How to cast from your phone to TV

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Casting your screen onto a larger screen, such as a TV, can be useful in professional and casual settings alike. But what is screencasting and how does it work? Canstar Blue explains  how to cast from an iPhone or Android phone to a TV.

What is a screencast?

A screencast is a recording of a video of your device’s screen, typically your computer or phone. Also referred to as screen recording or screen capturing, screencasting is handy for demonstrating tasks to others, like a step-by-step tutorial, or for sharing videos with friends.

Screencasting can also involve streaming your phone’s display onto another screen, also known as mirroring. Mirroring allows you to share what you’re doing with a larger audience. This can be useful in professional settings like team meetings or for casual purposes like showing off a recent social media video. It can also provide a spacious display for your phone for easier viewing.

How can I screencast from my phone?

There are two ways to screencast from a phone to a TV: by recording your phone’s screen, or by broadcasting what’s on it.  Keep reading for instructions on how to screencast from your phone.

How to record your phone’s screen

You can quickly capture your iPhone screen by accessing your phone’s Control Centre. Start by swiping down from the top of your screen for the iPhone X series or newer, or swiping up for older iPhones with a physical Home button. Select the screen record icon located at the bottom right corner of the display. This icon is typically a filled-in circle encircled by a larger circle. After tapping it, a three second countdown initiates before the recording begins. To end the recording, tap the same icon again. The video will be saved in your photo gallery, where you can proceed to edit and refine it if necessary.

Android users will need to access their device’s Quick Settings menu; to do this, swipe down from the top of the screen. Tap the screen record icon, followed by Start. Again, there will be a countdown, followed by the recording. Once you are finished recording, swipe down from the top of the screen again and tap the screen record icon to conclude the video.

How to screencast from an iPhone to a TV

iPhone users wanting to mirror their phone’s display onto a TV will need an Apple TV or a compatible smart TV. Firstly, open the Control Center. You can do this bys swiping down from the upper-right corner for iPhone X or later models, or swiping up from the bottom of the screen for iPhone 8 or earlier models. Next, tap on Screen Mirroring. Choose the TV you want to mirror with from the options available, and you should then see your phone screen displayed on the big screen.

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How to screencast from an Android to a TV

Android users running devices 5.0 or later can cast their phone screen to a compatible smart TV. You must first turn on your Microphone permissions by going to Settings > Apps > Google Play Services > Permissions. From here, tap the Microphone slider to turn it on if it’s not already. To cast your screen, open the Google Home app, tap the device you’d like to screencast to, and then tap Cast Screen. Depending on your TV, you may need a Google Chromecast dongle, which will need to be connected to your TV, WiFi connection and then controlled through the Google Home app.

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How to screencast using Android’s Casting shortcut

Another way to screencast from an Android phone is the casting shortcut. Access the Casting shortcut by swiping down from the top of your Android phone or tablet’s display. Look for an option labeled Screen cast. If you can’t locate it and have a Samsung device, you can use the Smart View shortcut instead.

Once you tap the cast button, select the from the list which device you’d like to cast tot. It may take a few seconds for your phone to connect to the Chromecast-enabled device, but once it does, your screen will appear on your TV. To stop casting, simply follow the same steps outlined above.

Why isn’t my screencasting or AirPlay working?

How to fix screencasting

There are a few reasons why your screencasting isn’t working. If you’re trying to record your own screen, the storage on your device may be full, and the file cannot be saved. To amend this, free up some space by deleting unwanted videos, photos or apps.

If you’re trying to mirror your Android’s screen, there are a few steps you can take including:

1. Making sure your devices are on the same WiFi network. 
2. Restarting your devices and trying mirroring again. 
3. Updating your devices’ software. If you’re using an older version of the software on your phone or TV, there may be a bug that’s causing mirroring to fail. 
4. Try a different mirroring app. There are many mirroring apps available if one isn’t working.
5. Check your TV’s settings. Some TVs have settings that can prevent screen mirroring from working.

If you’ve tried the steps above and are still experiencing issues, you may need to contact your phone’s or TV’s manufacturer for help.

How to fix Airplay casting

If AirPlay isn’t working, follow these steps:

1. Make sure your AirPlay-compatible devices are turned on and near each other.
2. Check that the devices are updated to the latest software and are on the same WiFi network.
3. Restart the devices you want to use with AirPlay or screen mirroring.
4. If you’re attempting to stream content to a device you’ve set up in the Home app, make sure the Home Settings are not restricting AirPlay. Open the Home app, tap or click the More button, select Home Settings, then select Speakers & TV to adjust your Home Settings as needed.
5. If you’re asked to enter a password on your Apple TV, check your Apple TV access restrictions. Alternatively, you may need to adjust your AirPlay password settings.