How to use screen mirroring on your iPhone

If you want to show whatever you are doing on your iPhone on your TV, you’ll want to consider mirroring your device’s screen to your TV. In this article, i’ll walk you through the steps to set it up.

You can easily mirror your iPhone’s screen on your television by using AirPlay. Another way to Mira your iPhone to your TV is by using third-party apps, such as Chromecast (a small plug-in for your television’s HDMI port) or Roku. You can also use an HDMI cord to connect your iPhone to your television by purchasing an iPhone to HDMI cable adapter.

Here’s our guide on how to mirror your iPhone to your TV.

What is screen mirroring on your iPhone?

Screen mirroring, also known as screen casting or screen sharing is a method for displaying the contents of your iPhone on a larger display, such as a TV. You may want to do this for a variety of reasons. For example, if you want to watch a TikTok® video with a friend, share a presentation at work, or play a slideshow for your family, the screen mirroring feature on your iPhone is a great solution. When you mirror, what you see and hear on your iPhone will appear on your TV.

To mirror an iPhone to your TV, you’ll need a smart TV or a streaming device that supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 technology. These include newer smart TVs from Sony, TCL, Hisense, Samsung, LG, or Vizio, and streaming devices like newer Rokus and Apple’s own Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K.

Tips for setting up Screen Mirroring

Here are a few tips for getting screen mirroring up and running.

• Make sure that your iPhone and your TV are connected to a strong Wi-Fi network. They also need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Check that your iPhone and your TV are updated to the latest software for the best performance.
• Confirm that the app you want to use supports screen mirroring before you get started.

How to turn on screen mirroring on your iPhone using AirPlay

If you have an Apple TV® or AirPlay® 2-compatible smart TV, you can easily stream videos or wirelessly mirror your device’s screen on your TV using AirPlay, a wireless communication feature for Apple devices. Follow these simple steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TV.
2. Launch Control Center:
   • On iPhone X or newer: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
   • On iPhone 8 or older: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
3. Tap the Screen Mirroring button.



4. You will see other devices you can mirror your iPhone to. Select your TV from the list.
5. If an AirPlay passcode appears on your TV screen, enter the passcode on your iPhone.
6. Now your iPhone screen will start to mirror on your TV. On your TV, you will see exactly what is going on on your device.
7. To stop mirroring your iPhone, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring. Or press the Menu button on your Apple TV Remote.

If your TV is displaying your phone’s screen in portrait mode, but you prefer the wider landscape view, simply rotate your phone to landscape mode. If your iPhone’s rotation lock is enabled, you’ll need to disable it for this to take effect. You can disable the rotation lock by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center, then tap the "Rotation Lock" button to turn it off.

How to use screen mirroring on your iPhone with a streaming media player

Another way to connect your iPhone to your TV is with a streaming device like Chromecast™ or Roku®.

Cast from your iPhone to Chromecast

1. Connect your iPhone and your Chromecast to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open a streaming app like YouTube® or Instagram® Live on your iPhone and start playing a video.
3. While the video is playing, tap the Cast icon (a rectangle with a Wi-Fi signal at the bottom left corner), inside the app.
4. From the list, select your Chromecast.
5. Your video should start playing on your TV.

Cast from your iPhone to Roku

1. Connect your iPhone and your Roku to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Make sure that AirPlay is enabled on your Roku device. With your Roku remote control, go to Home > Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit and turn on AirPlay.
3. Make sure that the streaming app you want to use, like Netflix®, Youtube® or Twitch®, is installed on both your iPhone and your Roku streaming device.
4. Open a streaming app on your iPhone and start playing a video.
5. Tap the Cast icon (a rectangle with a Wi-Fi signal at the bottom left corner) inside the app.
6. From the list, select your Roku device.
7. Your video will play on your TV.
8. To stop casting a video, all you need to do is tap the casting button again and select your iPhone from the list of devices.

How to connect your iPhone through your TV’s HDMI cable

If any of the wireless screen mirroring methods above aren’t working for you, or if you prefer to use a wired cable connection, you can connect your iPhone to your TV using a cable and an adapter. The specific adapter you need depends on your iPhone model and the ports available on your TV. Most TVs support HDMI and some also have a VGA connection.

Here’s how to do so:

1. Depending on your iPhone model, plug in your adapter (Lightning Digital AV Adapter, Lightning to VGA Adapter, USB-C Display AV Adapter, or USB-C VGA Multi-port Adapter) into the charging port on the bottom of your iPhone.
2. Connect an HDMI or VGA cable to the adapter.
3. Connect the other end of the HDMI or VGA cable to the monitor or TV.
4. You may need to switch to the correct video source using your TV’s menu or remote. If you need help, check your television’s manual, which is usually available online.