How to Cast from Phone to TV

Let’s be honest, we use our phones and have them with us most of the time because they are smart and powerful. But when it comes to watching your favorite movies or that series you love, that small screen just doesn’t cut it. You will then imagine if you can cast from your phone to your TV.

This is not even much of a big deal. You can wirelessly cast whatever’s on your phone straight to your TV — no cables, no stress. Once you know how it works, you will be able to cast videos, photos, or your favorite playlist, from your phone, be it Android or iPhone, to your TV. I’ve done this countless times, and I’m going to break it down in a way that even your grandma could follow.

So, in this guide, we will show you how to cast your mobile phone (Android and iPhone) to a TV and how it differs from mirroring.

1What Does “Casting” Actually Mean?

2How Does Casting from Phone to TV Work?

3How to Cast an iPhone to a TV

4How to Cast an Android Phone to a TV

5What Actually Happens When You Cast Your Phone to Your TV?

6How to Cast a Phone to TV Using a Streaming Media Player

7How to Cast to Roku from Your Phone

8How to Cast to Chromecast

9How to Cast to Amazon Fire TV Stick

10Limitations to Be Aware of When Casting Your Phone to a TV

11FAQs

12Conclusion

13References

14Recommendations

What Does “Casting” Actually Mean?

Casting is just a fancy word for wirelessly sending content from your phone (or tablet) to another screen (like your smart TV) or a streaming device (Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, etc.).

It’s not the same as mirroring, where your phone’s entire screen is duplicated on the TV. That is just like casually connecting your phone to your TV. Casting is smarter. Your phone sends the content, and the TV handles the playback — better quality, smoother performance, and your phone battery isn’t drained dry.

This means that in casting, your phone acts as the remote control while your TV acts as the big stage.

What do you mostly cast to your TV?

Please, kindly vote!

How Does Casting from Phone to TV Work?

There are two main ways you can cast your phone casts to your TV. These two ways are via Apps and Operating Systems (OS).

#1. Through Apps (Like Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, etc.)

This is the most common and user-friendly method. Many apps have a little “cast” icon that pops up when you’re on the same Wi-Fi network as your TV or streaming device.

Here’s how I usually do it:

I open YouTube on my phone.
Tap the cast icon at the top.
Boom — my TV shows up, I tap it, and the video starts playing on the big screen.

Your phone now becomes a remote. You can pause, play, or switch videos without even touching the TV.

#2. Through Your Phone’s Operating System (OS-Level Casting)

Some phones (especially Android) come with built-in casting support. This lets you cast anything, not just from specific apps. That means you can stream audio, mirror your screen, or even show off that hilarious TikTok you downloaded.

For example:

On my Google Pixel, I can go to my phone’s quick settings, hit “Cast Screen,” and share anything that’s happening on my phone.

Even if an app restricts casting (like Spotify’s free version or YouTube without Premium), I can still share the audio or video using system-level casting. That’s next-level control.

If however, your TV isn’t “smart,” you can still cast using budget-friendly devices like Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, or Roku. These plug into your HDMI port and instantly turn your regular TV into a streaming powerhouse.

Just make sure:

Your phone and TV (or casting device) are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
You allow permission when your phone asks to “connect” to the TV.

How to Cast an iPhone to a TV

As powerful as the iPhone is, nothing beats watching your favorite shows or sharing photos on a big screen. I personally know of someone who used this trick during family gatherings and even work presentations, and it’s a total game-changer.

If you’ve got an Apple TV or a smart TV that supports AirPlay 2, you’re already halfway there. AirPlay lets you wirelessly beam your screen or audio from one device to another. It’s built into iPhones, iPads, and Macs, and works best with Apple TVs or AirPlay 2-compatible smart TVs from brands like LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio.

Let me walk you through how to cast your iPhone screen to your TV with no cables and no stress.

#1: Connect Everything to the Same Wi-Fi

Before anything else, make sure both your iPhone and your TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. If they’re not, AirPlay won’t work. Trust me — I’ve once spent way too long wondering why my TV wasn’t showing up, only to realize my phone was on mobile data.

#2: Open the Control Center on Your iPhone

This is where most people get stuck, so here’s the simple breakdown:

If you’re using a newer iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
If you’ve got an older iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
Once you’re in the Control Center, you’re golden.

#3: Tap on ‘Screen Mirroring’

You’ll see an icon that looks like two overlapping rectangles. That’s the one you want — Screen Mirroring.

Tap it, and you should see a list of available devices. If your Apple TV or AirPlay-enabled smart TV is on and connected, it should pop up here.

#4: Choose Your TV and Enter the Code (if needed)

Once you select your TV from the list, your phone might ask you to enter a four-digit passcode. This code will appear on your TV screen, and it’s just a one-time step to make sure it’s really you trying to connect.

Punch in the code on your iPhone, and within seconds, your phone’s screen should show up on your TV. Boom. You’re in.

How to Stop Screen Mirroring

Done casting? Here’s how to disconnect:

Go back to the Control Center
Tap Screen Mirroring
Then tap Stop Mirroring

How to Cast an Android Phone to a TV

If you’ve got a smart TV that can stream apps like YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu, here’s some good news: you already have what you need to cast from your phone.

Let me break down how I do it, step by step.

#1: Make Sure Your TV and Phone Are on the Same Wi-Fi

This is super important and where many people go wrong. Before anything else, check that your phone or tablet and your smart TV are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network. They need to “see” each other to talk.

Pro Tip: If your phone is on mobile data and the TV is on Wi-Fi, casting won’t work. Been there, done that.

#2: Open the Video App on Your Phone

Next, open the app you want to cast from — it could be YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, or even TikTok (some versions support it now). Find the video you want to play.

Once the video is ready to go, look for the Cast icon — it looks like a little TV screen with a Wi-Fi signal in the corner.

#3: Tap the Cast Icon and Choose Your TV

When you tap the Cast icon, your phone will search for available devices. If your TV is smart and connected, it should show up on the list.

Tap your TV’s name, and boom — the video should start playing on the big screen in a few seconds.

You can now use your phone as a remote: pause, skip, adjust volume — all from your screen.

What Actually Happens When You Cast Your Phone to Your TV?

Let me geek out for a second: what you’re doing isn’t just sending your video over Wi-Fi — you’re actually telling your TV to fetch the video directly from the internet.

Your phone simply acts as a remote control — this is casting, not mirroring. The result? Better quality and less lag, because your TV isn’t relying on your phone’s screen refresh or resolution. Well, you can also control your TV with Alexa app like a remote control.

How to Cast a Phone to TV Using a Streaming Media Player

There are some streaming media players you can also use to cast your phone to a TV. It’s another very easy way to mirror videos from your phone or tablet to your TV. Such streaming media platforms are: Roku®, Chromecast™, or Amazon Fire TV™ stick.

I’ve tried them all—and here’s exactly how I do it, step by step, with no tech headaches. I’m giving you the real scoop, like I would a friend who just wants this to work.

These devices make it possible to stream or mirror content without dealing with HDMI cables or complicated setups. The best part is that it works for both iPhones and Androids (though there are some limitations I’ll explain).

How to Cast to Roku from Your Phone

What You Need:

A Roku device plugged into your TV and set up
The same Wi-Fi network for both your phone and Roku
A supported app (like YouTube, Netflix, etc.) on both your Roku and phone

Step-by-Step:

Make sure Roku and your phone are on the same Wi-Fi. This is always Step 1 — casting won’t work otherwise.

On Roku, go to:

Settings > System > Screen Mirroring, and turn it ON.
Open the streaming app on your phone and find a video you want to watch.
Tap the Cast icon (usually looks like a little TV with waves) in the app.
Select your Roku device when it pops up.
Your video should instantly play on your TV.

Pro Insight: You’re not mirroring your phone; you’re telling Roku to fetch the video directly, faster, and of better quality.

How to Cast to Chromecast

Chromecast is like casting royalty—it was built for this exact job.

Here’s What to Do:

Connect your Chromecast and phone to the same Wi-Fi.
Launch any cast-supported app (YouTube, Netflix, etc.).
Tap the Cast icon while the video is playing.
Choose your Chromecast device from the list.

And just like that, your TV becomes an extension of your phone.

Knowledge Bomb: Casting to Chromecast doesn’t eat up your phone battery, because once the stream starts, Chromecast handles everything on its own.

How to Cast to Amazon Fire TV Stick

Fire Stick is awesome, but here’s the catch: Screen mirroring only works with Android phones (sorry, iPhone users—AirPlay is your lane).

Depending on your phone’s brand, the exact steps may vary, but here’s the big-picture method I always recommend.

For Most Android Phones:

Make sure your Fire TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi, and within 30 feet of each other.

Hold the Home button on your Fire TV remote until a menu appears.

Select Mirroring.

On your phone:

Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Cast.
Look for your Fire TV Stick in the list.
If it’s not showing up, tap the three-dot menu (⋮), then check Enable Wireless Display.
Now select your Fire Stick’s name.
Boom! Your phone’s screen should appear on your TV.
To stop mirroring, just go back to the Cast menu and tap your Fire Stick’s name again.

For Samsung Phones:

Samsung makes it even easier.

Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi.
Swipe down your Quick Settings panel.
Find and tap Smart View.
Select your Fire TV Stick from the available devices.
Within seconds, your entire phone screen is live on the big screen.

Limitations to Be Aware of When Casting Your Phone to a TV

#1. Device Compatibility Isn’t Universal

Not every phone works the same way with every streaming device. For example:

iPhones don’t natively support screen mirroring to Fire TV Stick. You’d need a third-party app like AirScreen installed on the Fire TV, which isn’t always stable.
Some older Android phones may not have a “Cast” option in their settings or Quick Menu, especially if the manufacturer disabled it.

Pro Tip: Always check if your phone supports Miracast or Google Cast, depending on your streaming device.

#2. Wi-Fi Network Must Match

Both your phone and your streaming device must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Sounds basic, but if you’re on “Wi-Fi 5G” and your device is on “Wi-Fi 2.4G,” casting just won’t work—even though both seem to be “connected.”

#3. App-Level Casting vs Full Screen Mirroring

There’s a difference between:

Casting a video from a specific app (like YouTube, Netflix, etc.)
Screen mirroring your entire phone display (which includes your home screen, notifications, etc.)

Limitation? Not all apps support native casting, and not all devices support full-screen mirroring. For example:

Netflix might block casting in some regions or require special permissions.

You can’t always mirror your phone’s home screen using Chromecast (you need the Google Home app for full mirroring).

#4. Performance May Vary with Internet Speed

If your Wi-Fi is slow or unstable, you may experience:

Buffering during playback
Laggy screen mirroring
Lower video quality

Hot tip: Casting streams often happen directly between the TV and the internet (not your phone), but your phone still needs strong Wi-Fi to send the command.

#5. Limited Range for Screen Mirroring (Especially on Fire TV)

Screen mirroring on Amazon Fire Stick (especially with Android) only works within about 30 feet. Go beyond that and expect:

Black screens
Frozen video
Dropped connections

FAQs

Why is my TV not showing up when I try to cast?

Check that your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi. Also, make sure casting or screen mirroring is enabled on the TV.

Does casting use a lot of data?

If you’re streaming from the internet (like Netflix), yes. But local casting (from files stored on your phone) doesn’t use data.

Can I cast downloaded videos or local files?

Yes. Use apps like VLC, Plex, or LocalCast to stream local content.

Do I need Wi-Fi to cast?

Yes. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Mobile data won’t cut it.

Can I mirror everything on my phone, not just videos?

Yes, by using screen mirroring. It shows your entire phone screen—including apps, photos, and notifications—on your TV.

Conclusion

Casting from your phone to a TV is one of those features that sounds techy until you try it once and realize how easy and powerful it is. You can use it to show friends funny videos, run slideshows at family events, or just to turn your living room into a mini theater without touching a remote.

So next time you’ve got something cool on your phone, don’t keep it to yourself — cast it!

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