To mirror an iPhone to a TV, connect both to the same Wi-Fi, open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring and choose your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TV. Enter the code shown on the TV if asked. For TVs without AirPlay, use an Apple TV box or a Lightning or USB-C to HDMI adapter.
Putting your iPhone screen on the TV is great for showing holiday photos, presenting from your phone in a meeting room, or watching something on the big screen. Apple's method is AirPlay, built into Apple TV and many smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony and others. There's also a cable option for TVs that don't support it. Here's how each works and how to fix the usual snags.
Mirror or stream: two different things
| Screen Mirroring | AirPlay streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| What shows on the TV | Everything on your iPhone screen | Just the video or photo |
| Use your phone meanwhile? | No, the TV copies it | Yes, the video keeps playing |
| Best for | Presentations, apps, browsing | Films, YouTube, photo slideshows |
For video, streaming is better: the picture is sharper, and you can use your phone for other things or lock it without the TV going dark. Use mirroring when you want the TV to show exactly what's on the phone.
Mirror your iPhone to a TV
- Connect the iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV or smart TV.
- Open Control Centre: swipe down from the top-right corner (on iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom).
- Tap Screen Mirroring (two overlapping rectangles).
- Choose your TV from the list.
- If a passcode appears on the TV, type it on your iPhone.
To stop, open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring, then Stop Mirroring. With an Apple TV, pressing the Menu or Back button on the remote also ends it.
Stream a video instead
In the app you're watching, look for the AirPlay button (a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom) and choose your TV. In Photos, tap Share first, then AirPlay. YouTube and many other apps also have a Cast or TV button that does a similar job. Apple notes that some video apps don't support AirPlay; if yours doesn't, check whether the app exists on your TV's own app store and watch it there instead.
TV not in the list?
- Different Wi-Fi networks: the most common cause. Many routers broadcast two networks with slightly different names; put both devices on the same one.
- AirPlay turned off on the TV: on Samsung, LG and other smart TVs, look for Apple AirPlay settings in the TV menu and switch it on.
- The TV doesn't support AirPlay: older and entry-level TVs often don't. See the options below.
- Guest or hotel Wi-Fi: these networks often block devices from seeing each other.
- Restart both: the TV and the iPhone. It fixes more AirPlay problems than you'd expect.
Mirror to a TV without AirPlay
You have two reliable choices. An Apple TV box plugged into any TV with HDMI adds AirPlay. Or use a cable: a Lightning Digital AV Adapter for iPhones with a Lightning port, or a USB-C to HDMI adapter for newer iPhones with USB-C. Plug in, pick the right HDMI input on the TV and the screen appears with no Wi-Fi needed, which also makes it the most dependable option for presentations. Be wary of free mirroring apps that promise to work with any TV; many are ad-filled or ask for wide permissions.
Stop it connecting by itself
If your iPhone keeps offering to AirPlay to the TV, or connects when you didn't ask, change the setting: Settings, General, AirPlay & Continuity, Automatically AirPlay. Choose Never to pick manually every time, Ask to get a suggestion, or Automatic to connect to devices you use often.
Fix black screens and missing sound
Some streaming apps block mirroring to protect their content, so you'll see a black screen with sound, or nothing at all. Use the app's own AirPlay or Cast button instead of mirroring, or the TV's built-in app. If there's no sound, check the TV's volume and that Silent mode isn't affecting the app. If the picture doesn't fill the screen, that's because the TV copies the phone's shape: turn the iPhone sideways for video, or change the TV's zoom or aspect setting.
Using it for work
Mirroring is handy for showing a client a social post, a website on mobile or a video you've edited. If you're putting together short clips for that, my guides to editing a video on iPhone and trimming a video on iPhone cover the quick edits. Turn on Do Not Disturb first, so a personal message doesn't pop up on the big screen.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Mirror to a Mac or a projector
Apple lists a Mac as an AirPlay target too, so a recent Mac can show your iPhone screen in the same way: choose the Mac from the Screen Mirroring list. That's handy for recording a demo of an app or showing a mobile site on a bigger screen without a TV. For a projector in a meeting room, the HDMI adapter is the safe bet, because office Wi-Fi often blocks AirPlay between devices.
My verdict
Same Wi-Fi, Control Centre, Screen Mirroring, pick the TV: that's the whole job with an Apple TV or AirPlay smart TV. Use the AirPlay button inside apps for films, and keep an HDMI adapter in your bag for TVs without AirPlay and for presentations where you can't risk Wi-Fi.
Frequently asked questions
How do I mirror my iPhone to my TV?
On the same Wi-Fi, open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring and choose the TV.
Can I mirror my iPhone to a Samsung TV?
Yes, on Samsung TVs that support AirPlay. Turn AirPlay on in the TV settings.
How do I mirror my iPhone to a TV without Wi-Fi?
Use a Lightning or USB-C to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable.
Why is my TV not showing in Screen Mirroring?
The devices are usually on different Wi-Fi networks, or AirPlay is off on the TV.
How do I stop screen mirroring?
Open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring, then Stop Mirroring.
