How to cast content from your phone or laptop to a TV – the easy way

Smart TVs are crammed with technology and most can communicate with nearby smartphones, tablets and computers. That means you can cast (share) content from your smaller screen to a much larger display.

You might want to watch a video on your TV's larger screen, rather than your phone, or display holiday photos on the big screen. You can even turn your TV into a speaker to listen to music.

Below, we have step-by-step instructions to help you pair your devices for casting (our guidance covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS), plus advice on how to upgrade an older TV into a smart TV for less.

Jump to: Cast from iPhone or iPad | Cast from Android | Mirror on Windows | Mirror on macOS

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How to cast from your phone to a TV or speaker

Before you can cast content, your phone or tablet needs to be on the same wi-fi network as the device you want to cast to. Check the settings on both to make sure this is the case.

For videos, you might get asked to enter a code on the device you're casting from – the code will appear on your TV.

Cast from iPhone or iPad:

1. On your iOS device, open the app you want to cast from – BBC iPlayer, for example.
2. Go to the album, film or TV programme you want and start playing the file.
3. Look for the AirPlay icon. In BBC iPlayer and most other video apps, it looks like the icon pictured below (1). In some apps, such as Apple Photos, you need to tap the Share icon (a box with an upwards arrow at the top).
4. Tap the AirPlay icon to see a list of compatible devices on your network.
5. Select the smart TV or Bluetooth speaker that you want to use.

Cast from Android:

1. Open the app you want to cast from – Netflix, say, if you want to cast a film to your TV, or Spotify, for casting music to a speaker.
2. Start playing the film or music and then look for a Cast icon. In Spotify, you'll see an icon with a laptop and speaker, shown below (2).
3. Tap the icon to see a list of compatible devices you can cast to.
4. Select the smart TV or Bluetooth speaker that you want to use.

If you think your mobile needs replacing, see our expert pick of the best mobile phones

How to mirror your laptop screen to your TV

Mirroring your laptop display lets you duplicate what's on your screen on the bigger TV screen – handy if you've got some family photos you want to show off or if there's a document or webpage you want to go through together.

You can also treat your TV as a second display. This gives you far more room to work with if you're trying to stay productive, as you can have your word processor open on your laptop and multiple web browser tabs on your TV.

 Screen mirroring on Windows

1. Check if your laptop supports Miracast by pressing the Windows menu + P keys on your keyboard – this brings up the wireless display settings. If your computer isn't compatible, you'll see a message reading: 'Your device doesn't support a wireless display.'
2. Assuming your device is compatible, you'll see screen sharing options, including Duplicate (mirroring) and Extend (which treats your TV as a second display).
3. Select the one you want, then press Windows menu + K to search for compatible displays. If your TV is on the same wi-fi network and supports Miracast, it should appear.

Screen mirroring on macOS

1. Click the Control Centre icon on the right of your Mac's top menu, then Screen Mirroring. Your Mac will search for compatible displays.
2. If your TV is listed under Mirror or extend to, then click it. macOS will mirror your display by default.
3. Select Control Centre > Screen Mirroring > Use As Separate Display if you'd prefer to use your TV as a second screen.

Turn your TV into a smart TV: how to use a TV streamer

Buying a physical streaming device means you can turn an older TV into a smart TV. These devices, also known as TV streamers, come pre-loaded with popular picture and video apps. Some are bundled with their own remote and might be compatible with voice commands.

If you would like to invest in a TV streamer to add new features to your entertainment setup, you'll need to choose which type to go for. Streaming sticks, such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast, plug into your TV's HDMI port.

You can also have a closer look at set-top-box style streamers, such as the Apple TV. These are larger than streaming sticks and so sit on your media unit.

Popular TV streamers include the following models:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus – it plugs into one of your TV’s HDMI inputs and lets you watch streams up to 4K quality. There’s 8GB of internal storage, which is enough space for plenty of apps.
• Google TV Streamer – supports streaming in up to 4K HDR resolution and includes 32GB of storage for apps and content. It also offers voice control.
• Roku Streaming Stick – an affordable option with support for 4K streaming. It uses Roku’s voice remote for searching and controlling playback.

To see which TVs our experts recommend (including cheaper models), see our pick of the best TVs

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