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You can cast supported video apps from an Android phone to Google TV using Google Cast. Mirroring your whole phone screen is a separate feature. Fire TV Stick app casting and screen mirroring are also different: Amazon’s built-in mirroring requires Miracast support from both the phone and the Fire TV device, so a Fire Stick may not appear in your phone’s Cast list even when both are on Wi-Fi.
Choose app casting or screen mirroring
“Casting” can mean sending a video from one supported app or showing everything on your phone’s screen. These routes use different receiver support and do not work interchangeably.
| What you want to do | Route | What must be supported |
|---|---|---|
| Play a video from a supported app on Google TV | Tap the app’s Cast icon and select the TV | The app must support Google Cast; phone and TV must share Wi-Fi. Google says app casting works on Android 6.0 or later. Google Cast app-casting help |
| Show your full Android screen on a Google Cast receiver | Use the screen-cast control in Google Home | Google Home screen-casting controls support Android 8.0 or later. Google screen-casting help |
| Cast supported app content to Fire TV | Use the app’s own cast control and follow its prompts | The app must support the Fire TV workflow. For Prime Video, Amazon says to sign in on the phone with the Amazon account used for Fire TV. Amazon app-casting help |
| Mirror the entire Android screen to Fire TV | Start Fire TV’s screen-mirroring mode, then connect from the phone | Both devices must support Miracast. Amazon Fire TV mirroring help |
Google Cast and Miracast are separate technologies. A Fire TV Stick is not a universal Google Cast receiver, and the phone’s “Cast” label does not guarantee it will use the same protocol across Android brands.
Cast a supported Android app to Google TV
This is usually the right choice for streaming video: the phone selects the receiver and acts as a playback remote while the receiver plays the media. You do not need to mirror your phone’s entire display.
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- Connect the Android phone and Google TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open a current app that supports Google Cast and start or select a video.
- Tap the app’s Cast icon, then choose the Google TV.
- Wait for the app’s Cast control to show that it is connected. Use the app’s controls to manage playback.
- To stop casting, tap the Cast icon and disconnect.
Google TV support says casting requires a current Chromecast-enabled app or the Chrome browser, and both devices must share Wi-Fi. See Google TV’s casting instructions.
Mirror the full Android screen to Google TV
For a full-screen mirror, use Google Home’s screen-casting action with a Google Cast receiver. Google documents this feature for Android 8.0 or later. Menu names can differ by phone manufacturer and app version, so look for the screen-cast action in Google Home rather than expecting the same phone menu on every device.
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- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
- Make sure the phone and Google TV are set up and connected to the same Wi-Fi network name (SSID).
- Open the Google Home app and choose its screen-casting action for the receiver.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to begin mirroring, then stop casting from Google Home when finished.
For reliable discovery, Google recommends that the Wi-Fi access point allow devices to communicate with one another; AP isolation should be disabled. Details are in Google’s Android screen-casting guidance.
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Fire TV app casting is separate from mirroring. Start in the app that contains the content and use its own cast control if available; follow that app’s prompts. Amazon’s Cast Apps to Fire TV help describes this workflow. For Prime Video specifically, sign in to the phone app with the Amazon account used on the Fire TV. This sends supported app content, not everything visible on the Android screen.
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Mirror an Android phone to Fire TV Stick
Amazon’s built-in Fire TV screen-mirroring flow works only when both the Android phone and Fire TV support Miracast. Amazon states, “You can mirror devices that support Miracast to your Fire TV, allowing you to access its display on the bigger screen.” Check that the mirroring option is available on the Fire TV and consult the phone maker’s documentation for Miracast or wireless-display support.
If the phone’s standard Cast list does not show the Fire TV, the cause may be that the devices do not support a shared mirroring protocol—not a Wi-Fi problem. Amazon says some Android devices do not support Miracast and that a Fire TV without the mirroring option is not compatible with this mirroring flow. See Amazon’s mirroring instructions and its device compatibility guidance. If either device lacks Miracast support, use a casting path supported by the app or choose a receiver compatible with the phone’s protocol; do not assume a third-party app will make incompatible hardware work.
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Fix a TV or Fire Stick that does not appear
Google TV is missing during app casting
- Check that the phone and Google TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Confirm the app supports Google Cast and is up to date.
- On Google TV, open Settings > Apps > See all apps and check that Google Cast is enabled. If it is not listed, show system apps or check disabled apps, then enable it.
- Update and restart the TV if it still does not appear.
- Android can switch automatically between isolated Wi-Fi networks, hiding Cast devices. If the Cast button is missing, forgetting the secondary network or temporarily disabling Adaptive connectivity may help. This advice concerns Google Cast discovery, not Fire TV Miracast.
Google’s device-discovery guidance is available at Troubleshoot Chromecast and Google TV device discovery.
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- Verify the receiver is set up and the phone and receiver use the same Wi-Fi network name (SSID).
- Install the latest Google Home app and Google Play services.
- If discovery still fails, power cycle the router, Android phone, and receiver.
See Google’s troubleshooting steps for finding a Cast device.
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Fire TV does not appear for screen mirroring
- Check that the Fire TV has a mirroring option and that the phone maker confirms Miracast or wireless-display support for your model.
- If either device does not support Miracast, matching Wi-Fi networks will not make this mirroring route work. Try supported app casting instead.
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