Apple lets iPhone users mirror their phone screen to a TV either by using Apple TV or an AirPlay-enabled smart TV. Here's how to set it up.

iPhone users who want to mirror their screen to a TV can use the built-in AirPlay feature, provided they have a compatible television or streaming device. AirPlay is Apple's proprietary technology that lets users stream photos, audio, and video, as well as mirror their iPhone's display to other devices. AirPlay streams content over Wi-Fi and is similar to Google's Chromecast. However, while AirPlay is very limited in terms of supported devices, Chromecast works across platforms and even supports apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu.

AirPlay works on Apple TV devices and allows iPhone users to stream 4K HDR video at 60 frames per second on an Apple TV 4K. AirPlay is also available on select TVs from brands like LG, Philips, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio, to name a few. It is also supported on Roku streaming devices and Roku TVs. These AirPlay-compatible TVs support most features including screen mirroring, streaming media, and even syncing music with other AirPlay-compatible speakers in the vicinity.

To screen mirror an iPhone (or iPad) to a TV, users will first need to make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. They will also need to ensure that they have either an Apple TV or a compatible smart TV for the mirroring to work. After this, open Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner of the screen. Tap on the Screen Mirroring button (two overlapping rectangles). From the list that appears, select the Apple TV or compatible smart TV. A passcode may appear on the TV screen. Enter it on the iPhone and tap Ok. The screen will now be mirrored on the TV. To stop mirroring the iPhone screen, open Control Center and click on the Screen Mirroring button again. Tap on Stop Mirroring to end the session.

Stream Video From iPhone To TV

While mirroring an iPhone's screen does have its advantages, it's also broadcasting everything on the phone to everyone else in the room. This means text messages or private photos may also be accidentally displayed while the mirroring is in progress. If a user wants to share a particular photo or video from their iPhone to a TV, there's an option to use AirPlay just for that as well. In the Photos app on an iPhone, tap on a photo or video and then on the share button to view the sharing options. Scroll up and click on AirPlay. Select the compatible TV from the list. Enter the passcode shown on the TV to begin streaming. To stop streaming, click on the AirPlay icon at the top of the iPhone screen and tap Turn off AirPlay. Apart from Photos, there are also some third-party apps that support AirPlay streaming, including TED, Vevo HD, Discovery Channel HD, and PBS, to name a few.

For iPhone users who want to mirror their display but don't have Apple TV or an AirPlay-enabled smart TV, the next-best option is to use an AV adapter and HDMI cable. Apple sells the Lightning Digital AV Adapter that's priced at $49 on its website. Users will need to connect the Lightning connector to the end of their iPhone and plug in an HDMI cable to the adapter. The other end of the HDMI cable will need to be connected to the TV. If the TV is turned on, the iPhone screen should be mirrored. The Digital AV Adapter that Apple sells also has a Lightning port, which can be used to charge the iPhone while mirroring the screen.

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Source: Apple: 1, 2