Ranking updated
Cast your phone to the TV
Often you need no extra app. An iPhone mirrors to Samsung smart TVs from 2018 and LG webOS 4.0 TVs and later through AirPlay in Control Center. An Android phone casts to a TV with Chromecast built-in, such as Xiaomi’s Google TV sets, from the Google Home app; a Galaxy phone uses Smart View and other Android phones have Screen Share for LG TVs. Brand apps like LG ThinQ, TCL Home and VIDAA also send photos and video to their own TVs. For AirPlay and for casting from Google Home, the phone and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi.
How we picked: we followed the support pages of Apple, Google, Samsung and LG, and listed only the official apps that cast to a TV, from their App Store and Google Play listings. Third-party mirroring apps are left out because the built-in tools above do the same job.
From an iPhone to a Samsung or LG TV
Put the iPhone and the TV on the same Wi-Fi, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring and pick the TV; if the TV shows an AirPlay code, type it on the phone. To send just a video, tap the AirPlay button in the video player instead. Samsung says AirPlay works on all its smart TVs released since 2018, with Apple AirPlay turned on in the TV’s connection settings. LG supports AirPlay on webOS 4.0 TVs from 2018 onwards.
From an iPhone to a Xiaomi or other Google TV
Xiaomi TVs such as the Xiaomi TV A Pro run Google TV with Chromecast built-in. From an iPhone, start a video in an app that has the Cast button, such as YouTube, tap Cast and choose the TV. The Google TV app also works as a remote for these sets.
From an Android phone
To a Chromecast or Google TV set, open Google Home, touch and hold the TV’s tile and tap Cast, then Cast screen; it needs Android 8.0 or later and the same Wi-Fi network. On a Samsung Galaxy phone the built-in mirroring is called Smart View. For an LG TV, open the notification panel, tap Screen Share and pick the TV, then accept the request on the TV.
Brand apps for photos and video
LG ThinQ shows photos and video from your phone on an LG TV, TCL Home casts films, photos, video and music to a TCL TV, and VIDAA shares video, music and photos to a TV running VIDAA OS. For a remote in the phone, see TV remote apps.
| App | What it casts | Publisher | Ukrainian interface | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google HomeGoogle Play | Android screen to Chromecast and Google TV | yes | Android | |
| Google TVApp StoreGoogle Play | remote for Google TV and Android TV sets | yes | iOS, Android | |
| LG ThinQApp StoreGoogle Play | phone photos and video to an LG TV | LG Electronics | yes | iOS, Android |
| TCL HomeApp StoreGoogle Play | films, photos, video and music to a TCL TV | TCL | yes | iOS, Android |
| VIDAAApp Store | video, music and photos to a VIDAA TV | VIDAA | yes | iOS |
Frequently asked questions
How do I mirror my iPhone to a Samsung TV?
Connect both to the same Wi-Fi, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring and choose the TV. Samsung smart TVs from 2018 onwards support AirPlay.
How do I cast my phone to a Xiaomi TV?
Xiaomi TVs on Google TV have Chromecast built-in. From Android, use Cast screen in Google Home; from an iPhone, tap the Cast button in an app such as YouTube.
Do I need an app to cast an iPhone to an LG TV?
No. LG webOS 4.0 TVs from 2018 and later support AirPlay, so Screen Mirroring in Control Center is enough.
Why does the phone not see the TV?
Apple, Google, Samsung and LG all require the phone and the TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network. On a Samsung TV, also check that Apple AirPlay is turned on in its settings.