If you’ve never connected your iPhone to your Samsung TV before, you can do so using AirPlay. Most Samsung smart TVs are AirPlay compatible, so most iPhones on the latest iOS can connect with ease.
Do you want to view content from your phone on your Samsung TV? Connecting your phone to your Samsung TV is easy and opens up a whole new world of entertainment options.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn multiple methods to connect your phone to a Samsung TV, whether you have an iPhone, Android, or other device. We’ll cover:
- Requirements for connecting your phone to a Samsung TV
- Connecting using Smart View/Screen Mirroring
- Using SmartThings to connect your phone
- Connecting with Apple AirPlay
- Troubleshooting connection issues
Plus plenty of tips to get the most out of streaming content from your phone to your TV!
Overview of Connecting Your Phone to a Samsung TV
There are a few different ways you can connect your phone to a Samsung TV:
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Smart View (also called Screen Mirroring): This feature lets you wirelessly mirror your phone’s display onto your TV screen. Smart View is available on most newer Samsung TVs and phones.
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SmartThings: Samsung’s SmartThings app allows you to control your TV and sync devices. You can use it to browse your phone’s media library and play content on your TV.
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Apple AirPlay: If you have an iPhone, you can use AirPlay to stream media and mirror your screen. Most recent Samsung TV models support AirPlay.
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Cables: You can use an HDMI or MHL cable to physically connect your phone and mirror the display. This isn’t wireless but guarantees full functionality.
The easiest and most versatile connection method is Smart View. As long as both your Samsung TV and phone support it, you can mirror your display and audio wirelessly.
The benefit of SmartThings is it doesn’t require mirroring – you can simply browse content on your TV while keeping your phone’s display free. AirPlay works great if you have an iPhone.
Requirements for Connecting Your Phone to a Samsung TV
To connect your phone to your Samsung TV, you’ll need:
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A compatible Samsung TV: Most 2013 models and newer support screen mirroring. You can check your TV’s specs to confirm.
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A compatible smartphone: Most newer Samsung Galaxy phones support Smart View. Many other Android phones and iPhones work too.
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Both devices must be on the same WiFi network.
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Up-to-date software on both devices.
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HDMI or MHL cable if connecting directly with a wire.
For the best experience, your Samsung TV should be a 2013 model or newer. However, some 2010-2012 TVs may also work if they’ve had firmware updates.
It’s also ideal if your phone is a newer Samsung Galaxy model, Galaxy S7 or later. However, many other Android phones and iPhones support the necessary wireless mirroring protocols too.
Finally, both devices need to be on the same WiFi network, with up-to-date software installed. An HDMI or MHL cable is only needed for a wired, non-wireless connection.
Connecting Your Phone to a Samsung TV Using Smart View
The easiest way to connect your phone to a compatible Samsung TV is using Smart View, also known by Samsung as Screen Mirroring.
Here’s how to use Smart View:
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Make sure your Samsung TV and phone are on the same WiFi network.
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On your phone, open your notifications shade and tap the Smart View icon.
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On a Samsung phone, Smart View is in the Quick Settings area.
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On other Android phones, look for the Screen Mirroring or Cast icon.
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On an iPhone, open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring.
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Select your Samsung TV from the list.
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Allow your TV to access your phone if prompted.
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Your phone’s display should now be mirrored on your TV.
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To stop casting, open the notifications shade and tap the Smart View icon again.
That’s all there is to it! As long as your TV is Smart View compatible, it will show up when you open the Smart View/Screen Mirroring menu on your phone.
With Smart View, you can mirror your entire display and audio. This lets you do things like:
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Stream videos, movies, shows, and music from apps on your phone to your TV
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Play mobile games on the big screen
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Display photos or presentations
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Watch streaming content from subscription services
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And more! Anything you can do on your phone can be displayed on your TV.
The possibilities are endless. Smart View taps into your phone’s display output and sound, so you can mirror virtually anything on your Samsung TV.
Using SmartThings to Connect and Control Your Samsung TV
Samsung’s SmartThings app is another great option for connecting your phone to your Samsung TV.
With SmartThings, you can:
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Browse media from your phone and play it directly on your TV
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Use your phone as a remote control for your TV
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Adjust TV settings like volume and inputs
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Sync other smart devices like lights and speakers
Here’s how to use SmartThings to connect and control your Samsung TV from your phone:
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Download and install the SmartThings app if you don’t have it already.
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Open the app and sign in or create a new Samsung account.
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Tap the + button to add a device and select your TV from the list if it’s not already added.
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Enter your TV’s model number and follow the prompts to set it up.
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Your TV should now be connected to SmartThings. You can tap it to view media or use the remote control.
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Open a music/video app on your phone, browse to content, and tap the Cast button.
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Select your TV to begin playing the content directly.
With SmartThings, streaming content is quick since it plays directly on your TV – no mirroring required. You can also continue using your phone normally while content plays on your TV.
SmartThings makes an excellent companion to Smart View. Use SmartThings for quick streaming and Smart View for full display mirroring.
Connecting an iPhone to a Samsung TV with Apple AirPlay
If you have an iPhone, you can use Apple AirPlay to connect it to compatible Samsung TV models.
Here’s how to use AirPlay to connect your iPhone to a Samsung TV:
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Check that your Samsung TV supports AirPlay. Most models from 2016-2017 onward are compatible.
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Make sure both devices are connected to the same wireless network.
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On your iPhone, open the Control Center and tap the Screen Mirroring icon.
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Select your Samsung TV from the list.
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If prompted, enter the AirPlay passcode displayed on your TV.
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Your iPhone screen should now be mirrored to your TV.
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To stop casting, open Control Center and tap the Screen Mirroring icon again.
Recent Samsung TVs have integrated AirPlay technology, allowing you to mirror iPhone screens wirelessly. Models from 2016 onward should have AirPlay available.
If your TV doesn’t appear in the AirPlay device list, you may need to enable screen mirroring on your TV:
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From your Samsung TV’s home screen, go to Settings.
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Navigate to General > External Device Manager > Apple AirPlay Settings.
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Enable AirPlay, then try connecting again from your iPhone.
With AirPlay enabled, you can display your iPhone’s screen on your Samsung TV, as well as stream media like videos, music, and photos.
Using a Cable to Connect Your Phone to Your Samsung TV
If wireless mirroring isn’t working, you can use a wired connection between your phone and TV. You’ll need:
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HDMI cable: Connects from your phone’s HDMI port to the TV.
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MHL cable: Connects from your phone’s USB-C or micro USB port to the TV’s HDMI.
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Adapter: May be needed to convert your phone’s USB-C port to HDMI or micro USB.
To connect with a cable:
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Use the appropriate cable or adapter to connect your phone and TV.
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Set your TV’s input to match the port you connected your phone to.
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Enable screen mirroring on your phone if necessary. This may be called Smart View, Screen Mirroring, or Wireless Display.
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Your phone’s display should now appear on your TV.
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When finished, disconnect the cable and switch your TV’s input back.
A wired connection should work with any newer phone and Samsung TV combination. However, it may limit you to just mirroring and won’t provide other features like the SmartThings app.
If wireless options aren’t working though, a cable will ensure you can still display your phone on the big screen.
Troubleshooting Phone-to-TV Connection Issues
If you’re having trouble getting your phone to connect to your Samsung TV, here are some troubleshooting steps:
- Update software – On both devices, check for system and app updates. Being up-to