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How to mirror iPhone to TV or computer

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6 min read

Mirroring your iPhone on a TV or computer is a great way to share your photos, videos, and updates with other people during a presentation or family gathering. You may also want to enjoy media from your device on a larger screen one nice Saturday night. Whatever the reason, let us show you how to mirror iPhone to TV or computer.

How to mirror iPhone or iPad to TV or computer

No longer do you need a bunch of knotted cables to connect your phone to a bigger screen. Now, iPhones can share their screens with TVs and other displays with just a few taps.

First, swipe down from the top of the screen on your iPhone and tap the Screen Mirroring icon (two boxes next to each other). Your iPhone can now find other devices on the same Wi-Fi network that are compatible with AirPlay. Keep in mind that the device must be turned on for it to show up on this list. So, if the TV isn’t there and you’re sure it works with AirPlay, turn it on.

Screen Mirroring

Once you choose your TV, your iPhone will ask you for the AirPlay code from your TV. Your TV screen should now be blank, with only a four-digit code showing. Put that code into the box on your iPhone to finish connecting to AirPlay. You have to move quickly, because after about 10 seconds, the code will no longer work, and you’ll have to start the process all over again. Your iPhone screen will now appear on your TV.

To stop sharing your screen, go back to the Control Center and click on the Screen Sharing icon. 

If your iPhone’s screen mirroring isn’t working, read this to fix it.

Maximize iPhone display with any TV

As you can see, mirroring from iPhone to TV is easy if your devices are AirPlay-compatible. However, what should you do if you want to mirror your iPhone to other devices? 

Don’t worry! You can use devices that don’t support AirPlay. Try Replica, a simple app that takes content from your iPad or iPhone and puts it onto your TV using screen mirroring. The app is compatible with streaming devices such as Chromecast, Fire TV, etc.; TVs such as Sony, Samsung, LG, Toshiba, etc.; computers such as Mac, Windows, Linux, etc.; gaming consoles such as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, etc.; and even Tesla cars!

The best thing is that there are only two steps: connect and start mirroring.

Screen mirroring in two clicks

Screen mirroring iPhone and iPad basics tips

Once you’ve followed the steps above, you should be able to view the contents of your screen on the other device. Here are some other tips to make sure your screen mirroring iPhone experience goes smoothly.

How to enable screen mirroring iPhone via AirPlay

We already explained how to AirPlay to TV (see How to mirror iPhone or iPad to TV and computer above); however, keep in mind that you may need to enable AirPlay on your TV before you can start streaming content. Try to turn on the AirPlay feature in the TV’s settings. 

Tip: A bad internet connection is one of the most common reasons why Apple TV or screen mirroring don’t work. This is something that is often hard to figure out on your own. That’s why we recommend you arm yourself with NetSpot.

check wifi connection

This is a great tool for troubleshooting and fixing Wi-Fi issues. It provides a comprehensive overview of all the networks in the vicinity, allowing users to quickly detect and analyze interference, coverage, signal strength, and other issues that can lead to poor network performance. Additionally, NetSpot features powerful Wi-Fi heatmaps, which make it easy to locate dead spots in coverage and signal dropouts.

How to Chromecast iPhone to TV

With a Chromecast (a small media adapter that you can plug into your TV’s HDMI port), you can cast photos, videos, music, and other content from your iPhone to the TV. Here’s a simple guide for how to do it.

Welcome to Chromecast. Stream on.

First of all, download and install the Chromecaster app from the Apple Store and start your free trial. Then follow the on-screen instructions, which only involve selecting the device you want to duplicate your screen on. Keep in mind that the app will only run on iOS 12 or newer. Also, the functionality may be clunky at times.

Alternatively, you can use Replica, which should work more smoothly.

Follow these steps to Chromecast iPhone to TV with Replica:

  1. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network
  2. Launch Replica from your iPhone
  3. Find your Chromecast device in the list of devices displayed, then tap the device you want to connect to Chromecast
  4. Then Tap the Start Broadcast button.

How to mirror iPhone to Roku

Open the Control Center on your iPhone to mirror your iPhone to a Roku device. Then tap the Screen Mirroring button and select your Roku device from the list that pops up. Finally, enter the code that appears on your TV into your iPhone and tap OK.

Roku Express

How to connect iPhone to HDMI-enabled TV

Now, it’d be beneficial to remind ourselves of the most straightforward way of iPhone to TV connection – a good old HDMI cable. While AirPlay could potentially not work for a variety of reasons, including a faulty network connection, iPhone to HDMI is a reliable plan B to always keep in mind. 

To connect iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone to HDMI TV, you need to use Apple’s Lightning Digital AV Adapter and a regular HDMI cable. Simply plug everything in and turn on your TV. 

Lightning Digital AV Adapter by Apple

Mirroring from iPhone to TV: final thoughts 

Now you know how to connect iPhone to TV as well as how to mirror iPhone to Roku and how to enable Chromecast iPhone functionality. If you experience any problems, simply connect the iPhone to an HDMI-enabled TV. And don’t forget to improve your experience with the Replica mirroring app and stream better video over speedy Wi-Fi with NetSpot. 

Best of all, Replica and NetSpot are available to you absolutely free for seven days through a trial of Setapp, a platform with nearly 240 outstanding Mac, iPhone, iPad, and web apps that could find an optimal solution to any of your day-to-day problems. Check all of them out today at no cost and see for yourself!

Get 240+ Mac apps for any job

Sign up to Setapp and try them for free.