connectivity) is to use the appropriate HDMI- USB-C cable.
HDMI - USB-C Cable
The best quality of image and sound is provided by an HDMI cable. Unfortunately, most smartphones do not have a built-in HDMI port, so it is necessary to use an HDMI – USB-C adapter or an appropriate cable. However, not every phone supports video output over USB-C, as this feature requires compatibility with DisplayPort Alt Mode.
How to check if your phone supports HDMI over USB-C?
Check the smartphone specifications – it should state on the manufacturer's website or in the user manual whether it supports "DisplayPort over USB-C".
If the phone supports this feature, all you need is a USB-C – HDMI adapter or a dedicated cable.
If the phone DOES NOT support this feature, the HDMI connection will not work.
💡 Examples of compatible smartphones:
✔️ Flagship phones (e.g. Samsung Galaxy from the S series, iPhone models with USB-C, Huawei Mate and P series, some Sony Xperia models, etc.).
❌ Most budget and mid-range smartphones DO NOT support video transmission via USB-C.
MHL Cable – a solution for older phones
If you have an older smartphone that does not support DisplayPort Alt Mode, it is possible that it is compatible with the MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) standard. How does an MHL cable work? It is a special standard that allows for the transmission of video and audio through a micro USB connector to HDMI. MHL compatible phones require a micro USB – HDMI adapter, often also needing additional power via a USB port.
USB Cable – USB – when the phone works like a pendrive
If you do not want to stream video, but want to play files (e.g. photos, videos, documents), you can connect your phone to the television using a cable e.g. USB-C – USB-A.
How does this connection work?
Once the phone is connected to the television, the television recognises it as mass storage (similar to a pendrive) - on the phone we select "File transfer" or "Image transfer" as shown in the picture.
PS. On other phones, this may be named differently, but you get the idea 😉
You can browse photos, videos and other files, but you cannot stream video in real time.
You choose the photos you want to view on the big screen... and that's it!
The functionality depends on the operating system of the television – generally, this feature should work on most televisions.
How to connect an iPhone to a TV using a cable?
Newer models of iPhones that have a USB-C port (iPhone 15 and newer) can transmit video to a TV using a USB-C – HDMI cable, as we described in the first point. Simply connect the adapter or the appropriate cable, and the phone will automatically recognise the connection, allowing video and audio transmission.
Users of older iPhones (with a Lightning port) need to use the Apple Lightning – HDMI adapter. This is the only fully compatible solution that enables wired display of video from the iPhone to the TV. We recommend avoiding cheap alternatives, as they often do not support DRM protections, which means they do not work with apps such as Netflix or YouTube.
Comparison of wired connection methods
Type of cable | Does it transmit video? | Does it transmit audio? | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI - USB-C | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Best quality, but requires compatibility with DisplayPort Alt Mode. |
MHL (micro USB – HDMI) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Used in older phones, may require additional power supply. |
USB – USB | ❌ No | ❌ No | Only file access – works like a pendrive / drive. |
How to connect your phone to the television wirelessly? The best methods without using cables
Do you not have the right cable or simply want to avoid a tangle of wires? Fortunately, there are many ways to connect your phone to the TV wirelessly. What are the most popular methods? You can use various technologies, depending on the phone and television you have, such as Miracast, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, or DLNA.
How to share your screen on TV?
Turn on the Miracast function on your television (screen mirroring)
In the television settings, find the option Screen Mirroring / Wireless Display / Miracast.
On some televisions, this option can be found in the "Sources" or "Inputs" section.
On many televisions, you may not even need to turn this function on. It simply works "in the background".
Enable screen sharing on your phone
On your phone, go to Settings > Connections > Screen sharing / Wireless display.
It may be labelled as Screen Mirroring, Smart View (Samsung), Wireless Display (Xiaomi), Cast Screen (Google Pixel), etc..
After a moment, a list of available devices should appear on your phone's screen – choose your television.
Pair your phone with the television
Confirm the connection and you’re all set! The phone's screen will be streamed to the television in real-time.
✅ Now you know how to stream the image from your phone to the television.
How to connect a phone to a television via Bluetooth?
Many users wonder how to connect a phone to a television via Bluetooth, thinking that this technology allows for wireless image transfer. Unfortunately, Bluetooth is not intended for video transmission, as it has too low a bandwidth. However, it can still be used for audio transmission – for example, to play music on the television speakers or to connect wireless headphones.
How to pair your phone with the television?
If you want to use Bluetooth to transmit sound, follow the steps below:
Turn on Bluetooth on the television
Go to Settings > Connections / Bluetooth and activate the feature.
Some televisions may require you to go to "Sound" > "Sound Output" > "Bluetooth".
Turn on Bluetooth on your phone
Open Settings > Bluetooth and search for available devices.
Your television should appear on the list – select it and accept the connection.
✅Confirm the connection on the television.
ChooseTV audio source in the television
In the television settings, set Bluetooth as the primary audio source. (In some televisions, this does not need to be done. It happens automatically as soon as both devices are paired).
You can now play music, and the sound will be played through the television speakers.
How to connect an iPhone to a TV wirelessly?
To connect an iPhone to a TV without cables, first of all, you need a TV that supports AirPlay 2. AirPlay 2 is a standard created by Apple that allows you to stream video and audio to compatible TVs.
How to do it?
If your television supports AirPlay 2, simply connect it to the same Wi-Fi network, then on your iPhone, go to Control Centre (swipe down the "banner") > Screen Mirroring and select the television from the list of available devices.
How to connect your phone to your television via Casting (e.g. Chromecast)?
Connect the television and phone to the same Wi-Fi network.
Open a Casting-compatible app on your phone and select the desired movie, e.g. YouTube, Netflix.
Click the Cast (screen mirroring) icon on your phone.
After a moment, a list of available devices should appear on your phone screen – choose your television.
✅Ready! Now you can control the content being watched on the television using your phone.
How to connect your phone to a television via DLNA?
If you are wondering how to share your phone screen to a television, and your television does not support Miracast, AirPlay, or Chromecast, it is worth checking out DLNA. This is an older standard that allows for streaming media (photos, videos, music) from your phone to your television.
How does DLNA work?
✅ No cables required – works over Wi-Fi.
✅ Supported by most Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Philips, and others).
❌ Does not allow for screen mirroring from the phone – only works for streaming media files.
How to connect your phone to a television via DLNA?
Ensure that your phone and television are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Download a DLNA-compatible app, such as BubbleUPnP, iMediaShare, AllCast.
Open the app, select the files (photos, videos, music) and choose your television as the receiving device.
Confirm the connection and start playback.
How to connect a phone to a television of a specific brand?
In most cases, the methods we discussed earlier work on virtually any television. Chromecast, Miracast, AirPlay or DLNA are universal technologies that you will find in various models. However, each brand has its specific solutions that can facilitate the connection.
How to connect a phone to televisions with Android TV / Google TV (Sony Bravia, TCL, Sharp, selected models of Philips, etc.).
If your television runs on Android TV or Google TV, you have several ways to connect your phone.
Chromecast – it is built into these televisions, so you just need to open an app (e.g. YouTube, Netflix), click the "Cast" icon, and select the television. (Remember to be on the same Wi-Fi network).
Google Home app – allows not only casting but also controlling the television.
Airplay 2 – works only on compatible devices, e.g. Sony, TCL.
How to connect a phone to Samsung TV?
For years, Samsung has been focusing on its own solutions and does not support Chromecast when it comes to televisions, but instead offers other options:
Smart View (Miracast) – a feature that allows wireless screen mirroring from your phone to the TV without the need for the internet. It works not only on Samsung TVs but also on many other models. We described exactly how to do this above.
SmartThings App – this is more than just screen mirroring. You can control the TV, change settings, and transfer multimedia from your phone or control other devices from it.
Airplay 2 – all models from 2019 and selected ones from 2018.
Samsung DeX – if you have a Galaxy series phone (e.g. S, Note, Z Fold), you can connect it to the television and use a computer-like interface.
How to enable it? Just find your television in the DEX settings, select it and that’s it!
A very interesting option is the ability to connect a keyboard or mouse to the television or phone. This makes the DEX mode resemble that known from PC computers. We used a regular Bluetooth mouse for this.
How to connect your phone to LG television?
For a long time, LG did not support Chromecast, but this has changed in newer models.
Chromecast – in newer LG televisions, it works the same way as in models with Google TV, so all you need to do is click the "Cast" icon in the app on your phone, select your television, and you're ready to go. (Remember to be on the same Wi-Fi network).
Airplay 2 – all models from 2019 onwards.
Screen Share / mirroring (Miracast) – similar to other televisions, this allows you to clone your phone's screen.
LG ThinQ App – if you have an LG television, it's worth downloading it. It enables you to control the television and stream multimedia. Although it is not as developed as Samsung's SmartThings, it does its job well.
How to connect your phone to Philips TV?
In the case of Philips TVs, the method of connecting your phone depends on the selected operating system.
If you choose a Philips TV with Google TV / Android TV, you will receive support for both Chromecast and screen mirroring (Miracast). This means you can easily cast images from your phone using the Google Home app or directly from apps like YouTube or Netflix.
If you opt for a TV with Titan OS, you also have the option to wirelessly transmit images. New models with this system support the Screen Mirroring feature, allowing you to clone your smartphone's screen onto the TV.
How to do it on TitanOS?
On the remote control of the television, press the "Menu" button or preferably "Sources" directly – this will open the list of available inputs.
Go to the "Streaming" option and confirm your selection by pressing "OK". The television will switch to standby mode waiting for a connection with the phone.
On your phone, activate the screen mirroring function. Depending on the model of the smartphone, it may have a different name, e.g. Smart View (Samsung), Screen Share (LG), Wireless Display (Xiaomi), Miracast (Huawei), etc.
Choose your television from the list of available devices and accept the connection.
✅Ready! The phone screen will be displayed on the television in real time.
Summary of all methods
Connection Method | Does it transmit photos/videos? | Does it transmit sound? | Does it mirror the screen? | Does it require the internet? | Does it allow device control | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USB-C – HDMI | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | Only phones with DisplayPort Alt Mode (high-end phone series) |
MHL – (micro USB) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | Older phones with micro USB |
USB-C – USB | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | Functions like a USB drive – file transfer only |
Screen Mirroring (Miracast) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | Most Smart TVs |
Casting (e.g. Chromecast) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (only apps) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Mainly Android / Google TV, recently LG |
AirPlay 2 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | iPhones + certified TVs |
DLNA | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Most Smart TVs |
Bluetooth | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | Most TVs with Bluetooth |
External manufacturer applications | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Samsung SmartThings, LG ThinkQ, Google Home, ConnectLife by Hisense |
It seemed so simple...
It might seem that connecting a phone to a television is a trivial matter, but as you can see – there are indeed many options! And what’s best, while creating this guide, we didn’t even cover all possible solutions. Depending on the model of the television, the system, and your needs, you can choose the method that is most convenient for you. The most important thing is that today almost every television allows for a quick connection to a smartphone – whether it’s wired or wirelessly.
