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Screen mirroring: how to get your phone, tablet or laptop on the TV
Put the phone and the TV on the same WiFi, then use the way built in for that pair: AirPlay from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to a TV that has it, Cast from an Android phone to a Google TV, the TV's own mirroring, or an HDMI cable, which works on any TV with an HDMI port.
On this page
If we sent you this link, the steps for your phone or laptop and your TV are below, in order. You want the holiday photos, a video or a video call on the big screen instead of the little one, and the TV either isn’t in the list or asks for something you don’t have. Usually it comes down to the same WiFi and one setting, and you can do it from the couch. If you’d rather it was set up and shown to you once, smart TV setup that gets the TV and everything plugged into it working is the visit for that.
Which way works for my phone and my TV?
It depends on the pair. There are four ways to get a phone, tablet or laptop on the TV, and each is built into the phone, the laptop or the TV, so you don’t need to buy a separate app for any of them:
| The way | From | To | What it needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPlay | iPhone, iPad or Mac | An Apple TV, or a smart TV with AirPlay in its settings | Both on the same WiFi |
| Cast | Android phone; apps with a Cast button; Chrome on a laptop | A TV with Google TV or Chromecast built in, or a Chromecast | Both on the same WiFi |
| The TV's own mirroring | Android phone; Windows laptop | A Samsung (Smart View) or LG (Screen Share) from Android; a TV that supports Miracast from Windows | Both on the same WiFi, and the TV's setting on |
| An HDMI cable | A laptop with an HDMI port; a Mac, iPhone or iPad with the right adaptor | Any TV with an HDMI port | The cable, and the right input picked on the TV |
Pick yours below and it shows which way works and where its steps are on this page.
iPhone or iPad + Smart TV with AirPlay
AirPlay. Open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring and pick the TV. Steps: mirror an iPhone or iPad with AirPlay.
Both on the same WiFi first.
iPhone or iPad + Smart TV with Chromecast or Google TV
Cast, for videos in apps that have a Cast button. For the whole screen, use a cable. Steps: the Cast button.
Both on the same WiFi first.
iPhone or iPad + Other smart TV
A cable. A USB-C to HDMI adaptor, or one with a Lightning connector, into the TV's HDMI port. Check the TV's settings for AirPlay first. Steps: the HDMI cable.
iPhone or iPad + Older TV with HDMI only
A cable. A USB-C to HDMI adaptor, or one with a Lightning connector, into the TV's HDMI port. Steps: the HDMI cable.
Android phone + Smart TV with AirPlay
The TV's own mirroring. Smart View on a Samsung, Screen Share on an LG, from the phone's quick settings. Steps: Smart View and Screen Share.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Android phone + Smart TV with Chromecast or Google TV
Cast. In the Google Home app, touch and hold the TV, tap Cast, then Cast my screen. Steps: cast to a Google TV.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Android phone + Other smart TV
The TV's own mirroring, if the TV offers it from the phone's quick settings, such as Smart View on a Samsung or Screen Share on an LG. Steps: cast an Android phone.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Android phone + Older TV with HDMI only
Cast, through a streaming box with Google TV in a spare HDMI port. Steps: when the TV is too old.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Windows laptop + Smart TV with AirPlay
Windows' own Cast, if the TV supports Miracast: press the Windows logo key and K. If not, a cable. Steps: Windows without a cable.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Windows laptop + Smart TV with Chromecast or Google TV
Cast from Chrome. More, Cast, save and share, Cast, then the TV. Steps: Chrome on a laptop.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Windows laptop + Other smart TV
Windows' own Cast, if the TV supports Miracast: press the Windows logo key and K. If not, a cable. Steps: Windows without a cable.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Windows laptop + Older TV with HDMI only
A cable, from the laptop's HDMI port to the TV's. Steps: the HDMI cable.
Mac + Smart TV with AirPlay
AirPlay. Control Centre in the menu bar, Screen Mirroring, then the TV. Steps: AirPlay from a Mac.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Mac + Smart TV with Chromecast or Google TV
Cast from Chrome. More, Cast, save and share, Cast, then the TV. Steps: Chrome on a laptop.
Both on the same WiFi first.
Mac + Other smart TV
A cable. The Mac's HDMI port, or a USB-C to HDMI adaptor. Check the TV's settings for AirPlay first. Steps: the HDMI cable.
Mac + Older TV with HDMI only
A cable. The Mac's HDMI port, or a USB-C to HDMI adaptor. Steps: the HDMI cable.
Not sure what the TV has? Look in its settings for AirPlay, and in its apps for Google Cast. Some TVs have more than one way: Samsung and LG TVs, for example, have their own mirroring and AirPlay as well. If it’s an older TV with only HDMI ports on the back, the cable is your way, or a streaming box (more on that below).
How do I mirror an iPhone or iPad to the TV with AirPlay?
Join the iPhone or iPad to the same WiFi as the TV, open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring and choose the TV. These are Apple’s steps, and they work for an Apple TV or any smart TV with AirPlay:
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Join the same WiFi
Connect the iPhone or iPad to the same WiFi network as the TV.
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Open Control Centre
On an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 13 or later, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom edge.
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Tap Screen Mirroring
Choose your TV from the list. LG's help describes the button as two overlapping rectangles.
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Type the code
If a passcode appears on the TV, type it on the iPhone or iPad. The screen then appears on the TV.
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Stop when you're done
Open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring.
For a video, you don’t have to mirror the whole screen. Open the video and tap the AirPlay button, then choose the TV. In Photos you tap Share first. To stop, tap AirPlay again and choose your iPhone or iPad. Apple notes that some video apps don’t support AirPlay. Apple’s guide to AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad (opens in a new tab) has pictures of each button.
If the TV isn’t in the list, turn AirPlay on at the TV
On many smart TVs AirPlay is a setting that has to be on. Samsung says AirPlay works on its 2018 smart TVs and later (check your TV’s specifications), and is turned on under Menu, Settings, All Settings, Connection, Apple AirPlay Settings. LG says its TVs released after 2018 have AirPlay: press Home, open the ThinQ Home Dashboard, select AirPlay, then AirPlay and HomeKit Settings, and turn AirPlay on.
How do I AirPlay a Mac to the TV?
Click Control Centre in the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Screen Mirroring and choose the TV. This is from Apple’s current Mac guide, for macOS Tahoe; older versions of macOS may look a little different.
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Join the same WiFi
The Mac and the TV both need WiFi on and the same network.
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Open Control Centre
Click Control Centre in the menu bar, then click Screen Mirroring and select your TV.
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Type the code if asked
If the TV shows a four-digit code, type it on the Mac.
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Choose what to show
Follow the instructions on screen to share one window, or to mirror the whole screen or extend it onto the TV. Set as Default skips this step next time.
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Stop when you're done
Click Stop when you've finished sharing.
How do I cast an Android phone to the TV?
On a TV with Google TV or Chromecast built in, cast from the Google Home app or from the Cast button in an app. On a Samsung or LG TV, use the TV’s own mirroring from the phone’s quick settings. Either way, the phone and the TV must be on the same WiFi.
To a TV with Google TV or Chromecast built in
Google’s steps to show the whole phone screen work on Android 8.0 or later, from the Google Home app:
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Allow the microphone
Google's first step is to turn on microphone permission for Google Play services on the phone.
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Join the same WiFi
Make sure the phone is on the same WiFi network as the TV.
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Find the TV in Google Home
Open the Google Home app and tap Favourites or Devices. Touch and hold the TV's tile.
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Cast the screen
Tap Cast, then Cast my screen or Cast screen. To show just one app, choose Cast one app.
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Stop when you're done
Touch and hold the TV's tile again and choose Stop mirroring.
For a video, it’s simpler. Open an app with a Cast button, tap Cast, then tap the TV. The button turns solid when it’s connected. To stop, tap Cast and choose Disconnect. The same button works on an iPhone or iPad for apps that have it, and Google says an iPhone on iOS 14 or later needs Local Network access turned on for the app to find the TV.
Google has stopped making the Chromecast, the small plug-in that adds Cast to a TV. It said Chromecasts would be sold only while supplies last, brought out the Google TV Streamer in its place, and said there are no changes to its support policy for existing Chromecasts. If you have one, the casting steps above work with it.
Samsung Galaxy to a Samsung TV: Smart View
Samsung’s steps for its Australian models: swipe down from the top of the phone’s screen with two fingers to open the Quick Settings Panel and tap Smart View. Choose the TV when it appears, then tap Start now. The phone and the TV must be on the same WiFi. If nothing happens, Samsung says to check Smart View is allowed on the TV, under Settings, General & Privacy, External Device Manager, Device Connect Manager, Access Notification, and that some TVs need the input switched or screen mirroring turned on. Samsung’s mirror and cast guide (opens in a new tab) has the iPhone steps for its TVs too.
Android to an LG TV: Screen Share
LG’s steps: swipe down from the top-right corner of the phone to open Quick Settings and tap Screen Share (on some phones it’s called Smart View). Choose the LG TV, then press OK on the TV’s remote to accept. To stop, tap the round floating button on the phone and choose Disconnect.
How do I connect a Windows laptop to the TV without a cable?
On Windows 11, turn the TV on, press the Windows logo key and K together, and choose the TV from the list. This is Windows’ own Cast to a wireless display, and Microsoft says it needs a TV that supports Miracast. You can also search for Cast in the Windows search bar and select Connect to a wireless display. Microsoft’s steps for casting to a wireless display (opens in a new tab) cover Windows 10 on their own tab.
Once it’s connected, press the Windows logo key and P together to choose what the TV shows: Duplicate shows the same as the laptop, Extend makes the TV a second screen, Second screen only puts everything on the TV, and PC screen only goes back to the laptop’s screen alone.
If the TV doesn’t support Miracast, Microsoft says you need a Miracast adapter that plugs into one of the TV’s HDMI ports.
If the laptop itself can’t do it, Windows shows a message saying you need to connect an external display with a cable. That’s the next section.
For a TV with Google TV or Chromecast built in, Chrome can cast from a Windows laptop or a Mac. Open Chrome, select More at the top right, then Cast, save and share, then Cast, and choose the TV. To show the whole screen instead of one tab, select Sources, then Cast screen. To stop, select Cast beside the address bar, then Stop casting.
How do I connect a phone or laptop to the TV with an HDMI cable?
Plug one end of an HDMI cable into the laptop, or into the adaptor on the phone, and the other end into an HDMI IN port on the TV, then pick that HDMI input on the TV. A cable needs no WiFi and no settings, which makes it the surest way, and the one that works on an older TV.
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| Product | What it is for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| UGREEN HDMI 2.1 cable, 2 m | HDMI lead from a laptop to the TV | View on Amazon for the UGREEN HDMI 2.1 cable, 2 m (opens in a new tab) |
What goes on your end of the cable depends on the device:
- A Windows laptop with an HDMI port takes the cable straight in. If the TV doesn’t show the laptop, Microsoft’s fix is Start, Settings, System, Display, Multiple displays, Detect. The Windows logo key and P choose Duplicate or Extend, as above.
- A Mac with an HDMI port needs no adaptor, Apple says. A Mac with only USB-C or Thunderbolt ports needs a USB-C to HDMI adaptor or cable. In System Settings, Displays, you choose whether the TV mirrors the Mac or extends it.
- An iPhone or iPad with a USB-C port connects with a USB-C to HDMI adaptor or cable, and the TV mirrors the screen as soon as it’s plugged in.
- An iPhone or iPad with a Lightning port needs an adaptor with a Lightning connector and an HDMI port. Apple calls its own a Digital AV adaptor.
| Product | What it is for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| UGREEN USB-C to HDMI cable, 2 m | USB-C phone or laptop straight to HDMI | View on Amazon for the UGREEN USB-C to HDMI cable, 2 m (opens in a new tab) |
| Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter | Lightning iPhone or iPad to HDMI | View on Amazon for the Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter (opens in a new tab) |
Picking the HDMI input on the TV
The TV only shows the laptop or phone once it’s on the input for the HDMI port the cable is plugged into. On a Samsung, go to the Home screen, move to the left-hand side and select Connected Devices, then pick the device. Samsung says a device it doesn’t recognise shows up as its HDMI port, and you can rename it there. On an LG, press the External Input button on the remote.
The TV says “No Signal”
No Signal means the TV is on an input with nothing coming in. These are the makers’ own fixes, simplest first:
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Check the input
Make sure the TV is on the input for the HDMI port the cable is in. LG's first step is to press the External Input button and change the input.
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Reconnect the cable
Turn off the TV and the laptop or phone, unplug the HDMI cable at both ends, and plug it back in firmly. With a phone, unplug the adaptor from the phone and the TV too, as Apple suggests.
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Try another cable
LG says a cable in poor condition can cause No Signal. Apple says extension cables and converters aren't supported, so plug the adaptor's cable straight into the TV.
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Check the laptop or phone
On Windows, use Detect under Settings, System, Display, Multiple displays. On an iPhone or iPad, Apple's step is to update to the latest iOS or iPadOS.
What if my TV is too old for any of this?
An older TV with HDMI ports and no smart features takes the cable, as above. If you’d rather not have a lead across the floor, a streaming box plugged into a spare HDMI port gives the TV a way in: Apple’s AirPlay goes to an Apple TV, and Google lists its Google TV Streamer among the devices you can cast to. Both also have a network port, so they can go on a cable from the modem where the WiFi is weak at the TV.
| Product | What it is for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 4K, 128GB | Has a network port | View on Amazon for the Apple TV 4K, 128GB (opens in a new tab) |
| Google TV Streamer | Has a network port | View on Amazon for the Google TV Streamer (opens in a new tab) |
Why won’t my phone find the TV?
Most often the phone and the TV are on different WiFi networks. Apple, Google, Samsung and LG all say both must be on the same one, and Google says to check that the network name on the TV matches the one on the phone. Here are the usual reasons, and what the makers say to do:
- They’re on different WiFi. A modem that shows two network names can leave the TV on one and the phone on the other. Join both to the same name. If the TV won’t join the WiFi at all, why a smart TV won’t connect to WiFi goes through that step by step.
- The phone is on a guest network. Google says casting can fail on a guest, hotel or public network, because these often use a setting called AP isolation (or client isolation) that stops devices on the WiFi seeing each other. Put the phone on the main WiFi. If isolation is on for the main WiFi too, Google says to turn it off in the router’s settings, and logging into your modem shows how to get there.
- The TV’s setting is off. AirPlay has to be on at a Samsung or LG TV, as above. On a Google TV, Google says to check the Google Cast app is turned on: All settings, Apps, See all apps, Google Cast, Enable. On a Samsung, Smart View has to be allowed.
- They’re too far apart. Apple says to keep the devices near each other. For screen casting, Google suggests the phone and the TV be within 4 metres of each other, and on the same WiFi band. 2.4GHz vs 5GHz WiFi explains the bands in plain words.
- Something needs a restart or an update. Apple’s checklist includes updating both devices to the latest software and restarting them. Microsoft’s says the same for Windows and the TV, and adds removing the TV under Bluetooth & devices, Devices, and connecting it again. Google’s says to install any waiting system update on the TV.
If the picture keeps freezing on the TV even when it’s connected, the WiFi may not be reaching the lounge room well. Restarting the modem the right way is a quick first test, and how to restart your modem and NBN box has the order. Google’s tips for a better casting picture (opens in a new tab) cover the rest.
When to call us, and when you don’t need to
Mirroring and casting are yours to do, and once the phone and the TV are on the same WiFi with the right setting on, it works the same way every time. On a very old TV, the cable is the answer.
Call us when it won’t come together. Smart TV setup covers the TV, the boxes plugged into it and the WiFi it runs on, with each input named and everyone shown how it works before we leave. If it’s the phone, the tablet or the laptop that needs setting up, home tech support for phones, tablets and laptops is the visit, and if the WiFi doesn’t reach the TV, our WiFi technician fixes the coverage. We come to the house; we don’t do remote support, and we don’t repair hardware, so a TV or phone with a fault is a warranty question for the shop or the maker.
Not sure which you need? Send us a message, or ring us on 02 9188 1577.
Frequently asked questions
How do I connect my phone to my TV?
Join the phone to the same WiFi as the TV first. An iPhone uses Screen Mirroring in Control Centre to reach a TV with AirPlay. An Android phone casts to a TV with Google TV or Chromecast built in, or uses the TV's own mirroring, such as Smart View on a Samsung. If the TV has none of these, an HDMI cable and the right adaptor for the phone work on any TV with an HDMI port.
Why is my TV not showing up for screen mirroring?
Usually the phone and the TV are on different WiFi networks, or the phone is on a guest network that stops devices seeing each other. Check that both show the same network name. Then check the TV's own setting is on, such as AirPlay on a Samsung or LG, or the Google Cast app on a Google TV. Restart both, and keep the phone near the TV.
How do I connect my laptop to my TV?
The surest way is an HDMI cable from the laptop to an HDMI IN port on the TV, then pick that HDMI input on the TV. A Mac without an HDMI port needs a USB-C to HDMI adaptor. Without a cable, a Mac uses AirPlay, a Windows 11 laptop uses the Windows logo key and K for a TV that supports Miracast, and Chrome can cast to a Google TV.
Why does my TV say no signal on HDMI?
The TV is usually on a different input from the one the cable is plugged into, so choose the HDMI input that matches the port. If that's right, turn both off, unplug the HDMI cable at both ends and plug it back in firmly. Try another cable if it's old or damaged. On a Windows laptop, Settings, System, Display, Multiple displays, Detect finds the TV.
Need this fixed rather than explained?
This is written from the field. When the fault needs a technician on site, this is where to go next.