Small-scale smartphone and tablet screens are good on the go, only if you're in your living room so why not use your TV's much bigger screen instead? Sharing your screen from your phone or tablet to your Goggle box is piece of cake, but there are a few different options bachelor. In this article, we'll testify you these options and what you'll need for each.The first conclusion y'all'll need to make is whether to become wired or wireless. Wired connections are more often than not more reliable, but may require your device to be close to the Boob tube. Wireless connections can sometimes drop out or stutter, simply offer more rapid setup and let you lot to motility about unimpeded.

Wired

There are three major wired options for Android devices: USB-C to HDMI, MHL and SlimPort. Your phone or tablet is probable to support i or the other; to find out see the list of MHL supported devices and the list of SlimPort supported devices.

HDMI to USB-C

Connecting your USB-C enabled smartphone or tablet to a Television, monitor or projector is extremely quick and like shooting fish in a barrel to do past using this adapter from Olixar. Additionally, different other adapters on the market, this Olixar USB-C to HDMI does not require a power source, making connexion even easier, as shown in the video below.

  1. Plug in the USB-C cease of the adapter into your smartphone or tablet
  2. Connect a HDMI cable into the adapter
  3. If you've not done so already, plug the other end of the HDMI cablevision into a HDMI port on your Goggle box or monitor. HDMI ports are typically found at the rear of Goggle box's, monitors and projectors.
  4. Navigate to the HDMI source on your TV / Monitor
  5. Sit back and enjoy content including videos, photos, games and more than from your telephone or tablet on the big screen.

Additionally, the Olixar Samsung Milky way S21 Ultra USB-C to HDMI Adapter has a number of useful features including supporting both 1080p and 4K resolution at 60Hz, meaning you can watch videos with crystal clear clarity.

MHL

MHL was i the showtime major wired standard for connecting Android smartphones and tablets to TVs, and is supported by many Android phones and tablets (list here). Information technology uses a clever system that allows both power and audio/video to be sent through your device'due south micro USB port.

TVs, monitors and projectors that support the standard (list here) have at least one special HDMI port which besides provides power; all you need to practise is pick upward a micro USB to HDMI (passive MHL) cable and plug it in.

You can still use MHL fifty-fifty if your Television set doesn't support the standard with an MHL cablevision or adapter which has split up HDMI and microUSB ports. The HDMI finish goes into the TV as normal, and a microUSB cablevision is fastened to a USB port or AC adapter.

An MHL cable

microUSB (left) for ability, HDMI for audio/video

Samsung devices have their ain proprietary MHL adapters ("MHL 2.0") which you'll need to use instead. It's also possible to find these built into docks for Samsung phones or connection kits with additional ports.

Samsung Galaxy S4 / Note 3 MHL 2.0 HDTV HDMI Adapter

Samsung'due south proprietary MHL adapter

A third-political party MHL adapter for Samsung devices

At that place's more than information nearly MHL and how to employ it here.

SlimPort

SlimPort is some other wired option, which is similar to MHL. The major difference is that a ability input is optional. If no ability is supplied, your device won't exist recharged, but the HDMI link will still piece of work. SlimPort is supported by some recent smartphones, tablets and laptops (listing here), most notably LG and Google devices.

Analogix SlimPort HDMI Adapter for HD Mirroring for Nexus 4

To utilise SlimPort, you lot'll need a SlimPort HDMI adapter. The microUSB plug goes into your telephone, the USB plug goes into a powered USB port or wall adapter, and an HDMI cablevision connects adapter and TV.

There's more information on SlimPort here.

Wireless

In that location are several wireless standards to choose from, all of which seem to have 'cast' in their name. Let'south expect at the best three.

Android Screen Mirroring

This is a corking way for those with a recent Android device and a smart tv. Only swipe downwardly from the top and into your notifications panel. Inside there you should notice a screen mirroring option, which on Samsung devices is called Smart View. Select the TV or monitor yous wish to mirror your telephone to and you'll exist skillful to go.

If you lot don't have this feature bachelor, screen mirroring tin still exist available by downloading the Google Home app. Once downloaded, tap account button at the lesser right corner and scroll down to mirror device, then simply select your Television set or monitor.

Chromecast

The Chromecast is i of the least expensive wireless options for connecting your Android phone or tablet to your not-smartTV.

Chromecast TV DongleChromecast TV Dongle

Instead of mirroring your unabridged screen, you instead send specific content from apps on your phone – YouTube videos, Google Music songs, BBC iPlayer shows, Netflix movies – to the Chromecast dongle. Information technology retrieves the content online using its wireless connectedness and plays information technology back through your Tv.

At that place's more information nearly Chromecast hither.

Miracast

Miracast back up is included in Android iv.2 Jelly Bean and subsequently. Information technology works by making a direct wireless connection between your device and your TV. Once the connection is made, your telephone's screen is mirrored on your TV.

Many modernistic HDTVs accept Miracast support built in. The easiest way to see if your TV is supported is to Google your Boob tube's model name + "Miracast".

If your Tv set isn't supported, you can also pick upwardly a Miracast dongle that'll add the necessary capabilities. Just plug information technology into a power source and an HDMI port, and you'll be gear up to brainstorm.

iconBIT Toucan Omnicast TV Dongle for iOS, Android, Windows & Mac

An inexpensive Miracast dongle

ASUS Miracast Dongle

A premium Miracast dongle from ASUS

You tin enable Miracast in Settings -> Display. From here, select Wireless display and toggle it 'on' at the elevation. Then you can search for Miracast devices and connect to them. Notation that this procedure may be slightly unlike depending on your phone's Android version and manufacturer.

Yous tin notice more information on Miracast here.

AllShare Cast

AllShare Bandage is a wireless mirroring standard for Samsung smartphones and tablets (including the Note two + 3, Galaxy S3, S4 + S5). The feature is congenital into some recent Samsung HDTVs, but for other TVs you'll demand the AllShare Bandage Hub.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Wi-Fi Display Hub - EAD-T10UDEGXEUSamsung Galaxy S3 Wi-Fi Display Hub - EAD-T10UDEGXEU

Like other HDMI dongles, you'll merely demand to connect the AllShare Bandage Hub to your Television receiver via HDMI and power it with the supplied cable, and so enable the AllShare Cast option on your Samsung device in Settings -> Wireless and networks -> AllShare Cast.

There's more information on AllShare Bandage here.

Note that it's possible to use the more than widely supported Miracast on Samsung devices running at to the lowest degree Android four.2, from the Milky way S4 and Note 3 onwards.

Questions?

Let the states know in the comments below, or achieve u.s.a. on Twitter @mobilefun. Nosotros'll exist happy to answer any questions nosotros can, so if there's something nosotros haven't covered here then please permit us know.

Cheers for reading the article and accept a good ane!