The fastest way: use Samsung's SmartThings app or built-in screen mirroring

Your Samsung TV can display your phone's screen in two main ways. The easiest is screen mirroring, which sends everything on your phone to the TV wirelessly — no app installation needed on most newer phones. The second is the SmartThings app, which gives you more control over what you share and works well if you want to cast specific content like photos or videos rather than mirror your entire screen.

Both methods require your phone and TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your TV is older than 2016, it may not support wireless mirroring at all — in that case, you'll need an HDMI cable or a separate device like a Chromecast or Roku stick.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen mirroring works on most Samsung TVs made after 2016 and requires only that your phone and TV share the same Wi-Fi network.
  • To start mirroring on Android, swipe down twice to open Quick Settings, tap "Screen Share" or "Smart View", select your TV, and confirm on the TV remote.
  • On iPhone, open Control Center, tap "Screen Mirroring", select your Samsung TV, and enter the PIN that appears on your TV screen.
  • The SmartThings app gives you finer control over what content you send and works for casting individual apps, photos, or videos without mirroring your whole phone.
  • If your TV won't appear in the list, restart both devices, check that they're on the same Wi-Fi network, and make sure your TV's wireless feature is turned on in settings.

Screen mirroring on Android phones

Open the Quick Settings panel by swiping down from the top of your screen twice. Look for a button labeled "Screen Share", "Smart View", or "Cast" — the exact name varies by phone brand and Android version. Tap it, and your phone will search for nearby devices.

Your Samsung TV should appear in the list within a few seconds. Tap the TV's name. Your phone will send a request to the TV; on your TV remote, you'll see a prompt asking you to confirm the connection. Press the button to allow it. Your phone's screen will then appear on the TV, and anything you do on your phone will show up there in real time.

To stop mirroring, go back to Quick Settings, tap the screen share button again, and select "Disconnect" or "Stop Casting". You can also turn off mirroring from the TV's remote by pressing the Home button and navigating to the source menu.

Screen mirroring on iPhones

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone to open Control Center. Tap "Screen Mirroring" — it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. A list of nearby devices will appear.

Select your Samsung TV from the list. A four-digit PIN will appear on your TV screen. Enter this PIN on your iPhone's screen. Once you do, your iPhone's display will appear on the TV. Everything you see on your phone — apps, videos, photos, web pages — will show on the TV in real time.

To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap "Screen Mirroring", and select "Stop Mirroring". Your iPhone will disconnect from the TV when ready.

Using the SmartThings app to cast specific content

If you want to send only certain apps or content to your TV rather than mirror your entire phone screen, the SmartThings app gives you that option. read SmartThings from the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iPhone). Open it and sign in with your Samsung account — if you don't have one, you can create it free inside the app.

Once you're logged in, the app will show your Samsung TV in the device list. Tap your TV to connect to it. From there, you can open apps like YouTube, Netflix, or your phone's photo gallery, and look for a cast icon (usually a rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol). Tap it and select your TV. The content will play on the TV while your phone acts as a remote control.

This method is useful if you want to keep your phone private — your lock screen, text messages, and other personal content stay on your phone and don't appear on the TV.

What to do if your TV doesn't appear in the list

First, check that your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings and note which network you're on. Then go to your TV's settings — press the Home button on the remote, navigate to Settings, then Network, and confirm the TV is on the same network. If they're on different networks, connect the TV to your phone's network.

Next, restart both devices. Turn off your TV completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Restart your phone the same way. Then try the screen mirroring process again.

If the TV still doesn't appear, check that wireless mirroring is enabled on your TV. On most Samsung TVs, press Home, go to Settings, then General, then Wireless Device Connection (or "Mirroring"), and make sure it's set to On. Some older TVs call this feature "AllShare Cast" instead of mirroring.

Connecting with an HDMI cable if wireless doesn't work

If your TV is older or wireless mirroring isn't working, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your phone directly. You'll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter (for Android) or a Lightning to HDMI adapter (for iPhone). Plug the adapter into your phone, connect an HDMI cable to the adapter, and plug the other end into an HDMI port on the back of your TV.

Switch your TV's input to the HDMI port you used — use the Input or Source button on the remote. Your phone's screen will appear on the TV. This method works on nearly all TVs and phones, but you'll have a cable running between them, and your phone will charge slowly or not at all while connected.

Troubleshooting common connection problems

If the connection drops frequently, move your phone and TV closer together. Wireless mirroring works best when devices are within 20 feet of each other and there are no thick walls between them. If other devices are using a lot of Wi-Fi bandwidth, the connection may stutter — try turning off other devices temporarily.

If the picture is delayed or choppy, this is normal for wireless mirroring, especially on older TVs. The delay is usually one to two seconds. If it's much longer, restart both devices and try again. Some Samsung TVs have a "Game Mode" or "Low Latency" setting in the picture menu that can reduce delay if you're using the TV for gaming.

If you see a black screen or the TV says "No Signal", make sure mirroring is actually active on your phone — go back to Quick Settings or Control Center and confirm the TV is still listed as connected. If it's not, disconnect and reconnect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my phone as a remote while it's mirrored to the TV?

Yes. When you're mirroring, your phone still works normally — you can open apps, change settings, or use other features. Everything you do will show on the TV. If you want to use your phone privately without the TV seeing it, use the SmartThings app to cast specific apps instead of mirroring your whole screen.

Do I need a Samsung account to connect my phone to my TV?

No. Screen mirroring works without any account — your phone and TV just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. You only need a Samsung account if you want to use the SmartThings app, and creating one is free.

Will mirroring drain my phone's battery?

Yes, wireless mirroring uses more battery than normal because your phone is constantly sending data to the TV. If you're going to mirror for a long time, plug your phone into a charger. Some phones get warm during mirroring, which is normal.

Can I mirror my phone to multiple Samsung TVs at the same time?

No. Screen mirroring connects your phone to one TV at a time. If you want to switch to a different TV, disconnect from the first one and then connect to the second.

What if my phone is an older model that doesn't support screen mirroring?

Very old Android phones (before Android 4.2) and iPhones (before iPhone 5) don't have built-in mirroring. For these, use an HDMI adapter cable, or check if your TV supports Miracast or AllShare Cast, which some older Samsung TVs can use with older phones.