Mobile devices are bigger screens than they have ever had, however often you may find that your iPhone or iPad display is too small to be suitable for streamed video and watching a sporting event. It’s good to know that most televisions are now equipped with native apps to stream content. Sometimes, you’ll require your iPhone to screen cast to the TV.
If you don’t own an intelligent TV or something more specific, like a website page, you’re not in a bind. Through software tricks or hardware connection It’s easy to hook up to connect your Apple devices to all TVs to experience a large-screen experience.
Connect With Apple AirPlay
The easiest way to connect wirelessly is with Apple’s AirPlay feature, which comes built into your mobile device’s operating system. It allows you to mirror or cast content from your iPhone or iPad to your AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV, Apple TV, or certain Roku devices . Chromecast, which uses Google’s Cast protocol, supports casting but not mirroring for Apple devices.
To utilize AirPlay ensure that you are connected with the exact WiFi network that you have on the iPhone or iPad. Launch the Control Center on your device and then tap the AirPlay mirroring after which you can select the right destination. What’s visible on the screen of your mobile device will be projected onto the screen of your TV.
You can also send individual photos or videos to your TV by clicking the Shareicon within the Photos app. Select AirPlayfrom the menu that pops up and select the destination. AirPlay is compatible with third-party applications to stream media, including audio, podcasts, television shows, films and more from your preferred streaming service to your TV.
If you’re frequently sending media from your phone to your TV, simplify the process by going to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff on your mobile device. Tap Automatically AirPlay to TVs and set to Automatic . If you pick Ask , you’ll see a prompt before media is sent to the TV. Security-conscious people can require an AirPlay code before your device connects with an Apple TV.
One caution to this technique is that in crowded Wi-Fi settings, AirPlay video might break up or slow down. It will work in the majority of homes, however should you encounter issues then a cable could be the best choice.
Connect With a Cable
It is possible to join to connect your iPhone as well as iPad to your television using cables if you own the correct adapter. Apple creates an lightning digital AV Adapter that connects to the TV’s HDMI port, as well as an Apple Lightning VGA Adapter that plugs in VGA-compatible devices.
Amazon also sells numerous third-party cables that connect to HDMI, and are more affordable than the ones from Apple However, beware that they won’t function without high-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) which blocks pirates from taking high-definition digital content.
If you don’t have one, then you’ll require an HDMI or VGA cable to connect from the adapter to a connector that’s compatible at the back of your television. It doesn’t matter which one you choose however, so you must choose the one that is the least expensive. If you’re not sure the right cable to connect your television, our cable guide can guide you.
Connect your iPhone or iPad to the adapter via the Lightning port, then connect the adapter to the cable. Hook the cable into the back of the television. You should then be able to switch the TV’s input to the corresponding port with the cable to view your device’s screen.
If you are watching TV or movies using iTunes or streaming services such as Netflix the adapter will be able to play at 1080p regardless of whether you’re trying to stream something in 4K or greater. Be aware that certain services and games don’t use dongles, and any content that is transferred from your device to the television is delayed for just a few seconds, which makes it unsuitable for gaming.
The adapter doesn’t require electricity to function, however you might want to charge your device when you intend to utilize it for a longer duration of time. Apple’s official adapters come with an additional Lightning port that allows you for connecting the iPhone as well as iPad to an charging cable while you stream videos. However, adapters from third parties may not include this feature.
Connect With a DLNA App
If you have an internet-enabled TV, it probably supports DLNA, a generic form of media streaming available on many different manufacturers’ products. Check the DLNA database to make sure your television is compatible. Apps like MCPlayer HD allow you to share media files and stream them to a smart TV.
Through these apps, it is possible to stream non-protected music and video files, which is to say personal videos, home movies and any other content that is that isn’t covered through Digital Rights Management (DRM) on your iPhone or iPad. Music purchased from the iTunes Store will not work using these apps.
But when it concerns DLNA it’s not restricted to only your iOS device. Some applications will analyze the media that is stored from other gadgets, such as your PC, and work as a middleman to allow streaming from your PC to TV, for instance. The devices you are able to stream content onto include televisions and game consoles, and computers. There is no need to convert videos or install any codecs special to enable it.
If your TV does not show up when you attempt to use apps, you may have to enable the DLNA function. Open the TV’s Internet connection menu and search for a stream option via a computer or home server. That’s DLNA.
DIY Media Streaming
There are more DIY ways to connect your iPhone or iPad to your TV. For instance, you can get an Android-powered TV stick, plug it into the back of your TV, and install the Kodi media server app . The stick will play unprotected music and video from the built-in apps on your device by using the AirPlay button, but it won’t support screen mirroring or protected video streaming (so no Netflix).
If you’re not experienced of Kodi and aren’t keen on learning how to make use of it correctly, this strategy is more hassle that it’s value. The sticks are inefficient, slow and insecure and Kodi support is often broken. While it’s certainly an option to reduce costs over the cost of an Apple TV (and the stick is able to run any Android apps for your television, which can be great) how much time is it worth? Most likely more than the $50 cost difference.