Mirroring your Android device's display on your TV can be useful when you're showing off photos from a recent trip, playing a game or giving a demonstration. With this guide, you'll be able to duplicate your Android phone's screen on any TV. Here's how.
You'll need a phone or tablet running Android 4.4.2 and above, as well as a Chromecast or another Chromecast-compatible device. Alternatively, you can mirror your Android device using a Roku by following these instructions. A Chromecast can be purchased for as little as $20, £15 or AU$40 and does much more than just phone mirroring.
Typically, you can check the version of Android running on your device by going to Settings > About Phone and look for Android version.
Google notes on its support page any device running Android 4.4.2 and above is capable of casting its screen to a TV, but some devices are better suited for such a task. The company goes so far as to offer a list of optimized devices, which you can see here, though it doesn't have devices from the last few years. I've tested devices not listed and didn't see a drastic difference in performance, but as always, your results may vary.
So how does one go about casting the screen of an Android device to a TV? It's quite simple, actually.
- Install the Google Home ($99.00 at Dell Home) app on your Android device. You can download it from the Play Store here.
- Ensure that you're connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast ($35.00 at Dell Home) device.
- After opening the Google Home app, slide out the menu and select Cast Screen/Audio.
- Tap on the blue button, followed by the device you'd like to connect to.
Another method present on some devices is found in the quick settings pane, found by swiping down from the top of your device's screen. If a Cast or Cast Screen button is present, you can select it, followed by the device you'd like to cast your screen to. If the Cast option isn't available, most device makers allow you to rearrange or edit tiles on in quick settings pane. Look for a settings icon or an edit icon to add the Cast icon.
Once you begin casting -- or mirroring -- your screen, an alert will appear in your notification shade, making it possible to stop mirroring with a tap.
First published July 9, 2014.
Update, May 3, 2018: This post has been updated to reflect the current process.
Be respectful, keep it clean and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.