The Best Ways to Connect Your iPhone to TV, with or Without Wi-Fi

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Stream your iPhone to a television wirelessly or with an adapter
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Do you want to stream video and audio from your iPhone to your TV? If you have a smart TV or streaming device that supports AirPlay 2 (such as an Apple TV or Roku), you can easily connect your iPhone to the TV over Wi-Fi. If you don't have a smart TV, don't have Wi-Fi, or your TV doesn't support AirPlay, you can connect your iPhone to the TV without Wi-Fi using an HDMI cable and adapter. This wikiHow guide will teach you how to stream or mirror your iPhone to a TV. We'll also help you troubleshoot if your iPhone won't connect to the TV.

Connect iPhone to a TV: Quick Steps

  1. Connect your iPhone and AirPlay-compatible TV to the same Wi-Fi.
  2. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the Home screen.
  3. Tap Screen Mirroring (the two overlapping squares).
  4. Select your TV.
Section 1 of 5:

How to Mirror Your iPhone to a TV Wirelessly

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  1. As long as you're using a smart TV that supports AirPlay 2 (or you have an Apple TV or other streaming device with AirPlay support), you can easily connect your iPhone to your TV. [1]
  2. AirPlay requires Wi-Fi to work, so both your TV (or streaming device) and your iPhone must be on the same wireless network. [2]
    • If your smart TV isn't connected to Wi-Fi, you'll need to connect it .
    • If you have an Apple TV running OS 7 or later, you can connect your iPhone to the TV using Peer-to-Peer AirPlay , which doesn't require Wi-Fi.
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  3. The steps to do this are a little different depending on your iPhone model: [3]
    • If your iPhone doesn't have a separate round Home button at the bottom, swipe down from the top-right corner of the home screen. [4]
    • If your iPhone does have a separate round Home button at the bottom, swipe up from the bottom edge of the home screen.
  4. It's the tile that has two overlapping squares inside. Your iPhone will begin scanning for compatible AirPlay devices to connect to. [5]
  5. Your iPhone's screen should now appear on your TV screen. You will also hear your iPhone's audio through your TV's speakers.
    • Depending on your TV model, you may see a number on the screen that you'll need to enter on your iPhone. Enter the number when prompted to complete the connection.
    • When you're ready to stop mirroring your screen, re-open the Control Center and tap Stop Mirroring .
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Stream an iPhone App to a TV

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  1. 1
    Open an app that supports AirPlay. If your TV or streaming device supports AirPlay, you can cast iPhone apps directly to your TV, including the Photos app and some streaming apps like Max and Hulu.
    • If your smart TV doesn't support AirPlay but does support Chromecast, you can cast certain apps (like YouTube) to the TV if those apps are installed on the TV.
    • This method lets you use your iPhone for different things while keeping the selected app visible on your TV. Use this method if you want to stream a movie or show from an app without sharing your whole screen.
  2. 2
    Start streaming a movie or show. Or, if you are in the Photos app and want to play a video or scroll through photos, open the photo or video you want to cast.
    • You should also make sure your iPhone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. If you have an Apple TV, you can stream without Wi-Fi as long as Bluetooth is enabled.
  3. 3
    Tap the AirPlay icon in the app. This icon looks like a rectangle with a black triangle at its bottom edge. If you are streaming a movie or show, you might need to pause the video to see the AirPlay icon. [6]
    • In the Photos app, tap the sharing icon (the square with the up-arrow), then tap AirPlay on the menu.
    • If you're streaming YouTube, tap you'll use the rectangle with three curved lines at its bottom-left corner instead. [7]
  4. 4
    Select your TV from the list. This casts the app on your iPhone to your TV.
    • When you're ready to disconnect your iPhone from the TV, tap the AirPlay or casting icon again, then tap your iPhone.
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Connect an iPhone to a TV with an Adapter

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  1. If you can't connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as the TV for any reason, or the TV doesn't support AirPlay, you can connect your iPhone to the TV with a cable. Your iPhone doesn't have the right port(s) to be able to plug a cable directly from the TV into the phone itself, so you will need a special adapter that plugs into your iPhone's charging port. This adapter will have a USB-C connector (for iPhone 15 and later) or Lightning connector (earlier models) on one side, and an HDMI port on the other. [8]
    • You can find USB-C to HDMI and Lightning to HDMI adapters on Amazon, as well as in many electronics stores.
    • This method will help you mirror your iPhone's screen to your TV without Wi-Fi. You will also hear the audio from your iPhone through your TV's speakers.
  2. Any HDMI cable will do—one end will plug into your TV, and the other end will plug into the HDMI end of your iPhone adapter.
  3. One end of the adapter has a Lightning connector, which will easily fit into your charging port. [9]
  4. The other end will connect to the adapter. HDMI and VGA ports are typically on the back and/or side of your TV. If there are multiple ports (common), each port will have its own number (e.g., HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.). [10]
    • The number on the port will correspond with the HDMI source you'll need to switch to using your TV's remote control.
    • If your iPhone and TV are not turned on, power them both on now.
  5. A list of sources or inputs will appear on the screen. [11]
  6. If there is more than one HDMI port, make sure you choose the source with the number of the port you used. Once selected, you'll see your iPhone's screen on the TV.
    • If you're using the VGA port, the input may be called VGA, Computer, Laptop, or similar.
    • Any app you open on your iPhone will display on your TV.
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Section 4 of 5:

Troubleshooting

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  1. 1
    Make sure your TV or streaming device is AirPlay-enabled. Not all TVs support AirPlay. To find out for sure, search the web for your TV model and "AirPlay."
    • If your TV doesn't have AirPlay, you can connect a streaming device that supports AirPlay, like a Roku streaming stick.
  2. 2
    Update your iPhone and TV. Both devices should have the latest updates installed. If either device is out of date, they may be unable to see each other on the network.
  3. 3
    Ensure your TV and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Some people connect their TVs to the internet with ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, or they may set up separate Wi-Fi networks for their TVs. The TV and the iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for AirPlay to work. [12]
  4. 4
    Restart the TV and iPhone. A temporary glitch can prevent your iPhone from connecting to your TV. A quick restart of both devices will often fix the problem.
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Section 5 of 5:

FAQ

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  1. 1
    Can I connect my iPhone to a TV with USB? If your TV has an HDMI port (most do), you can connect your iPhone to it using a USB-C to HDMI adapter (or a Lightning to HDMI adapter for earlier models).
  2. 2
    Can I connect my iPhone to my TV without Wi-Fi? Yes, you don't need Wi-Fi to connect an iPhone to a TV if you have an HDMI adapter. The adapter will have an HDMI input on one side, which you can connect to your TV using any HDMI cable. The other side has a USB-C or Lightning plug that fits into your iPhone's charging port.
  3. 3
    Can I mirror my iPhone to my Firestick? Firesticks do not support AirPlay, so you will not be able to mirror your screen unless you install a third-party app like DoCast or AirBeamTV. [13]
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Tips

  • As long as you're using HDMI, the sound from your iPhone will come through your TV's audio source.
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  • While streaming video to your TV from your iPhone, use the iPhone to pause, fast forward, rewind, and perform other video app-related tasks. Your TV remote will not work for this purpose.
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102661
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102661
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102661
  4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108330
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102661
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102661
  7. ↑ https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7640706?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=iOS#zippy=,start-casting
  8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-to-a-display-with-a-cable-iph93af723b9/ios
  9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-to-a-display-with-a-cable-iph93af723b9/ios
  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-to-a-display-with-a-cable-iph93af723b9/ios
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-to-a-display-with-a-cable-iph93af723b9/ios
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102587
  4. ↑ https://help.electronic.us/support/solutions/articles/44002434413-which-devices-are-currently-supported-by-docast-

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* HDMI: Plug an AV Adapter into your phone. Connect the adapter to an HDMI cable. Plug the cable into your TV. Turn on your TV and switch to the correct input. More ↓

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