Ignacy Giżyński
In the age of increasingly larger smartphone screens, it may seem that watching photos or videos on a phone is fully satisfying. However, only connecting the phone to the television provides true freedom in sharing multimedia with family or friends. If you're wondering how to connect your phone to the TV, how to link your phone with the television, or how to share your phone screen on the TV, this article is for you.
How to connect a phone to a television?
The simplest method for connecting a phone to a television (especially if your television does not support wireless connectivity) is to use the appropriate HDMI-USB-C cable.
HDMI - USB-C Cable
The best image and sound quality 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 a suitable cable. However, not every phone supports video output over USB-C, as this feature requires compatibility with the DisplayPort Alt Mode.
How to check if your phone supports HDMI over USB-C?
Check the smartphone's specifications – the manufacturer's website or the user manual should state whether it supports "DisplayPort over USB-C."
If the phone supports this feature, you just need a USB-C – HDMI adapter or a dedicated cable.
If the phone does NOT support this feature, the HDMI cable 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 the MHL cable work? It is a special standard that allows for the transmission of image and sound through a micro USB connector to HDMI. MHL-compatible phones require a micro USB – HDMI adapter, often also additional power through a USB port.
USB Cable – USB – when the phone acts like a pendrive
If you don't want to stream video, but want to play files (e.g., photos, videos, documents), you can connect your phone to the TV using a cable such as USB-C – USB-A.
How does this connection work?
When you connect the phone to the TV, the TV recognizes it as a storage device (just like a pendrive) - on the phone, we select "File transfer" or "Image transfer" as shown in the picture.
PS. On other phones, it might be named differently, but you know what I mean 😉
You can browse photos, videos, and other files, but you cannot stream live video.
You select the photos you want to view on the big screen... and done!
The operation depends on the television's operating system – generally, this function should work on most televisions.
How to connect iPhone to TV with a cable?
Newer iPhone models that have a USB-C port (iPhone 15 and newer) can transmit images to a TV using a USB-C to HDMI cable, as we've described in the first point. Just connect the adapter or the appropriate cable, and the phone will automatically recognize the connection, enabling the transmission of both image and sound.
Users of older iPhones (with a Lightning port) need to use the Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter. This is the only fully compatible solution that allows wired display of images from the iPhone on the TV. We recommend avoiding cheap alternatives, as they often do not support DRM protections, which is why they do not work with apps like 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. |
USB – USB | ❌ No | ❌ No | Only file access – works like a flash drive / disk. |
How to connect a phone to a TV wirelessly? The best methods without using cables
Don't have the right cable or just want to avoid cable clutter? Fortunately, there are many ways to connect a phone to a TV wirelessly. What are the most popular methods? You can use various technologies depending on your phone and TV, such as Miracast, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, or DLNA.
How to share the screen on TV?
Enable the Miracast function on the television (screen cloning)
In the TV settings, find the option Screen Mirroring / Wireless Display / Miracast.
In some TVs, this option is located in the "Sources" or "Inputs" section.
In many TVs, you don't even need to turn on this function. 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 labeled 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 – select your TV.
Pair your phone with the TV
Confirm the connection and done! The phone screen will be transmitted to the TV in real time.
✅ Now you know how to transmit the image from your phone to the TV.
How to connect a phone to a TV via Bluetooth?
Many users wonder how to connect a phone to a TV via Bluetooth, thinking that this technology allows for wireless image transmission. Unfortunately, Bluetooth is not intended for video transmission because it has too low bandwidth. However, it can still be used for audio transmission – for example, to play music on TV speakers or to connect wireless headphones.
How to pair your phone with the TV?
If you want to use Bluetooth to stream audio, follow the steps below:
Turn on Bluetooth on the TV
Go to Settings > Connections / Bluetooth and activate the feature.
Some TVs may require going to "Sound" > "Sound Output" > "Bluetooth".
Turn on Bluetooth on your phone
Open Settings > Bluetooth and search for available devices.
The TV should appear in the list – select it and accept the connection.
✅Confirm the connection on the TV.
Select the audio source on the television
In the television settings, set Bluetooth as the main audio source. (In some televisions, this does not need to be done. It happens automatically once both devices are paired).
You can now play music, and the sound will be played through the television speakers.
How to connect iPhone to TV wirelessly?
To connect iPhone to TV without cables, first of all, you need a TV that supports AirPlay 2. AirPlay 2 is a standard created by Apple that allows streaming video and audio to compatible TVs.
How to do it?
If your TV supports AirPlay 2, simply connect it to the same Wi-Fi network, then on your iPhone go to Control Center (swipe "the bar" down) > Screen Mirroring and select the TV from the list of available devices.
How to connect a phone to a TV via Casting (e.g. Chromecast)?
Connect the TV and phone to the same Wi-Fi network.
Open the Casting-enabled app on your phone and select a 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 the phone screen – select your television.
✅Done! Now you can control the content being watched on the TV using your phone.
How to connect your phone to the TV via DLNA?
If you're wondering how to share your phone screen to the TV, and your TV doesn't support Miracast, AirPlay, or Chromecast, it's worth checking DLNA. This is an older standard that allows for streaming media (photos, videos, music) from your phone to the TV.
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 screen mirroring from the phone – works only for streaming media files.
How to connect your phone to the TV via DLNA?
Make sure that your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Download a DLNA-compatible app, e.g., BubbleUPnP, iMediaShare, AllCast.
Open the app, select files (photos, videos, music), and choose your TV as the receiving device.
Confirm the connection and start playback.
How to connect a phone to a television of a given brand?
In most cases, the methods we discussed earlier work on practically 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 may facilitate the connection.
How to connect your phone to Android TV / Google TV (Sony Bravia, TCL, Sharp, selected Philips models, etc.).
If your TV runs on Android TV or Google TV, you have several ways to connect your phone.
Chromecast – is built into these TVs, so just open an app (e.g., YouTube, Netflix), click the “Cast” icon, and select your TV. (Remember to be on the same Wi-Fi network).
Google Home app – allows not only screen casting but also controlling the TV.
Airplay 2 – works only on supported devices, e.g., Sony, TCL.
How to connect your phone to a Samsung TV?
Samsung has been relying on its own solutions for years and does not support Chromecast when it comes to TVs, but instead offers other options:
Smart View (Miracast) – a feature that allows wireless streaming of images 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 it above.
SmartThings App – this is more than just regular screen mirroring. You can control the TV from its interface, change settings, and stream multimedia from your phone or control other devices.
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 a TV and use a computer-like interface.
How to enable it? Just find your TV in the DEX settings, select it, and that's it!
A very interesting option is the ability to connect a keyboard or mouse to a TV or phone. This makes the DEX mode resemble that known from PCs. We used a regular Bluetooth mouse for this.
How to connect your phone to an LG television?
For a long time, LG did not support Chromecast, but this has changed with newer models.
Chromecast – in newer LG televisions, it works just like in models with Google TV, so just click the "Cast" icon in the app on your phone, select your television, and you're good to go. (Remember to be on the same Wi-Fi network).
Airplay 2 – all models from 2019 onwards.
Screen Share / mirroring (Miracast) – like in other televisions, it allows screen cloning from your phone.
LG ThinQ app – if you have an LG television, it's worth downloading it. It allows you to control the television and stream multimedia. Although it is not as developed as Samsung's SmartThings, it fulfills its purpose.
How to connect a phone to a Philips TV?
In the case of Philips TVs, the method of connecting a 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 mirroring (Miracast). This means you can easily stream 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 of wirelessly streaming images. New models with this system support the Screen Mirroring feature, allowing you to clone your smartphone screen to the TV.
How to do it on TitanOS?
On the television remote, press the “Menu” button or preferably “Sources” – a list of available inputs will open.
Go to the “Streaming” option and confirm your selection by pressing “OK”. The TV will switch to standby mode waiting for a connection with the phone.
Activate the screen mirroring function on your phone. Depending on the smartphone model, it may have a different name, e.g. Smart View (Samsung), Screen Share (LG), Wireless Display (Xiaomi), Miracast (Huawei), etc.
Select your TV from the list of available devices and accept the connection.
✅Ready! The phone screen will be displayed on the TV in real time.
Summary of all methods
Connection method | Does it transmit photos/video? | Does it transmit sound? | Does it clone the screen? | Does it require 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 | Works like a pendrive – only file transfer |
Screen Mirroring (Miracast) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | Most Smart TVs |
Casting (e.g., Chromecast) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (only applications) | ✅ 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 from Hisense |
It seemed so simple...
It might seem that connecting a phone to a TV is a trivial matter, but as you can see – there are really many options! And what's best, while creating this guide, we didn't even discuss all possible solutions. Depending on the model of the TV, 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 TV allows for a quick connection to a smartphone – whether it’s via cable or wirelessly.
