These days, most people have a smart TV loaded with apps. However, there are still times when you’re watching something on your phone and want to share it with the room, or just watch it on a bigger screen.
Just like iPhone users, those with Android devices have their options. If you want to connect your Android phone to the TV, you can do so through the built-in Cast feature, a third-party app, or a wired connection.
Let’s break down your options, from the simplest solution to the most complex. Let’s go there:
Android Screen Mirroring
Screen mirroring is the best way to watch your own videos directly from your phone. It’s also good for sharing apps that don’t contain protected content or aren’t officially supported.
You’ll need a Chromecast and a compatible smart TV, or other streaming device that supports this feature.
To use this feature, you need to connect your device to the Google Home app. Once done, open the app and select the target device. Tap the Cast my screen button at the bottom to put your phone’s screen on the TV.
Samsung phones have an app called Smart View to connect and share to and from the mobile device.
Connect with an adapter or cable
If you don’t have a Chromecast-enabled device, use an HDMI cable and adapter to connect your phone to your TV and mirror what’s on your screen. You have several options, and the one you choose will depend on the type of display you are connecting to and the duration of the connection.
The easiest option is a USB-C to HDMI adapter. If your phone has a USB-C port, you can connect this adapter to your phone, connect an HDMI cable to the adapter, and then connect the cable to your TV.
Your phone must support HDMI Alt modewhich allows mobile devices to stream video.
Note that this method will take up your phone’s charging port, so if you plan to mirror content to your TV on a regular basis, it will drain your battery. In this case, you may prefer to use a USB-C to HDMI adapter that includes a charging port.
DLNA streaming
If the above options do not work for you, most TVs connected to the internet support a streaming protocol called DLNAwhich will allow you to stream your own music and videos to your TV.
Of course, keep in mind that Netflix (and any content with DRM) is not compatible with this protocol. Fortunately, this still covers most of the things you might want to send from your phone to your TV.
Apps like LocalCast and AllCast are simple and free apps that let you stream your own music, photos, or videos to a DLNA device such as a smart TV or game console.
They also support casting to Chromecast, which comes in handy if you want to share your own files on a TV without mirroring your entire screen. You can even stream from Google Drive, Dropbox and web pages.