How to duplicate your smartphone screen on your TV
How to duplicate your smartphone
Projecting your smartphone on TV to view photos, play games, watch videos or surf the web is the easiest thing in the world.
Yes, and it's thanks to Miracast being on every device since Android.
The most curious thing is that the vast majority of users do not even know that they have it. We show you what Miracast is and how you can duplicate your mobile screen on TV.
What is Miracast
Miracast is a Wi-Fi Alliance certified technology for wireless display transmission between different devices. It's a standard system that, through a peer-to-peer network, sends what you see on your smartphone's screen to a larger compatible screen, such as a TV. It's the number one enemy of the HDMI cable.
It provides a wireless connection to watch your smartphone/tablet/computer on TV in a very simple way. With Miracast you can share both audio and video content
Miracast functions as a "screen mirroring" over the Wi-Fi network. Something like sending a photo via Bluetooth.
It is better to think of it as an HDMI cable but without such a cable. Miracast appears natively on smartphones since Android Jilly Bean 4.2. Come on, you've had it for a long time. Its main advantage is that it is a common feature with any Android manufacturer
Miracast was released in 2012, and from July 2017 is compatible with 4K content.
Differences between Miracast, Chromecast and AirPlay
Simply put, Miracast is the technology standard certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Chromecast and AirPlay are similar technologies but are owned by Google and Apple respectively. All three look alike but Miracast's options may be a little more basic.
How to activate and duplicate your screen with Miracast
The first thing is to be connected with the smartphone or tablet to the same Wi-Fi network as the screen to which we want to transmit.
The Miracast function can be found under Settings > Display > Send screen. Its name varies depending on the model and manufacturer of the smartphone. It may appear as "Send screen", "Cast screen", "Wireless screen", "Multi screen", "Share screen", "Wireless display", etc.
In Xiaomi, for example, you'll need to go to Settings > Wi-FI & Networking > More > Wireless Display
Regardless of its name, it usually has a shortcut in the quick settings. You'll see the symbol of a screen with a wireless network, a screen with an arrow, or two screens of different sizes.
Now all you have to do is tap the icon or enter the settings to connect to the screens at your fingertips and start using it. Obviously, you have to be on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV screen and the TV needs to be also compatible with Miracast TV.
LG, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and all major television brands include this certificate on their Smart TVs from 2013. You can also buy a Miracast dongle adapter such as Chromecast if your TV is not compatible.
Select the smartphone you want to connect to and you'll start transmitting your screen to the TV. In some smartphones, in the gallery application itself we have the option of taking it out on television, but in most we have to resort to direct access by pulling the notification bar.
Normally you have to have your smartphone's screen turned on all the time, what you see on your phone you see on TV.
If you want to turn off the screen and your smartphone does not support this option I recommend the AllCast application ClockworkMod, which costs less than 4 euros. In addition, the free version can only double the screen from your mobile to the TV for 5 minutes.
How to connect your smartphone or tablet to the TV
There are several reasons why you can connect your Android smartphone to your TV: watch movies downloaded from the Google Play Store, view photos, play on a larger screen... Synchronizing the two devices is easy and there are several ways to do it. Here's how.
There are several ways to connect your smartphone to your TV, some easier than others, depending on the type of device you have. We explain to you all the possibilities
- With HDMI cable
- Through Wi-Fi
- Using Google Chromecast
- Connection through applications
Connect your smartphone to TV with an HDMI cable
To connect your phone to the TV through the HDMI port you will need an adapter cable that connects the microUSB port of your smartphone to the HDMI port of the TV. They usually also have another USB output or a micro USB input so you can charge your smartphone while it's connected to the display.
Virtually all smartphone manufacturers support MHL, like Samsung, but before buying the cable check that your device does not need Slimport.
Once the two devices are connected with the cable, simply select the source on the TV screen.
To do this, press the button on your controller called "Source" (sometimes it is a symbol with an arrow pointing to a rectangle). Select "HDMI" and you'll see your smartphone screen on your TV.
How to connect your smartphone to WiFi TV
To be able to do this via wireless signal, it is necessary that your TV has WiFi access (generally Smart TVs usually have this integrated system), and that your smartphone allows this option through Miracast or similar technology.
To find out if your phone has this feature, scroll down the top notification bar and access the shortcuts menu. Here look for an option that says 'Multiple Screen', 'Wireless Screen' or a similar name. Now follow the steps below:
- Using your TV's source (Source button or arrow and square symbol), also select the wireless display option.
2. Start the multi-screen option on your smartphone. Once inside, your terminal will start looking for other devices that are connected to the WiFi network through this feature. Select the TV you have connected to the network.
3. Once the two devices recognize each other, you'll be able to see on your TV screen what appears on your smartphone's screen.
How to connect your smartphone to the TV with Chromecast
This technology cannot be simpler but effective. You need a Chromecast receiver to connect to your TV's HDMI port, connect it to the same WiFi network as your Smartphone, and compatible applications can stream directly to the TV. You will find the list of compatible applications on the Google website: Netflix, Spotify, Souncloud, Youtube.
How to connect your smartphone to the TV using applications
Some applications allow you to connect your phone to the TV screen automatically. Generally this type of apps are those related to video and image, such as Youtube or the image gallery.
One application we recommend is iMedia Share, which allows us to play photos and videos instantly on the TV screen.
Within this type of applications we find a button on the top right where two screens appear connecting or a screen and a WiFi signal.
When you click on it, it will automatically recognize the Smart TV that is nearby, or the Chromecast that you have connected to it, or the Nexus Player and will connect to the one you choose.
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