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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Mirror your Android phone to your TV in three simple ways.
- Use built-in mirroring, Chromecast, or a wired adapter.
- Enjoy videos, games, and apps on a larger screen easily.
Your Android phone (or Android tablet) may have a decent-sized screen. But if you use it to watch videos, play games, or work with other apps, you may yearn for a much bigger screen to amp up the experience.
One way to achieve that is by mirroring your device to your TV. This way, you control the action from your phone but enjoy the full effect on your widescreen television.
Also: Your Android phone’s most critical security feature is turned off by default – how to enable it ASAP
There are several ways to mirror your device to your TV, depending on the features and capabilities of your phone and your television. Let’s check out three different options so you can choose which one works best on your end.
How to mirror your Android phone to a TV
Many TVs come with a built-in screen mirroring feature. For this, you’ll want to scour the settings on your TV to connect to an external device, typically using Bluetooth.
On the other end, your Android phone may have a specific setting to connect to a supported TV. On Samsung phones, this is called Smart View. In this case, mirroring a Samsung phone to a Samsung TV is the most compatible option.
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On other Android phones, this setting goes by a different name. The best way to find this is by swiping down from the top of the screen to display the Quick Settings menu and looking for the appropriate casting or screen-sharing option.
Position your Android device near your TV, and then tap the Smart View setting on a Samsung phone or a similar setting on a different phone. You’ll go through a couple of setup screens and then see a list of nearby TVs that support screen mirroring. Tap the TV you want to connect to, and then select the Start button to connect and mirror your screen.
Mirror your Samsung phone with Smart View.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Open the app that you want to see and use on your TV. Position your phone in portrait or landscape mode.
Open the app you want to mirror.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Your TV displays the screen from your Android device. When done, tap the mirroring control to trigger the menu, and then disconnect your device.
View your phone’s display on your TV.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Two more ways to mirror your Android phone to a TV
1. Use a Chromecast TV or device
If you have a Google TV with built-in Chromecast, you can directly mirror your Android device.
If you have a different TV, you can still use Chromecast, but you’ll have to purchase a Google TV Streamer, which costs $75. Alternatively, you can save money by shopping around for an older Chromecast device on Amazon or eBay.
Also: How to clear your Android phone cache (and fix slow performance for good)
If you’re not using a Google TV, connect the Chromecast device to your TV via the HDMI connection.
On your Android phone, swipe down from the top of the screen and look for a Cast or Screen Cast button among the Quick Settings. Tap that button. The name of your Google TV or the TV with the Chromecast device should appear on the screen. Tap that name, and then tap the Start Now button when asked if you want to start recording or casting.
Also: I changed 7 settings on my Samsung phone to instantly improve the battery life
Navigate to the app or screen on your phone that you want to mirror.
Open the app you want to mirror.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
The display should then appear on your TV. You can now position your phone in portrait or landscape mode, depending on the app or game you want to use.
View your phone’s screen on your TV.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
When done, return to the Quick Settings area on your phone, tap the Cast button, and then disconnect.
2. Use an adapter and cable
If you can’t successfully mirror your phone to your TV via a wireless option, there’s always the wired approach.
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For this, you’ll need an HDMI cable and a USB-C to HDMI adapter, which you can find at Amazon. Plug the USB-C end into your phone, and then connect an HDMI cable between the adapter and your TV. After connecting the adapter and cable, the screen on your Android phone will automatically appear on your TV.
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