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How do I cast my Android phone to a TV?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 5 minutes · Wi‑Fi & mobile data

Steps written for Android 16 and 17, including Samsung One UI 8 and 9, Google Pixel, and Motorola. Menu names can vary a little by model and carrier.

Illustration of a phone showing a cast symbol, with a television on one side and Wi-Fi waves on the other

Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network. To show a video, open an app like YouTube, tap its Cast button, and pick your TV. To show your whole screen, swipe down twice and tap Cast (Pixel and Motorola) or Smart View (Samsung), then choose your TV and tap Start now.

Steps to check

Show steps for:

  1. Check what your TV can receive

    Most phones cast in one of two ways. Google Cast works with a Chromecast, a Google TV Streamer, or any TV with Google Cast (often labeled Chromecast built-in). Samsung's Smart View works with most newer Samsung smart TVs and other TVs that support Miracast. If your TV has neither, a small streaming device plugged into the TV's HDMI port is the usual fix. Some phones can also use a cable (see the last step).

  2. Put the phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi

    Google, Samsung, and Motorola all say the phone and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network name. Check the network shown in the TV's settings and compare it with the one on your phone. Turn off any VPN on the phone. Guest, hotel, and some public Wi-Fi networks block devices from seeing each other, so casting may not work there at all. For a steadier picture, Google suggests keeping the phone within about 15 feet (4 meters) of the TV.

  3. To watch a video, use the app's Cast button

    This is the smoothest way to watch shows, movies, or YouTube on the TV. Open the app and look for the Cast button: a small rectangle with curved Wi-Fi lines in the corner. Its spot differs from app to app. Tap it and pick your TV. When the button turns solid, you are connected and the video plays on the TV. Your phone works like a remote, and Motorola notes you can still make calls and use other apps while it plays. To stop, tap the Cast button again, then Disconnect.

  4. To show your whole screen, mirror it

    Mirroring copies everything on your phone screen to the TV, which is handy for photos or showing someone how to do something. Anything on your screen, including notifications, will be visible, so close anything private first. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings, then tap the casting tile and choose your TV. If you do not see the tile, tap Edit (the pencil) and drag it into your tiles.

    • Samsung Swipe down to open the Quick settings panel, tap Smart View, select your TV, then tap Start now. If the TV asks, select Allow on the TV. Smart View is built in, not an app you download. You can also find it under Settings → Connected devices.
    • Pixel Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → Google Cast, then choose to cast a single app or your entire screen and tap your TV. Or tap Cast in Quick Settings.
    • Motorola Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → Cast, then touch the name of your Chromecast or TV. Or tap the Cast icon in Quick Settings.
    • Other Android Open the Google Home app, tap Favorites or Devices, touch and hold your TV's tile, then tap Cast → Cast screen. Google says screen casting needs the microphone permission turned on for Google Play services (Settings → Apps → Google Play services → Permissions).

  5. Stop casting when you are done

    Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Disconnect on the casting notification. On Samsung, you can also press the Return button on the TV remote. In an app, tap the Cast button and choose Disconnect.

  6. If the TV does not show up

    Work through these one at a time. Check that both are on the same Wi-Fi, then turn off any VPN. Restart the phone, the TV, and the Wi-Fi router. Update the TV's software and, for Google Cast, the Google Home app. On a Pixel, Google suggests turning off Adaptive connectivity in Network & internet settings while you start casting, so the phone does not hop to another network. If a movie app shows a black screen only when you mirror, that is expected: Samsung notes copy-protected content cannot be mirrored, so use that app's Cast button instead.

  7. Optional: use a cable instead

    Some phones can send their screen over a USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort cable, with no Wi-Fi needed. Google says Pixel 8 and later support this: plug the cable into the TV and the phone, then tap the Mirror display message. Support differs by model on other phones, so check your phone maker's help page before buying a cable.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

A short delay between the phone and the TV when you mirror, a black screen when mirroring some movie apps, or a request on the TV to allow the phone the first time.

Worth a closer look

The TV never appears even though both are on the same Wi-Fi, the VPN is off, and everything has been restarted. Check the TV maker's help page, and make sure the TV actually supports Google Cast or Miracast.

What people are saying

Common questions

Can I cast to my TV without Wi-Fi?
Wireless casting needs the phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network. Without Wi-Fi, a cable is the usual option on phones that support video out, such as Pixel 8 and later with a USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
What is the difference between casting and mirroring?
Casting from an app sends just the video to the TV, so you can use your phone for other things. Mirroring shows your whole phone screen, including notifications. For movies and shows, casting from the app usually looks and sounds better.
Do I need to download Smart View on my Samsung phone?
No. Samsung says Smart View is not a downloadable app. It is in the Quick settings panel, and you can also find it in Settings under Connected devices.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.