How to Mirror Android to TV (Connect Your Phone Wirelessly)

Search your TV for Wi-Fi Direct, then select your phone from the list to mirror the screen

By
Robert Silva
Robert Silva
Robert Silva
Writer
  • San Diego State University
Robert Silva has extensive experience in consumer electronics and home theater product sales and sales supervision; he has written about audio, video, and home theater topics since 1998. Robert has articles published on HBO.com and Dishinfo.com plus has made appearances on the YouTube series Home Theater Geeks.
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Updated on February 12, 2024

What to Know

  • You can mirror your Android's screen on a TV or cast specific content from your phone to your TV.
  • Mirror: Find the Wi-Fi Direct option on your TV and choose your phone from the list.
  • Cast: Open a compatible Android app and tap the Cast button. Choose your TV from the list.

This article explains how to show your Android's whole screen, or just certain apps, on the big screen.

How to Connect and Mirror Android to TV

Here's an example on my Samsung TV. In the following steps, the Android phone is on the left, and the TV screen is on the right.

The exact terms used for Screen Mirroring and the steps needed to activate it can vary from the instructions below, depending on your device.

  1. Go to Settings on your phone, TV, or bridge device (media streamer).

    HTC One Android Phone and Samsung TV Screen Mirroring Step One

  2. Enable screen mirroring on the phone and TV. In this example, the term used by the TV is Wi-Fi Direct. Look for this in the settings, probably in the section called Network or something similar.

    HTC One Android Phone and Samsung TV Screen Mirroring Step One "B"

    These steps are specific to Samsung devices. Your phone or TV might use terms such as Screen Mirroring, Wireless Display, or Display Mirroring.

  3. Search for the TV or bridge device. It may also be on a list of devices. In the TV screen mirroring menu, select the Android device.

    HTC One Android Phone and Samsung TV Screen Mirroring Step Two

  4. Once your devices find and recognize each other, start the connection process. You might need to select Accept or enter the PIN displayed on the TV.

    HTC One Android Phone and Samsung TV Screen Mirroring Step Three

  5. The Android screen displays on the TV screen after the "connect" procedure is finished.

    Android Screen Mirroring to TV Examples via Fire TV

How to Use Screen Mirroring

After Screen Mirroring is activated, everything you see on your Android device is also displayed on your TV or video projector screen.

If you turn your phone horizontally, for most apps, you should see the same view on your TV screen. In addition to content, in most cases, you will also mirror the onscreen menus and settings provided on your phone or tablet. This means you can continue using your device to navigate the menu and apps.

Roku TV Screen Mirroring Example with KODI

Screen Mirroring vs. Casting

Another way to view content from an Android device on TV is through casting. Screen Mirroring and Casting are similar, but there are differences.

  • Casting requires the Android device and TV to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Casting works for photos, self-made videos, and select apps.
  • While selected Cast content is playing on your TV, you can perform other tasks on your Android device at the same time or even turn it off. 
  • Your Android device may require an additional app and plugging in a Chromecast on your TV before casting can be used.

If an Android smartphone app is compatible with casting (YouTube and Netflix are two examples, but there are others), a Cast button will appear on the phone or tablet. Tap it, then select your TV from the list to cast that app's contents to the TV.

Cast Logo Example on App
The Cast icon highlighted in an app on an Android device.

Some devices (Roku sticks/boxes/TVs, Samsung Smart TVs/Blu-ray players, and Fire TV Stick/Fire Edition TVs) allow casting of select apps from Android phones without the need for an additional app or Chromecast.

Screen Mirroring Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Screen Mirroring provides an easy way to view your Android phone screen on a larger TV screen.

  • Not affected by poor network connectivity, as no connection is needed.

  • In addition to Android devices, screen mirroring reception is available on TVs and select video projectors, Blu-ray players, cable/satellite boxes, media streamers, laptops, and PCs.

  • Wirelessly display a business or classroom presentation saved on your Android device on a very large screen.

Cons

  • While content is mirrored, tapping another icon or app will interrupt what's on the TV.

  • If your TV and Android device come from the same manufacturer, you will likely have better luck getting the systems to talk to each other.

  • Can't mirror an Android phone or tablet to an Apple TV without installation of an additional app.

Connecting Your Android Phone Wirelessly to a TV

One way to view an Android phone on a TV is through Screen Mirroring. Almost all Android phones offer this capability built-in, as well as most smart TVs, smart Blu-ray players, and media streamers.

Media streamers that support screen mirroring for Android include Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast. Apple TV does not support screen mirroring for Android natively.

Screen Mirroring displays everything on an Android screen including email, incoming text messages, and app notifications.

There are two wireless connection paths to screen mirror an Android device on a TV: 

  • From an Android device directly to a TV. 
  • From an Android device wirelessly to a "bridge" device (such as a media streamer, or smart Blu-ray player). The "bridge" routes the received mirrored content to a TV via an HDMI or other compatible connection.  

Screen Mirroring is usually referred to as Miracast, which is based on Wi-Fi Direct technology. Depending on the brand and model of Android phone, TV, or "bridge" device, Screen Mirroring may also be referred to as Wireless Display, Display Mirroring, HTC Connect, Smart Share (LG), Smart View (Samsung), Quick Connect (Samsung), or AllShare (Samsung)

FAQ
  • How do I mirror from Android to Fire Stick?

    To cast to a Fire Stick from an Android phone, power on the Amazon Fire TV Stick, press Home on the remote, and select Mirroring. Next, on your Android, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Cast, and select your Fire TV Stick.

  • How do I mirror from Android to Roku?

    To cast to Roku TV from an Android, open the streaming app you want to cast from on your Android phone, and select the cast icon in the corner of the screen. Select your Roku TV or Roku device to begin casting.

  • How do I mirror from an Android phone to a TV without Wi-Fi?

    If you don't have a Wi-Fi connection, try using a direct USB-to-HDMI cable. Plug the USB end of the cable into your Android phone, and then plug the HDMI end into your smart TV's HDMI slot to begin mirroring your phone's contents.

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