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

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

For instance, you might want to continue watching a video from your phone on the larger screen of a TV, or display holiday photos on the big screen when spending time with family and friends. You can even fire up your favourite TV streaming app to watch something more interesting when you're away from home or turn a TV into a speaker to listen to music.

Here we've got step-by-step instructions to help you pair your devices for casting. Our guidance covers iOS, Android, Windows and Mac.

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Cast from your phone to a smart TV or speaker

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

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

Using an iPhone or iPad:

1. On your iOS device, open the app you want to cast from – Apple Music, for example, or BBC iPlayer.
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 - scroll down). 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.

Using an Android smartphone:

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 aging mobile needs replacing,  see our expert pick of the best mobile phones to buy in 2024.

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, say, 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 (see step 2, in the instructions below). 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.

Using Windows

1. Check if your laptop supports Miracast by pressing Win + P – 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 Win + K to search for compatible displays. If your TV is on the same wi-fi network and supports Miracast, it should appear.

Using 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.

We're regularly testing TVs big and small to see which models offer dazzling picture quality and audio. For more, explore our guide on the best TVs.

Upgrade your home setup with 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'd 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* that we've tested include these - click the links to find out which reputable retailers are the cheapest; Which? members can also read our expert reviews:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Alexa (around £70, but regularly discounted) – 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.
• Roku Express 4K (around £40) – Roku’s cheapest 4K streamer comes bundled with a remote and a HDMI lead. There are dedicated Apple TV, Netflix and Spotify buttons on the remote.
• Nokia 8000 Android TV Box (around £50) – It has a built-in Google Chromecast, so you can cast content from other devices and install apps from the Google Play store.

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* Based on the number of visits to our reviews over the past year, as of February 2024. Note that 'popular' and 'impressive' can be two different things, so consult our expert reviews before you consider buying. Additional reporting by Tom Morgan.