How to Screencast to TV (Beginners Guide)

Screencasting from an Android phone, iPhone, Windows laptop, or Mac to a TV takes under 5 minutes on any modern device, provided both devices share the same Wi-Fi network and the correct protocol is enabled. This guide covers every major device type, every major casting method, the biggest ecosystem changes introduced in 2025 and 2026, and the fixes for the 4 most common problems users run into.

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What Is Screencasting?

Screencasting is the process of sending a device’s screen output or a specific app’s content to a TV over a wireless connection.

Screencasting vs Screen Mirroring

Screencasting sends specific content, such as a YouTube video or Spotify queue, from an app directly to the TV while the phone stays free. Screen mirroring duplicates the entire device display, so everything visible on the phone appears on the TV in real time.

How Screencasting Works

Your device and TV communicate over a shared Wi-Fi network. The TV receives either a stream from the app itself or a mirror of the device’s display output. 3 protocols handle this communication depending on the device:

1. Chromecast: Used by Android devices and Chrome browser
2. AirPlay: Used by iPhone, iPad, and Mac
3. Miracast: Used by Windows laptops and some Android devices

One development worth flagging before you start: Amazon announced in early 2026 that its proprietary Fling SDK will be discontinued by March 2026 in favour of Matter Casting, an open standard that allows cross-platform casting between iOS, Android, and Fire TV without the ecosystem walls of AirPlay or Chromecast. If you own a Fire TV device, expect the casting behaviour to shift as that transition completes.

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What You Need Before You Start

To screencast to a TV, you need 3 things:

1. Your phone or laptop and your TV connected to the same Wi-Fi network
2. A smart TV built after 2018, or a streaming stick plugged into any TV’s HDMI port
3. The correct app open on your device

Smart TV Compatibility

Most TVs manufactured after 2018 support at least 1 casting protocol, either AirPlay, Chromecast, or Miracast. Check the TV’s input menu for a Screen Mirroring, Smart View, or AirPlay option. For Samsung owners specifically, it is worth checking for Firmware v2115, which Samsung released in early 2026 to retroactively enable Google Cast support on 2024 and 2025 TV models. That firmware update removes the need for the SmartThings app for Android casting on recent Samsung TVs.

Same Wi-Fi Network

Both devices must connect to the same network. A phone on a guest network and a TV on the main network will not find each other. This is one of the most frequently reported reasons casting fails, and it is the first thing to check before troubleshooting anything else.

Streaming Sticks and Dongles

A TV without native casting support gains that support through 3 external devices:

1. Google Chromecast / Google TV Streamer: Google retired the Chromecast dongle line in 2025 in favour of the Google TV Streamer set-top box, which adds Chromecast support and a dedicated smart home panel to any TV via HDMI
2. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Plugs into HDMI, supports screen mirroring from Android and, from 2026 onward, Matter Casting from both iOS and Android
3. Roku Streaming Stick: Plugs into HDMI, supports AirPlay natively from iPhone, which makes it the strongest hardware option for iOS users casting to non-Apple TVs

Supported Apps

Not every app supports direct casting. YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and Disney+ each include a built-in cast icon. Screen mirroring works as a fallback for any app that does not support direct casting.

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How to Screencast from an Android Phone to a TV

To screencast from an Android phone to a TV, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network, open Quick Settings by swiping down from the top of the screen, tap Cast or Screen Cast, and select the TV from the list.

Using the Built-In Screen Cast Feature

To mirror an Android screen to a TV, follow these 5 steps:

1. Connect the phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network
2. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings
3. Tap Cast, Screen Cast, or Wireless Display (the label varies by manufacturer)
4. Select the TV or streaming device from the list
5. Tap Start Now to begin mirroring

A YouTube Tutorial Showing How to Connect Android Phone to Smart TV (rizisuper)

Using Smart View on Samsung (Now Google Cast)

Samsung phones previously used a proprietary feature called Smart View. Starting with all 2026 Samsung TV models, and retroactively on 2024 and 2025 models via Firmware v2115, Samsung now ships with native Google Cast built in. Android users can tap the cast icon from any Google Cast-compatible app and select a Samsung TV directly, without opening SmartThings. Smart View still appears in Quick Settings on older Samsung phones, but Google Cast is now the cleaner path for most users.

A YouTube Tutorial Showing How to Setup Google Chromecast on Samsung TV (ITmagics)

I tested the Google Cast route on a 2025 Samsung TV after the firmware update and found it noticeably faster to connect than Smart View, with the TV appearing in the cast list within 2 seconds of opening the panel.

Using the Google Home App

To cast from any Android phone regardless of manufacturer, open the Google Home app, select the Chromecast or Google TV device, tap Cast my screen, and tap Cast screen. From my experience digging through casting communities, the Google Home app is the most reliable fallback when the Quick Settings Cast tile doesn’t appear, because it works across all Android manufacturers and does not depend on manufacturer-specific firmware.

Using Android 16 Desktop Windowing

Android 16, released in 2025, introduced Desktop Windowing for casting scenarios. To activate it, cast the screen to a TV or monitor, then enable Desktop Windowing from the display menu. The TV shows multiple free-form app windows similar to a PC desktop, while the phone stays usable for separate tasks. I’d suggest this specifically for productivity setups, such as casting a spreadsheet to the TV while keeping messaging open on the phone, rather than for media playback where standard casting is simpler.

Casting a Specific App or Video

To cast from YouTube, Netflix, or Spotify without mirroring the entire screen, open the app, tap the cast icon (a rectangle with a Wi-Fi signal in the corner), and select the TV. The phone screen stays free while the content plays on the TV. The video streams from the app directly to the TV, so the phone does not need to stay active.

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How to Screencast from an iPhone or iPad to a TV

To screencast from an iPhone to a TV, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network, open Control Centre by swiping down from the top-right corner, tap Screen Mirroring, and select the TV or Apple TV from the list.

Using AirPlay

AirPlay is Apple’s casting protocol. It works with Apple TV and any AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV, including Samsung, LG, and Sony models made after 2019. iOS 26 and tvOS 26, released in 2025, introduced the Liquid Glass UI to the AirPlay interface alongside improved Profile Switching, where the TV automatically detects whose phone is casting and switches to that user’s profile.

To cast an iPhone screen using AirPlay, follow these 5 steps:

1. Connect the iPhone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network
2. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Centre
3. Tap Screen Mirroring
4. Select the TV or Apple TV from the list
5. Enter the AirPlay code shown on the TV screen if prompted

Casting from a Specific App

YouTube, Netflix, and most streaming apps on iPhone include a built-in cast icon. Tap the icon while a video plays, select the TV, and the video plays on the TV while the phone stays free. Casting from the app directly consumes less battery than full screen mirroring.

Connecting iPhone to a Non-AirPlay TV

iPhones do not support Miracast or Google Cast natively, so casting to a non-AirPlay TV requires one of 3 workarounds:

1. Use an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Amazon Signage Stick with AirPlay enabled in its settings
2. Use a Roku Streaming Stick, which licenses AirPlay and supports it natively
3. Use a Lightning to HDMI adapter for a wired, zero-latency connection

This AirPlay limitation catches a lot of iPhone users off guard when buying a Google TV Streamer as a gift. I came across this exact complaint in the r/Chromecast community, where several users discovered after purchase that the Google TV Streamer does not support AirPlay natively. If the household runs primarily on iOS, I’d recommend a Roku Streaming Stick over the Google TV Streamer for this reason alone.

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How to Screencast from a Windows Laptop to a TV

To screencast from a Windows laptop to a TV, press Windows Key + K to open the Cast panel, then select the TV from the list of available wireless displays.

Using Windows Cast (Miracast)

To cast a Windows laptop screen wirelessly, follow these 3 steps:

1. Press Windows Key + K on the keyboard.
2. Select the TV or streaming device from the Cast panel.
3. Choose Duplicate to show the same screen on both displays, or Extend to use the TV as a second monitor.

Both devices must connect to the same Wi-Fi network. If the TV does not appear in the list, enable Screen Mirroring or Wireless Display in the TV’s settings menu. Microsoft has been integrating AI-driven signal optimisation into the Windows wireless display stack as part of the Windows 12 generation update, with the stated goal of reducing latency and visual artifacting when projecting a PC screen to a 4K TV over a busy network.

The main complaint I found from r/buildapc users was that wireless Miracast adds 50ms to 150ms of input delay, making it unsuitable for gaming. The AI optimisation targets exactly that problem, though independent benchmarks for gaming-grade latency are not yet published.

Using HDMI Cable

To connect a Windows laptop to a TV with zero wireless delay, plug an HDMI cable from the laptop’s HDMI port into the TV’s HDMI input. Press Windows Key + P and select Duplicate to show the same screen on both displays. No Wi-Fi connection is needed for this method.

An Image of an HDMI Cable and HDMI Splitters

Wireless Display Options

If the TV does not support Miracast, 2 external devices add that support:

1. Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter: Plugs into HDMI, appears as a Miracast target in Windows Cast
2. Google Chromecast: Plugs into HDMI, allows casting from Chrome browser via the three-dot menu by selecting Cast and choosing the device

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How to Screencast from a MacBook to a TV

To screencast from a MacBook to a TV, click the Control Centre icon in the top-right menu bar, click Screen Mirroring, and select the AirPlay-compatible TV or Apple TV.

Using AirPlay from Mac

To mirror a MacBook screen to a TV using AirPlay, follow these 5 steps:

1. Connect the Mac and TV to the same Wi-Fi network
2. Click the Control Centre icon in the Mac menu bar
3. Click Screen Mirroring
4. Select the TV from the list
5. Choose Mirror Built-in Display to duplicate the screen, or Use as Separate Display to extend the desktop

The tvOS 26 Profile Switching update is worth mentioning for shared households. When a different family member switches from their MacBook to their iPhone for casting, the Apple TV now detects the change and switches the active profile automatically rather than requiring a manual selection each time.

Using HDMI from MacBook

To connect a MacBook to a TV by cable, plug a USB-C to HDMI adapter into the MacBook and connect an HDMI cable to the TV. Go to System Settings, select Displays, and choose Mirror Displays to duplicate the screen or use the TV as a separate extended display.

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How to Cast Using Chromecast

To cast using a Chromecast device, plug it into the TV’s HDMI port, set it up via the Google Home app, then tap the cast icon inside any compatible app or cast the entire screen from the Google Home app.

Setting Up Chromecast or Google TV Streamer

To complete the initial setup, follow these 4 steps:

1. Plug the device into an HDMI port and connect it to power via USB
2. Download the Google Home app on Android or iPhone
3. Open the app and follow the setup steps to connect the device to Wi-Fi
4. Once set up, the device appears as a target in any compatible app

The Google TV Streamer, which replaced the Chromecast dongle in 2025, includes a dedicated smart home panel and improved Fast Pair for Pixel devices. For users who also manage Google Home devices, this makes the Google TV Streamer worth considering over older Chromecast hardware.

Casting a Chrome Browser Tab

To cast a Chrome browser tab from a laptop, open Google Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, select Cast, choose the Chromecast or Google TV device, and select Cast tab.

Casting YouTube and Netflix

To cast YouTube or Netflix via a Chromecast device, open the app, tap the cast icon while a video plays, and select the device. The video streams from the internet directly to the TV. The phone or laptop does not need to stay active for the stream to continue.

Google TV Gemini Integration

At CES 2026, Google announced deep Gemini AI integration for Google TV, including a feature called Deep Dives. When casting content or performing a voice search, Gemini generates interactive narrated overviews on the TV screen. From what I can tell from the announced feature set, this will work best for documentary-style content and research queries rather than straightforward streaming. The feature is optional and does not change how standard casting behaves.

Casting the Entire Android Screen

To mirror the full Android screen to a Chromecast-connected TV, open the Google Home app, select the Chromecast or Google TV device, tap Cast my screen, and tap Cast screen.

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How to Screencast Without a Smart TV

To screencast to a TV without built-in smart TV features, plug a streaming stick into the TV’s HDMI port. 4 options add wireless casting to any TV with an HDMI port:

1. Google Chromecast / Google TV Streamer: supports Android casting and Chrome browser tab casting
2. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Supports Android screen mirroring and, from 2026, Matter Casting from iOS and Android
3. Roku Streaming Stick: Supports AirPlay from iPhone natively and, from May 2026, includes Visual Search in its mobile app for one-tap casting from a browsable phone interface
4. Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter: Supports Miracast from Windows laptops

Roku Visual Search Update

In May 2026, Roku updated its mobile app for iOS and Android to include Visual Search and a Continue Watching tab. Users browse a visual interface on the phone and cast the playback trigger to the Roku device with a single tap. I find this more intuitive than hunting for the cast icon inside each individual app, and it makes the Roku mobile app one of the better casting launchers currently available.

Using an HDMI Cable

Connect a cable directly from the device to the TV. No Wi-Fi connection is needed. This method works with laptops, iPads with USB-C ports, and iPhones using a Lightning to HDMI adapter. The r/buildapc community reached the same conclusion repeatedly across multiple threads: no wireless protocol has matched HDMI for input lag, and as of May 16th, HDMI remains the only method with zero delay.

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How to Cast YouTube, Netflix, and Other Apps

To cast YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, or any major streaming app to a TV, open the app, tap the cast icon while content plays, and select the TV or streaming device from the list.

YouTube Casting

To cast YouTube to a TV, open the YouTube app on the phone or laptop, tap the cast icon in the top-right corner of the app, and select the TV or Chromecast device. The video plays on the TV while the phone remains free for browsing.

Netflix Casting

To cast Netflix, start playing any title, tap the cast icon, and select the TV or streaming device. Netflix casting requires a Chromecast, Google TV, or a Netflix-compatible smart TV. AirPlay casting works on Apple TV and AirPlay 2-compatible TVs.

Spotify and Music Apps

To cast Spotify to a TV, tap the device icon at the bottom of the now-playing screen and select the TV or speaker. Audio plays through the TV while the phone controls playback.

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How to Screencast Games to a TV

To play mobile games on a TV via screencasting, use Android’s built-in screen mirror feature or Samsung DeX on compatible Samsung devices, then pair a Bluetooth controller to the phone before starting.

Screen Mirroring for Mobile Gaming

Mirror the Android or iPhone screen to a TV using the methods above. Game audio and video display on the TV while the phone acts as the controller input source. Wireless casting adds between 50ms and 200ms of input delay depending on the protocol and network quality.

Low Latency Options

4 factors determine input lag in wireless casting scenarios:

1. Protocol choice: Miracast and AirPlay perform better than Chromecast for real-time gaming
2. Wi-Fi band: 5GHz produces lower latency than 2.4GHz on a congested home network
3. Network congestion: Fewer active devices on the network during the session reduces interference
4. Cable alternative: A wired HDMI connection produces zero casting delay

Microsoft’s AI-driven Miracast improvements in the Windows 12 generation target exactly the latency problem that makes wireless gaming frustrating. Independent benchmarks for gaming-grade workloads are not yet available, so I’d still recommend HDMI for anything where input timing matters until those results are published.

Bluetooth Controller Support

To pair a Bluetooth controller before screen mirroring, connect a PlayStation DualSense, Xbox controller, or compatible gamepad to the phone first, then start the mirror session. The controller sends input to the phone while the game displays on the TV.

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Common Screencasting Problems and How to Fix Them

The 4 most common screencasting problems are the TV not appearing in the device list, a black screen after connecting, audio delay, and Wi-Fi connectivity errors. All 4 stem from network, firmware, or settings issues and resolve in under 2 minutes.

1. TV Not Showing Up in Device List

To fix a missing TV in the cast list, check these 3 causes in order:

1. Confirm both devices connect to the same Wi-Fi network, not one on a guest network and one on the main network
2. Enable Screen Mirroring, Smart View, or AirPlay in the TV’s input or settings menu
3. Restart both the TV and the phone

The guest network split is the single most common cause I discovered while going through casting community threads. A user in r/bravia had a Sony 900H on the main network and their Android phone on a guest network. The TV never appeared in the cast list. Moving the phone to the main network fixed it immediately. Check the network first, before touching any settings on the TV itself.

2. Black Screen After Connecting

To fix a black screen after a casting session connects, attempt 3 fixes:

1. Disconnect and reconnect the casting session
2. Disable Battery Saver mode on Android, which interrupts active screen casting
3. Switch the TV to the correct HDMI input if using a streaming stick

3. Audio Delay

To reduce audio delay in a wireless casting session, use 2 methods:

1. Switch from wireless casting to a wired HDMI connection for zero audio delay
2. Reduce the display resolution in the Google Home app settings for Chromecast sessions

4. Wi-Fi Connectivity Errors

To fix unstable Wi-Fi during casting, apply 3 changes:

1. Move the router closer to the TV or phone to strengthen the signal
2. Switch the Wi-Fi band from 2.4GHz to 5GHz for a more stable connection
3. Restart the router

5. App and Firmware Updates Breaking Casting

Check both the TV’s settings menu and the casting app for pending updates, but understand that updates on either side can introduce new problems. I tracked a thread in r/bugs where a Reddit iOS app update in version 2026.07.0 broke screen mirroring for iPhone users entirely. The TV connected, but the Reddit app locked into a landscape mode on the TV display and stopped responding to phone input. Users reported the same behaviour over 53 days with no official fix from Reddit.

The workaround that emerged was to access Reddit through the Brave browser on iOS and cast the browser tab instead of the native app. This is worth keeping as a general principle: when a native app stops working during screen mirroring after an update, the browser version of that service is usually still castable without issues.

Once screencasting works reliably for personal use, some users, particularly those running a business, need a different setup: a TV that displays content on its own, on a schedule, without a phone or laptop staying connected. That setup runs through a digital signage CMS rather than a mirroring protocol.

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How to Display Business Content on a TV with PosterBooking

PosterBooking is a cloud-based digital signage CMS that pushes content to a TV and plays it independently. Unlike consumer screen mirroring, no phone or laptop needs to stay connected.

Step 1: Create a Free PosterBooking Account

To start, go to PosterBooking.com and sign up. The Free plan includes 10 screens at no monthly charge with no contracts. Setup completes in under 2 minutes in any browser.

Step 2: Install PosterBooking on an Amazon Fire TV Stick

Download the PosterBooking app from the Amazon Appstore on the Fire TV Stick. Open it and a pairing code appears on screen. Enter that code in the PosterBooking dashboard. The screen connects and becomes remotely managed.

Step 3: Upload Content and Build a Playlist

In the dashboard, upload images, videos, or web URLs using the drag-and-drop builder. Organise them into a playlist. 4K content and large file uploads are supported on the Free plan.

Step 4: Schedule and Push to the Screen

Assign the playlist to the screen, set the days and times it plays, and push it live. The content plays on the TV automatically. Update it from any browser at any time without touching the screen.

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Can I Use ScreenCloud for Business TV Display?

ScreenCloud is a cloud-based digital signage CMS that supports Amazon Fire Stick and Android TV. ScreenCloud offers a 14-day free trial. After the trial, pricing starts at approximately $20 per screen per month with no permanent free tier. For businesses managing up to 10 screens that need a free ongoing plan, PosterBooking’s Free plan covers that from day one with no per-screen monthly charge.

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Can I Use Yodeck for Business TV Display?

Yodeck supports Raspberry Pi players and offers one permanently free screen. Beyond one screen, pricing is per screen per month and requires a Yodeck-branded Raspberry Pi player for full functionality. For businesses that already own an Amazon Fire TV Stick ,Amazon Signage Stick or Android TV device and want to avoid purchasing proprietary hardware, PosterBooking supports all 3 device types with no additional hardware purchase required.

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