iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
April 21, 2025
Phones
We all know that sometimes, bigger really is better—and even if you have a larger screen phone like an iPhone 16 Pro Max, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, you may still want to view your phone on something larger. If so, screen mirroring is your answer.
With screen mirroring, you can make viewing content like photos and videos on your phone even better by moving them to your television screen. But what exactly is screen mirroring, and how can you screen share from phone to TV?
Here, we'll explain how to use screen mirroring for Apple iPhones and Android phones. All you’ll need is a second compatible device, like a TV or digital media player.
Screen mirroring lets you display the content on your smartphone on your TV in real time. It’s like turning your TV into a bigger version of your phone, making it a great way to watch videos, scroll photos, or even play mobile games from your phone on a big screen.
Not to mention, this can be especially useful when you want to stream music or movies while visiting friends or family but don’t want to use your account’s sign-in credentials on their television.
The best part? iPhone and Android devices make it easy to mirror your screen with just a few simple steps. While wireless screen mirroring is the most popular option, using a cable is also possible (we’ll cover that later).
Now that we’ve answered “What is screen mirroring?” and how it can help in specific situations, we’ll explain how “casting” is another slightly different option you can use to share your phone to a TV. Note that screen mirroring and screen casting are often used interchangeably but they don’t work exactly the same way.
So, what’s the difference between casting vs mirroring? Here's a quick breakdown of each:
Casting is great for streaming videos or music, while mirroring is great if you want to share your whole screen for apps that may not have a native casting option and if you’d like to be able to move between different apps quickly.
However, some movie and video apps may block content from being mirrored for copyright reasons. If this happens, casting is the best option.
Now, let's walk through how to screen share from phone to TV for iPhone and Android.
If you want to screen share from an iPhone to a TV, Apple makes it easy with their AirPlay and screen mirroring features.
AirPlay works with an Apple TV device or any smart TV that's AirPlay 2-compatible. Keep in mind that AirPlay is a version of casting, so it won't mirror everything on your phone screen, only the specific app that activated it.
AirPlay functionality is usually indicated by one of two icons, as seen in the image above. Look for one of these AirPlay icons:
If you want to mirror everything on your iPhone screen, that’s where Screen Mirroring comes in.
Just look for the icon of the two overlapping rectangles (an example of the icon is in the image below). You’ll find it as a default option in the Control Center on recent iPhones.
If you have an Android phone and want to screen share from Android to TV, the process is just as simple (and similar) as it is with iPhone.
Most Android phones have a built-in screen mirroring feature that works with Google Chromecast, smart TVs, and other streaming devices. The Cast icon is visible in the image below, and it’s represented by a square with three wave lines in its bottom left corner.
Screen mirroring on Android can also use wireless tech like Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth to connect your phone to your TV. Wi-Fi Direct is different from regular home Wi-Fi in that it allows two devices to communicate with each other using Wi-Fi technology (not necessarily to connect to the internet).
There are Android devices that also support Miracast, a wireless standard that uses Wi-Fi Direct for a low-latency connection that’s great for streaming videos or gaming.
Some TVs may have their own screen mirroring feature that can work with other Bluetooth devices. To find out, search the settings on your TV for a screen sharing or Bluetooth menu.
The built-in screen mirroring feature for many Android devices can often be found in the Quick Settings menu. However, Samsung phones call this menu "Smart View,” and other Android models may label it differently as well.
How to use Android’s Built-in Casting Option to Cast to TV:
Use Miracast to Cast from an Android Phone to TV:
If your TV and Android phone support Miracast, you can use it for direct screen mirroring using Wi-Fi Direct, which creates a direct connection between your phone and TV.
How to Cast Your Android Phone Screen Using the Google Home App:
You can also use the Google Home app to cast to compatible TVs and devices.
No smart TV? You can also screen mirror from phone to TV using a streaming box or streaming stick like Roku Express, Google Chromecast, or Amazon Fire TV.
While Apple TVs work well with other Apple devices, they do not have a native mirroring or casting feature that works with Android phones.
You can switch between portrait and landscape modes, depending on what you’re doing, and when you're finished, just swipe back to Quick Settings, tap the Cast button, and disconnect.
With Fire TV, you can mirror any Miracast-enabled Android device. Here’s how:
When you’re done, press any button on the Fire TV remote to disconnect. One thing to remember is that Amazon’s Alexa features won’t be available during screen mirroring.
To screen share iPhone to Chromecast and Fire TV, you’ll need to use a third-party app. The performance of these apps may vary for some users.
Even though wireless technology has improved over the years, sometimes, a traditional wired connection between two devices is the best route. If you prefer a wired setup or have an older TV that doesn't support wireless screen mirroring, you can still screen share from phone to TV using cables.
If your phone isn’t compatible with these adapters, it might be time for an upgrade. Check out our running list of the best iPhone 16 deals, Samsung Galaxy S25 deals, and Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro deals across carriers, updated the moment we detect a change.
We also recommend trying our free unbiased Phone Deal Finder to quickly find the iPhone and Android deals you qualify for based on your trade-in device and other preferences.
There are a few ways you can wirelessly connect your phone to a smart TV if you have an Apple iPhone or Android device. If you have an iPhone, you can use Apple’s AirPlay or screen mirroring options. With Android, you can use Google’s Cast, Screen Mirroring, or Smart View features to connect to a smart TV or streaming device.
There are a few things to check if your iPhone isn’t screen mirroring to your TV. First, make sure all your AirPlay-compatible devices are on and within close range of each other. It’s also important to check that your iPhone and TV are updated to the latest versions of their software. Once you check that, ensure they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you’re still having trouble, try restarting the devices.
There are many ways to cast your Android screen to your TV, but one method is to go to your phone’s settings, tap on “Screen Mirroring” or “Smart View,” and pick your TV from the list—just make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi. If your TV doesn’t support casting, you can use something like a Chromecast device or apps that let you cast content directly.
Use AirPlay to Stream Video | Apple
Wireless Stream Video and Photos to Smart TV from iPhone | Apple
How to Mirror Android to TV | TCL
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