Guide
How to Mirror Your Android Screen to a TV
Screen mirroring shows exactly what is on your phone on the TV, in real time. It's built into most Android phones, but it hides under different names.
Mirroring vs. casting: what's the difference?
| Screen mirroring | Casting | |
|---|---|---|
| What the TV shows | Everything on your phone screen, notifications included | Only the video, photo or song you picked |
| Is the phone free to use? | No, the TV copies the screen | Yes |
| Quality | Depends on the link, can lag | Usually better, the TV plays the file itself |
| Works with any app? | Yes (protected apps may show a black screen) | Only content the app can send |
| Technology | Miracast, Smart View, Google Cast screen sharing | DLNA, Google Cast |
What you need
- An Android phone with built-in screen mirroring.
- A TV with Miracast / screen mirroring (or a Miracast adapter) or a Chromecast.
- Ideally both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. Miracast itself uses a direct Wi-Fi Direct link and doesn't need a router.
Step 1: prepare the TV
Switch the TV to its screen mirroring input or turn the feature on in its settings. The name depends on the brand: for example Screen Mirroring on Samsung TVs, Screen Share on LG TVs, Screen mirroring on Sony TVs, or Miracast / wireless display on others.
Step 2: start mirroring on the phone
- Swipe down twice to open the Quick Settings panel.
- Look for Smart View (Samsung), Cast, Screen Cast, Wireless display or Wireless projection (Huawei and Honor).
- If you can't find it, open Settings and search for “cast” or “mirror”.
- Choose your TV in the list and accept the request on the TV.
SmartGoCast makes this easier: open the Screen mirroring tab, read the three steps, then tap Start mirroring to jump straight to your phone's screen mirroring settings.
Step 3: get a better picture
- Turn the phone to landscape when watching video.
- Switch on Do Not Disturb so notifications don't appear on the TV.
- Close heavy apps and stay close to the TV.
Troubleshooting
- The TV doesn't appear. Check the Wi-Fi, turn off the VPN and read TV not showing up in the cast list.
- Black screen with a streaming app. Services such as Netflix block mirroring with copy protection. Use the cast button inside the app instead.
- Lag or choppy video. Mirroring sends the whole screen in real time. Cast the video instead, or use an HDMI cable.
- No sound on the TV. See casting to TV: video plays but no sound.
- Google Pixel and some other phones have no Miracast. Use the Cast tile with a Chromecast or Google TV, or an HDMI cable.
When to cast instead
For videos, photos and music, casting gives a sharper picture and leaves your phone free. See how to cast local videos, photos and music to a TV.