How to play iphone screen on tv

Mobile devices have bigger screens than ever before, but sometimes your iPhone or iPad display is still just too small for streaming video or watching the game. Fortunately, most TVs now have their own native apps for content streaming. However, sometimes you just need your phone screen cast to the television.

If you don't have a smart TV or need something specific like a web page, you are not out of luck. Whether by software trick or hardware hookup, it's easy enough to connect your Apple device to any TV for a true big-screen experience.

Connect With Apple AirPlay

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1. Swipe down from the top-right corner on newer iPhone models, or up from the bottom of the display, to access Control Center. 

2. Tap the Screen Mirroring button. 

3. Select your TV.

4. If prompted, enter the passcode shown on your TV. 

5. A checkmark will show up next to your TV's name when a connection is made. 

You can then go about using your phone or tablet as you normally would, but everything you do on your screen will also be shown on the TV. To stop mirroring, open the Screen Mirror section in Control Center again and select Stop Mirroring. 

Mirror your Mac's screen

The steps outlined below assume you're running MacOS Monterey, the latest and greatest version of MacOS. 

1. Click on the Control Center icon in the menu bar. It should be next to the time in the top-right corner, next to the Siri button.  

2. Click Screen Mirroring.

3. You'll see a list of devices that are available on your network to mirror your screen on. Click the device you want to use. Your screen will flash and a few seconds later it will show up on the TV. 

Everything you do on your Mac will show up on your TV as long as AirPlay mirroring is turned on. When you're done, click the Screen Mirroring button in Control Center again then click the name of the device you're connected to stop mirroring. 

No Apple TV or Roku? Go wired

If you use a streaming device like Fire TV or Chromecast with Google TV, you might not want to buy a Roku or an Apple TV just so you can mirror your iPhone. You can definitely broadcast your screen on your TV with the right equipment. 

You can connect your Apple device directly to your TV by using an adapter and HDMI cable. 

For iPhone and iPad owners with a device that has a Lightning port, you'll need to pick up Apple's $49 Lightning Digital AV Adapter. If you have a 2018 iPad Pro or newer, you'll need Apple's $69 USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. For Macs with USB-C ports, you can use the same USB-C adapter as the iPad Pro. Otherwise, you'll need a USB-to-HDMI adapter like this one on Amazon.

To use an adapter with your iPhone or iPad, plug it into the bottom of your phone or tablet, connect your charger to the adapter and then plug in your TV's HDMI cable. Mac users will need to plug in the adapter and connect to the HDMI cable. Your device will automatically recognize it's connected to an external display and will show up on your TV as long as you have the input for your HDMI connection selected. You don't have to adjust any settings -- it just works.