Screen mirroring sends your phone or computer display to your Samsung TV wirelessly

Screen mirroring lets you show what's on your phone, tablet, or computer on your Samsung TV without plugging in a cable. Samsung TVs use a feature called SmartThings or Samsung SmartView to receive the wireless signal from your device. The exact steps depend on whether you're mirroring from an Android phone, iPhone, Windows computer, or Mac — but the TV setup is the same for all of them.

Your Samsung TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network as the device you're mirroring from. Both devices need to be powered on and within reasonable range of your router. Most Samsung TVs made in the last five years support screen mirroring, though older models may not.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on your Samsung TV and make sure it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone or computer.
  • On Android phones, open Settings, find Display or Connected Devices, and look for "Cast" or "Screen Mirroring" to find your TV by name.
  • On iPhones, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Samsung TV from the list.
  • On Windows computers, press Windows key + K to open the Quick Settings panel, then select your TV from the available devices.
  • If your TV doesn't appear in the list, restart both devices and check that they're on the same Wi-Fi network.

Screen mirroring from an Android phone

Open Settings on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Display or Connected Devices — the exact name varies by phone maker. Look for an option called Cast, Screen Mirroring, or Wireless Display.

Tap that option and wait a few seconds for your phone to scan for nearby devices. Your Samsung TV should appear in the list with its model name or the name you gave it in SmartThings. Tap your TV's name to start mirroring. Your phone screen will appear on the TV within a few seconds, and you'll see a notification on your phone confirming the connection.

If your TV doesn't show up, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart your phone's Wi-Fi by turning it off and back on in Settings. If the TV still doesn't appear, restart the TV itself by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in.

Screen mirroring from an iPhone or iPad

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone or iPad to open Control Center. Look for the Screen Mirroring button — it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Tap it to see a list of available devices.

Your Samsung TV should appear in the list. Tap your TV's name to connect. The TV will ask for a PIN code that appears on your screen — read the four-digit code and enter it on your iPhone using the on-screen keyboard. Once you enter the code, your iPhone screen will mirror to the TV.

If Screen Mirroring doesn't appear in Control Center, your iPhone may not support AirPlay to Samsung TVs. In that case, you can use the SmartThings app instead: read it from the App Store, sign in with your Samsung account, and look for a Cast or Mirror option within the app. The process is similar, but you control it from within the app rather than from Control Center.

Screen mirroring from a Windows computer

Press the Windows key + K on your keyboard to open the Quick Settings panel for wireless displays. Wait a few seconds for your computer to scan for nearby devices. Your Samsung TV should appear in the list.

Click your TV's name to connect. Some TVs will ask you to confirm the connection on the TV remote — if you see a prompt on your TV screen, press the button to allow the connection. Your computer screen will then appear on the TV. You can continue using your computer normally, and everything you do will show on the TV in real time.

If your TV doesn't appear, check that your Windows computer and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Some older Windows computers may not support this feature — if the Quick Settings panel doesn't open, your computer may not have wireless display capability. In that case, you can use a wired HDMI cable instead.

Screen mirroring from a Mac computer

Click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your Mac menu bar — it looks like three horizontal lines. Scroll down and click Screen Mirroring. A list of available devices will appear below it.

Click your Samsung TV's name to start mirroring. Your Mac will connect to the TV, and your screen will appear on the television. You can adjust the resolution or choose to use the TV as an extended display instead of mirroring by holding down the Option key while clicking Screen Mirroring, then selecting Use as Separate Display.

If your TV doesn't show up, make sure your Mac is on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV. Restart your Mac's Wi-Fi by clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and turning it off, then back on. If the TV still doesn't appear after 30 seconds, restart the TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds.

Troubleshooting when your TV doesn't appear

The most common reason a TV doesn't show up is that it's on a different Wi-Fi network than your phone or computer. Check your TV's network settings by pressing the Menu button on your remote, going to Network or Wi-Fi, and confirming the network name. Then check your phone or computer's Wi-Fi settings and make sure they're connected to the exact same network.

If both devices are on the same network and the TV still doesn't appear, restart both devices. Turn off your phone or computer completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Unplug your TV for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Once both devices have restarted, try scanning for the TV again.

If you're still having trouble, check that screen mirroring is turned on in your TV's settings. Press Menu on your remote, go to General or System, then look for SmartThings, Wireless Display, or Screen Mirroring and make sure it's set to On. Some Samsung TVs have this feature turned off by default.

Stopping screen mirroring

To stop mirroring, use the method that matches your device. On Android, open the Cast menu again and tap Stop Casting or Disconnect. On iPhone, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring. On Windows, press Windows key + K again and click Disconnect. On Mac, click Control Center, then Screen Mirroring, then Stop Mirroring.

You can also disconnect from the TV itself by pressing the Menu button on your remote and looking for a Disconnect or Stop Mirroring option. The TV will return to its normal display, and your phone or computer will no longer be connected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does screen mirroring work if my TV and phone are on different Wi-Fi networks?

No. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network to communicate wirelessly. If you're at a location with multiple networks, make sure your phone and TV are both connected to the same one. Some public Wi-Fi networks block screen mirroring — if you're at a hotel or office, you may need to use a wired connection instead.

Can I use screen mirroring if my Samsung TV is older than five years?

Older Samsung TVs may not support wireless screen mirroring. Check your TV's manual or the Samsung website with your TV's model number to confirm. If your TV doesn't support it, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your phone or computer directly, or purchase a separate casting device like a Chromecast or Roku.

Why does my screen mirroring keep disconnecting?

Disconnections usually happen when your Wi-Fi signal is weak or when your phone or computer goes to sleep. Move closer to your router, or restart both devices and try again. If disconnections keep happening, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in.

Can I mirror audio and video at the same time?

Yes. Screen mirroring sends both audio and video to your TV. The sound will play through your TV's speakers, not your phone or computer's speakers. If you want to hear audio from your phone or computer instead, you can usually change this in your device's audio settings during the mirroring session.

Is screen mirroring find?

Screen mirroring is reasonably find because it only works on the same Wi-Fi network. However, anything displayed on your TV will be visible to anyone in the room. Avoid mirroring sensitive information like passwords or bank details if others are nearby.