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Many phones can mirror their screens, but it only works when both the phone and receiving TV or display support a compatible method. iPhones use AirPlay with compatible TVs, Apple TV, or Mac; Pixel phones can mirror through Google Cast; and supported Samsung Galaxy phones and TVs may use Smart View. A wired adapter is another possibility on compatible models.

Screen mirroring or casting: what do you want to do?

Full-screen mirroring duplicates the phone display on the TV, including the interface and whatever you open. App casting sends supported media from an app to the receiver, so you can use the phone for other tasks while playback continues. The two methods have different controls and compatibility requirements. Apple distinguishes mirroring from streaming supported video, while Google documents media casting from Cast-enabled apps separately from screen casting.

How to mirror an iPhone

  1. Connect the iPhone and the Apple TV, AirPlay-compatible smart TV, or Mac to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring.
  3. Select the TV or Mac. If a passcode appears on the receiving display, enter it on the iPhone.
  4. To end mirroring, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring.

These steps follow Apple’s AirPlay instructions. If you only want to play a video, use the video app’s AirPlay control when available; some video apps do not support AirPlay mirroring.

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How to mirror an Android phone

Pixel phones and Google Cast

On a Pixel, open Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Google Cast, then select a receiver. Google’s Pixel guide lets you choose to cast a single app or the entire screen. The receiver must be a Google Cast-compatible TV or streaming device. See Google’s Pixel screen projection steps and its receiver requirements.

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Other Android phones

Menu labels and available features vary by manufacturer and model. Look in your phone’s settings for a casting or screen-sharing feature, or consult the phone maker’s instructions. A Cast button inside a supported media app is a separate route: it sends that app’s content rather than necessarily duplicating the whole phone screen.

For media casting from Cast-enabled apps, Google lists Android 6.0 or later and iOS 12 or later as requirements. Those requirements apply to that app-based casting workflow; they do not guarantee that every phone can mirror its entire screen to every receiver. Google’s Cast-enabled-app guide explains the media workflow.

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Samsung Galaxy phones

Supported Galaxy phones may use Smart View to mirror to a compatible Samsung TV. Samsung also describes AirPlay and Tap View for supported devices, but availability depends on the TV model. For iOS mirroring to a Samsung TV, Samsung says both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Check the exact phone and TV models in Samsung’s support guidance rather than assuming every Samsung TV supports every method.

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Why your phone may not find the TV

  • Check protocol compatibility. An iPhone needs an AirPlay-compatible destination. Google Cast screen casting needs a compatible receiver, and Smart View support varies by Samsung model. A TV being “smart” does not by itself establish compatibility with a particular phone’s mirroring method.
  • Check the network. For AirPlay, Apple says the devices should use the same Wi-Fi network. Google recommends the same wireless network name (SSID) for Cast; access-point or client isolation can prevent device discovery or setup. See Google’s network and casting guidance.
  • Improve the connection. Google recommends keeping devices close and on the same Wi-Fi channel. Distance, channel, and local network conditions can affect performance.
  • Check the app. If the receiver appears but one video will not play, confirm that the app supports the casting method. Some video apps do not support AirPlay.

Exact menu names and supported features can change with the phone model, operating-system version, manufacturer, and TV software.

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Can you mirror without Wi-Fi?

The documented wireless workflows here rely on a shared Wi-Fi network for discovery and connection. If wireless mirroring is unavailable or unreliable, a cable may work instead, provided the phone supports display output and the adapter matches its connector and the display’s input.

When a wired connection may work

Apple documents connecting an iPhone to a display with the appropriate USB-C or Lightning adapter and an HDMI or VGA cable. External-display support depends on the iPhone model and connector; some setups also require a suitable adapter. Check the phone model, connector, and display input before choosing a cable or adapter. See Apple’s cable connection guide and its USB-C connector information.

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If a TV lacks the receiver standard your phone needs, a compatible streaming receiver may be an option. Neither an add-on receiver nor a phone adapter is universal: verify compatibility with the exact phone and TV before buying.

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Choose the method that fits your setup

  • For an iPhone, check for AirPlay support on the TV, or use a compatible Apple TV or Mac.
  • For full-screen casting from a Pixel, use the Google Cast route and a compatible receiver.
  • For a Galaxy phone and Samsung TV, confirm Smart View support for both exact models.
  • If you only need to play content from one app, try that app’s Cast or AirPlay control instead of mirroring the entire screen.
  • If wireless discovery or playback remains unreliable, check whether a compatible wired display connection is available for your phone.

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