How to share screen on TV

You plan to show friends and family some photos you took on your last vacation and would like to use your home television to do so. Not being, however, very familiar with the topic of technology, you do not have the faintest idea of ​​how to project the shots – and possibly the videos – that you have saved on smartphones and tablets on the TV.

Don’t worry: if this is the way things are, know that you are in the right place! In fact, below you will find explained how to share the screen on TV and reproduce images from Android devices, iPhone, iPad and computer on the latter. You can do this both wirelessly and via cable, with the help of cables and adapters.

So, without waiting an extra second, make yourself comfortable and carefully read everything I have to explain to you on the subject: I’m sure that, in a few minutes, you will have acquired the necessary skills to reach the goal you set for yourself. Having said that, there is nothing left for me to do, except wish you good reading and … good viewing!

Index

• How to share Android screen on TV
  • Wireless
  • Miracast
  • Google Cast / Chromecast
  • Cable
• How to share screen on TV with iPhone
  • Wireless
  • Cable
• How to share PC screen on TV
  • Wireless
  • Cable
• How to share Mac screen on TV
  • Wireless
  • Cable

How to share Android screen on TV

Let’s start this guide by analyzing, together, what are the best systems to share Android screen on TV, both wirelessly and with cable.

Wireless

As for wireless connection, if yours is a relatively recent Smart TV, you can almost certainly rely on the technologies built into the latter.

Miracast

Miracast is a wireless transmission method that uses the Wi-Fi Direct system, does not require other support network devices (such as the router) and does not require an Internet connection to work, as the connection is established directly. on devices. The theoretical resolution achievable through Miracast is equal to 4K / 60 Hz.

On the TV, the Miracast function must be activated by accessing a specific section of the Device Settings, or by starting the dedicated application, which may have different names depending on the manufacturer of the TV: to share the screen on Samsung TVs, the application must be used AllShare, while the application used to share the screen on LG TV is called Screen Share.

Again, the app to open to share the screen on Philips TV is called Wireless screencast (for TVs without Google TV / Android TV) or Wireless Screen, the one to start on Sony Bravia TVs is called Screen Mirroring and so on.

If the TV does not have built-in support for Miracast but you are still interested in taking advantage of the technology in question, you can use a dedicated adapter, to be connected to the HDMI port of the TV to transform it into a Miracast receiver. This approach can be used on both non-compatible Smart TVs and any other non-Smart TV with a free HDMI port.

I also remind you that Amazon’s Fire TV devices (both Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube) also allow you to enable Miracast reception for the TV to which they are connected: after configuring it , simply reach the Settings menu > Sound and screen> Enable Fire TV mirroring, to prepare it to receive content through Miracast.

After enabling the TV to receive content via Miracast, changes to Android smartphones and, to establish the connection, recalls the ‘ notification area of the system and you tap on Beam, Projection, Smart-View or Multi-screen, in based on the edition of the operating system in your possession.

If you do not find the aforementioned button, you can obtain the same result by opening the Android Settings (using the gear-shaped button located on the Home screen or in the drawer) and going to the Connected devices> Connection preferences> Cast sections. Again, the path to follow varies according to the version of Android installed.

After a few moments, the search for Miracast (or compatible) devices available nearby should start: to establish the connection, tap on the name of the TV, Miracast adapter or Fire TV Stick / Cube and wait for the images coming from the screen smartphone are projected on the TV.

Google Cast / Chromecast

Another excellent wireless transmission protocol is Google Cast, Google’s proprietary system integrated in all televisions equipped with Google TV / Android TV, which not only allows you to receive streaming content from one of the many compatible applications but also to share the entire Android screen, within a couple of taps.

In this case, however, an Internet connection is required via a router and both the telephone and the television must be connected to the same network; if you have not yet connected the TV to Wi-Fi, you will certainly find the thematic guide I dedicated to the topic useful.

If you don’t have a TV with Google TV / Android TV, or if your TV is not Smart at all, you can integrate Google Cast using an HDMI key, also produced by Google, called Chromecast. It is available in two versions: a basic one, which allows you to play content up to 1080p / Full HD resolution; and another more advanced, called Chromecast with Google TV, which is equipped with internal operating system and app store, comes with remote control and increases the supported resolution to 4K / HDR.

If your TV integrates the Google Cast protocol, it is sufficient to connect the device to the Internet to enable the reception of connections from the outside; Chromecast devices must instead be connected to a free HDMI port on the TV, powered via USB or power socket and configured appropriately: for more information on this, you can take a look at my tutorial dedicated to Chromecast operation.

Regardless of how Google Cast is activated, the steps to be taken to cast the Android screen to a properly configured TV / Chromecast are identical to those already seen for Miracast.

Cable

If you do not prefer wireless transmission systems, you can always share the Android screen on the TV using a specific cable to connect the USB port of the smartphone with the HDMI port of the TV.

As for Android phones equipped with USB-C, you need to get a special USB-C to HDMI adapter/cable, through which it is possible to reach resolutions up to 4K and frequency at 60 Hz.

In the case of Android phones equipped with a microUSB port, you can use an MHL / Slimport type cable, through which resolutions up to 8K (in the case of SuperMHL) or 4K (for Slimport) can be reached.

Once you have the necessary cable or adapter, physically put the devices involved in communication with each other, set the TV to the correct video source (eg HDMI 1 ) and wait a few moments: the images coming from the phone should be immediately shared on the TV screen, without making any additional configuration.

However, keep in mind that some streaming apps may prevent the transmission of images, for issues related to copyright and data protection in transit. More info here.

How to share screen on TV with iPhone

If yours is an iPhone, you will be happy to know that there are several systems, both wireless and wired, to transmit screen images directly to the TV. The indications in this section, as well as for the “iPhone by”, are also valid for sharing iPad TV screen.

Wireless

The wireless communication technology integrated in most Apple-branded devices (such as iPhone and iPad, but also Mac) is called AirPlay and allows the screen of compatible devices to be reflected directly on the TV, as long as all the devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Currently, the most modern Smart TVs produced by LG, Samsung, Sony and Vizio integrate AirPlay technology: to make sure, take a look at the technical data sheet of the TV, the user manual or its sales package and locate the label Works with Apple AirPlay 2 / AirPlay; the list of compatible Smart TVs is still available on the Apple website.

If your TV does not natively integrate AirPlay, you can buy an HDMI multimedia box, called Apple TV, compatible with both Smart TVs and those that are not.

Apple TV can be purchased in two different models (both with remote control): Apple TV HD, which has 32 GB of internal memory and supports the transmission of content up to Full HD resolution; and Apple TV 4K, which comes in 32 or 64GB memory sizes and supports resolutions up to 4K / Ultra HD.

To send images from the iPhone screen to the TV, once the latter is connected to the Internet or after completing the configuration of the Apple TV box , call up the iOS Control Center, tap the Duplicate screen button and select the name of the Smart TV / Apple TV from the list of devices ready to connect. That’s all!

Note: Although iPhones do not natively support screen casting via the Google Cast protocol, it is possible to cope with this by using third-party applications, such as Replica, which can stream video from the phone to the TV, in real time, using the iOS screen recording function.

Cable

Alternatively, you can connect your iPhone to any TV with an HDMI port, using such a good quality cable, along with the appropriate Apple Digital Lightning to AV Adapter.

Once you have the necessary, insert the Lightning connector coming from the adapter into the smartphone port of the same name, connect one end of the HDMI cable in the appropriate port of the adapter and the other directly on the TV. To limit the possibility of running into problems due to the power supply, I recommend that you power the adapter via the mains by connecting the iPhone charging cable appropriate Lightning input.

Once this is done, simply set the TV to the correct HDMI source and wait for the images from the iPhone to be transmitted to the screen: everything should not take more than a few moments.

Note: there are adapters for iPhones that are much cheaper than Apple’s, however, due to the build quality and lack of official certifications, they almost always work poorly, or don’t work at all. Therefore, try to prefer original Apple products, rather than apparently cheap components but with a more than disappointing yield. I warned you!

How to share PC screen on TV

Do you need to send images from the Windows PC to the TV? No problem: depending on your needs, you can use both wireless and cable-based technologies.

Wireless

As for wireless sharing, you should know that you can take advantage of both technologies I have already told you about previously in this guide: Miracast and Google Cast. Although compatible televisions and/or devices must be configured in exactly the same way (I refer you to reading the previous chapters for additional information), the ways of transmitting content change.

For example, screen transmission using Miracast technology is only possible on Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and later editions of the operating system and can be activated as indicated below.

• Windows 10 and later: open the Windows notification area (the balloon next to the clock), press the Connect button, wait for the TV name to appear in the list of nearby devices and click on it, to establish the connection. If you do not find the appropriate button, first click on the Expand item located at the bottom.
• Windows 8.1: call up the charms bar by pressing the key combination Win + C on the keyboard, click on the Devices and Project buttons and then on the Add wireless screen item, located at the bottom of the menu, in order to view the list of available televisions. Finally, click on the name of the TV on which to project the screen and that’s it.

A connection established, you can configure the transmission mode ( desktop duplication, desktop expansion, or only the second screen ) opening again the ‘ Notification Area/charms bar Windows and pressing the button Project. To configure the remaining screen management parameters (resolution, position, etc.), use the Windows display settings panel, as indicated in the next section of this guide.

As for the transmission via Google Cast, it is essential that the Google Chrome browser is installed on the computer. If this condition occurs, after checking that PC and Smart TV / Chromecast are connected to the same network, open the Chrome browser, click on the button (⋮) located at the top right and choose the item Cast … from the menu that appears.

Then, click on the Sources drop-down menu, put the check mark next to the item Cast desktop and click on the name of the Smart TV / Chromecast, to immediately send the screen content to the TV.

Cable

As for the transmission of content via cable, I recommend that you connect the phone and the TV together using a good quality HDMI cable, capable of reaching 4K resolution with almost no delays. If your computer does not have a standard HDMI port, but a Mini HDMI, Micro HDMI, or USB-C connector, you will also need a dedicated adapter or cable.

 

After physically connecting the computer and the TV to each other, set the latter device to the correct HDMI source and wait for what you see on the screen (or a blank part of the desktop) to be reflected on the TV.

As needed, you can change the resolution of the individual screens, the combination of colors, the position and the mode of transmission of content using the appropriate Windows panel: right-click on an empty spot on the desktop, select the Screen settings item from the menu that appears and click on the icon of the screen on which to intervene, visible in the Rearrange screens box.

At this point, you can use the remaining items to set the brightness and color of the selected monitor, the scaling and layout options, and the content transmission mode ( multiple displays section ). If you wish, you can change the position of the monitors via the Rearrange screens section: then grab the icon of the screen to move with the mouse and position it where you want. Read more here.

How to share Mac screen on TV

Even the Mac allow you to replicate the contents of the screen on a TV Smart and not, either wirelessly or with a cable: are all explained below.

Wireless

As for wireless connections, you can take advantage of the AirPlay and Google Cast protocols, the same ones we have already analyzed previously; therefore, for instructions on how to prepare the TV to receive content, I refer you to reading the chapters mentioned earlier.

The transmission modes, however, change: to be able to transmit the content of the entire screen, first click on the multifunction icon located in the macOS menu bar (the one depicting two levers, located near the clock), click on the button Duplicate screen and select the name of your compatible Apple TV / Smart TV from the menu that opens.

Once the connection is established, again using the same icon, you can choose whether to use the TV as a separate monitor or to duplicate the computer monitor. If you need to rearrange the screens or define the resolution for each of them, open the system Preferences of macOS (the gear wheel located on the Dock ) and then the Display icon.

Once in the dedicated panel, use the Layout tab to choose whether to duplicate/extend the desk, reposition the screens or select the screen on which to intervene; use the Monitor tab instead to change the resolution, colors, and make other adjustments for the selected screen.

If, on the other hand, you have a TV with integrated Google Cast or a Chromecast, you can replicate the Mac screen on the TV, using the Google Chrome browser: open the latter program, click on the button (⋮) located at the top right and choose the item Transmit … from the menu that appears.

Now, click on the Sources drop-down menu, select the item Cast desktop from the menu that appears and press on the name of the TV / Chromecast, located in the list of detected devices.

At this point, you should be asked to give Chrome the permissions for Screen Recording, an essential operation for the browser to “hijack” the video stream via Google Cast: then click on the Open System Preferences button, click on the locked padlock symbol located in the ‘lower left corner of the window that opens and, after entering the Mac password in the dedicated field, click on the Unlock button to enable the changes.

Finally, put the check mark next to the entry for Google Chrome, press the Exit and reopen button (the browser will restart) and try to connect to the TV again, following the same instructions I gave you a little while ago.

Cable

If you have decided to go with the cable connection and your Mac has full size HDMI ports, you simply need to get a good HDMI cable. and plug it into the dedicated ports on your Mac and TV.

However, most newer MacBooks and different Mac models only have USB Type-C ports – in this case, you’ll need to purchase a USB-C to HDMI adapter, a cable with both ends, or a USB Type-C HUB. C equipped with HDMI port. For best results, be sure to purchase a genuine or Apple-certified adapter/cable.

The achievable resolution, in this case, varies according to the cable/adapter chosen, between a minimum of 1080p at 60 Hz up to a maximum of 4K at 30 Hz.

On some iMacs, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, there are only Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort outputs: in this case, in addition to the HDMI cable, you must purchase a special Thunderbolt / Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter. The maximum resolution obtainable, in this case, is 3840 x 2160 pixels with a refresh rate of 30 Hz (obviously it varies according to the Mac and the cable in use; for 60 Hz, however, a monitor equipped with a DisplayPort socket is required, therefore a USB-C / Thunderbolt cable).

In any case, once you have the necessary, connect the adapter to the Mac and the HDMI cable and insert the latter into the appropriate input on the TV; if, on the other hand, you have purchased a single cable (eg HDMI-HDMI or Thunderbolt-HDMI), insert the dedicated ends into both devices.

Finally, set the TV to the correct HDMI source and that’s it: you should immediately see the images coming from the Mac screen, without any kind of delay. If you want to change the mirroring mode, rearrange screens, alter the resolution or adjust other parameters, you can follow the same guidelines as for wireless mode with AirPlay, seen in this section.