How to Screen Mirror iPhones and iPads to Your TVs
Tags: Screen Mirroring, iPhone, iPad, iOS, iOS App Development

When you’re trying to show off videos, photos, apps, and other visual content from your iPhone or iPad, there are many situations that the small screen isn’t enough. Luckily through screen mirroring technology, you can connect those devices to the big screen of your TV.

To start connecting your phone or tablet to the TV, you don’t need fancy equipment. We listed some of the several methods for this, ranging from using a basic HDMI adapter to uncomplicated wireless streaming.

Using an HDMI cable to connect your iPhone or iPad to TV

Probably this is the most popular way to connect an iOS device to a TV. While this method supports sound and video, you need an adapter for each of your devices.

To connect your iPhone or iPad to your TV using an HDMI cable, you need:

HDMI cable with an HDMI connection on each side

Lightning Digital AV Adapter for iPhone

TV with an unused HDMI port

Some points to consider before getting an HDMI cable:

Your budget

An AV adapter from Apple costs around 40 dollars but there are similar brands in the market. Bear in mind that these cables might not mirror certain applications like Netflix.

Your cable’s size

The HDMI port is located in the back of your TV so it’s recommendable to get a cable at least 15 feet long if you sit a comfortable distance from the TV.

iOS Version

Additionally, when buying any cables make sure that your iPhone/iPad and iOS version are compatible with the brand you choose.

How to cast your iPhone screen to the TV using an HDMI cable and the Lightning Adapter

Connect one end of your cable to a free HDMI port on your TV. Look for it on the sides of the TV and also behind it. It should have the HDMI label on it — make a note of the number. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the Lightning Digital AV Adapter. Connect the Lightning connector to your iPhone. Turn on your TV, and use your remote control or the TV controls to switch to the correct HDMI port you just plugged the cable into. The picture and sound from your iPhone or iPad should appear on the screen.

Ready to say goodbye to cables and adapters? Try MirrorMeister for free and start screen mirroring wirelessly.

Using Apple TV or Airplay to Stream to Your TV

If you have an Apple TV or you have a TV with Airplay built-in, you can use its features to connect your phone or tablet to your TV. You can stream music, presentations, share photos on your TV, and more.

To connect your iPhone or iPad to your TV using an Apple TV or Airplay, you need:

Apple TV or an Airplay compatible TV

A compatible iOS device

How to connect your iPhone with Apple TV

Connect your iOS device and Apple TV to the same Wi-Fi network. Depending on your iOS version, swipe up or down to show and open the Control Center. Tap Screen Mirroring and select your Apple TV or Airplay-compatible TV from the list. If AirPlay is an option and appears on your TV screen, enter the name in your iOS device. The TV display should appear automatically.

These instructions are also the same for an iPad and iPod Touch to your Apple TV.

Screen Mirroring Wirelessly on Your TV

If you aren’t looking into paying a high price for an Apple TV ($149), your TV doesn’t support Airplay, or you just don’t want to hassle with cables and extra hardware, you can count with screen mirroring apps, like MirrorMeister.

Many of the streaming apps cast your iPhone or iPad screen to one single TV or device. MirrorMeister, on the other hand, is compatible with all TVs and streaming devices available in the market.

To connect your iPhone or iPad wirelessly using MirrorMeister, you need:

A smart TV or streaming device such as Roku

Your iPhone or iPad

MirrorMeister mirroring app installed in your phone or tablet

How to connect your iPhone or iPad with MirrorMeister wirelessly