The fastest way to cast to a Samsung TV

Samsung TVs can receive content from your phone or computer through SmartThings, which is Samsung's built-in casting system. To cast, open an app on your phone or computer that supports casting — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Chrome, and most others do — tap or click the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with a curved line in the corner), select your TV from the list, and the content plays on your screen. The TV and your device must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

If you do not see the cast icon in an app, that app does not support casting to Samsung TVs. You can still mirror your entire screen instead, which works with any app but uses more battery and may have a slight delay.

Key Takeaways

  • SmartThings is built into Samsung TVs and lets you cast from apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Chrome without installing anything extra.
  • Your phone or computer and TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before casting will work.
  • If an app does not have a cast button, you can mirror your entire screen instead, though this drains battery faster.
  • Casting from a computer works the same way as casting from a phone — look for the cast icon in the app you are using.

Setting up your Samsung TV for casting

Your Samsung TV is ready to cast out of the box if it is a recent model (2016 or newer). Turn on the TV, make sure it is connected to Wi-Fi, and you are done. The TV does not need any setup or pairing code.

If your TV is older or you are having trouble, go to Settings on the TV, select General, then SmartThings, and make sure it is turned on. If SmartThings does not appear in Settings, your TV model does not support casting — check your TV's manual or Samsung's support site to confirm.

Casting from an Android phone or tablet

Open the app you want to cast from — YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Maps, or any other app with a cast button. Tap the cast icon (a rectangle with a curved line), and a list of nearby devices appears. Tap your Samsung TV's name. The content starts playing on the TV within a few seconds, and you can control playback from your phone.

If the cast icon does not appear, swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings, tap Cast, and look for your TV there. Some phones call this feature "Smart View" instead of Cast.

Casting from an iPhone or iPad

iPhone and iPad do not have a built-in cast feature like Android phones do. Instead, use AirPlay if your Samsung TV supports it — newer Samsung models (2018 and later) do. Open an app like YouTube or Apple TV, tap the AirPlay icon (a triangle with a circle), select your Samsung TV, and the content plays on your screen.

If your TV does not support AirPlay or the app you want does not have an AirPlay button, you can mirror your entire iPhone or iPad screen instead. Swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, select your TV, and your phone's screen appears on the TV. This works with any app but uses more battery.

Casting from a Windows or Mac computer

Open Chrome or another browser, go to the website or app you want to cast from, and look for the cast icon in the top right corner of the browser. Click it, select your Samsung TV from the list, and the content plays on your screen. You can close the browser window and the content keeps playing.

If you want to cast your entire computer screen instead of just a browser tab, click the cast icon and select "Cast entire screen" before choosing your TV. This works with any website or app but may have a slight delay.

Mirroring your phone or computer screen

Screen mirroring sends everything on your phone or computer to the TV — not just one app. This is useful when an app does not have a cast button, but it drains your phone's battery faster and may lag slightly behind what you are doing.

On Android, swipe down from the top to open Quick Settings, tap Smart View or Cast, and select your TV. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your TV. On Windows, press Windows key + K to open the Quick Settings panel, click Connect, and select your TV. On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top right, click Screen Mirroring, and select your TV.

Troubleshooting casting problems

If your TV does not appear in the cast list, restart both your TV and your phone or computer, then try again. Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network — if your phone is on a guest network or a different band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz), it will not see the TV.

If casting starts but stops after a few seconds, move closer to your Wi-Fi router or restart your router. If the picture is choppy or delayed, move away from other devices using Wi-Fi, or switch to a less crowded Wi-Fi band if your router supports it. If you still cannot cast, check that SmartThings is turned on in your TV's Settings menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install an app to cast to my Samsung TV?

No. SmartThings is built into Samsung TVs, so casting works as soon as your TV is on and connected to Wi-Fi. You do not need to install anything on your TV or your phone.

Can I cast from my computer to a Samsung TV?

Yes. Open Chrome or another browser, find the cast icon, and select your TV. You can cast a single tab or your entire screen. Some apps like Spotify and Plex also have cast buttons on Windows and Mac.

What if my Samsung TV is too old to cast?

If your TV is older than 2016, it may not support SmartThings casting. You can still mirror your entire screen from most phones, though this uses more battery. Check your TV's manual to confirm what it supports.

Does casting use a lot of Wi-Fi bandwidth?

Casting uses less bandwidth than downloading the same video would, but it does use your Wi-Fi. If other people are streaming or downloading on your network, casting may buffer. Restart your router or move closer to it if this happens.

Can I cast to my Samsung TV without Wi-Fi?

No. Both your TV and your device must be on the same Wi-Fi network to cast. If you do not have Wi-Fi, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your phone or computer to the TV instead.