To cast from an iPhone to a TV, connect both to the same Wi-Fi network, open the video, tap the AirPlay button, and choose your TV. To show your whole iPhone screen instead, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and pick the TV. This works with an Apple TV or any TV that supports AirPlay 2. If your TV uses Google Cast (Chromecast or Google TV), tap the Cast button inside an app that supports it. If your TV has neither, use a wired adapter and an HDMI cable.
Applies to: iPhone with iOS 18 or later, including iOS 27. Steps checked against Apple’s and Google’s support pages in October 2026.
Contents
- Which casting method does your TV support?
- What you need before you start
- Stream a video with AirPlay
- Show photos on the TV
- Mirror your whole iPhone screen
- Cast to a Chromecast or Google TV
- Connect your iPhone to a TV with a cable
- Stop casting or turn off automatic AirPlay
- Troubleshooting
- FAQ
Which casting method does your TV support?
“Casting” is a general word for sending something from your phone to a TV. There are four common ways to do it from an iPhone:
| Method | What it does | What your TV needs |
|---|---|---|
| AirPlay streaming | Sends one video, song, or photo to the TV. You can use your phone for other things while it plays. | An Apple TV, or a smart TV or streaming device with AirPlay 2 |
| AirPlay screen mirroring | Shows everything on your iPhone screen on the TV | Same as above |
| Google Cast | Sends video from a supported app to the TV | A Chromecast, a Google TV device, or a TV with Google Cast built in |
| HDMI cable and adapter | Shows your iPhone screen on the TV over a wire | An HDMI input |
AirPlay is Apple’s built-in system for sending audio and video over Wi-Fi. Google Cast is Google’s system. An iPhone supports AirPlay without any extra app. For Google Cast, the app you’re watching must include a Cast button.
To check your TV, look in its settings for an option named AirPlay, or look for an AirPlay or Google Cast logo in the TV’s manual or on its box. Your TV maker’s support website also lists which models support AirPlay 2 or Google Cast.
What you need before you start
- The same Wi-Fi network. Apple and Google both say your iPhone and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network for wireless casting. Check the network name in Settings > Wi-Fi on your iPhone and in the TV’s network settings.
- Updated software. Apple’s troubleshooting steps start with updating both devices. Update your iPhone in Settings > General > Software Update, and update the TV from its own settings menu.
- AirPlay turned on at the TV. Some smart TVs have an AirPlay setting that must be on before the iPhone can see them.
- The TV turned on and nearby. A TV in standby may not appear in the list.
Stream a video with AirPlay
Use this when you want to watch a movie or show on the TV and keep using your phone. Apple’s steps in Use AirPlay to stream video or mirror the screen are:
- Make sure your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TV.
- Open the app and find the video you want to watch.
- Tap the screen to show the playback controls, then tap the AirPlay button. It looks like a screen with a triangle at the bottom. In some apps, you need to tap another button first, such as Share.
- Choose your TV from the list.
- If an AirPlay passcode appears on the TV, type it on your iPhone.
The video moves to the TV. Your iPhone works as a remote: use it to pause, skip, or change the volume. You can leave the app or lock the phone in many apps, and the video keeps playing on the TV.
Don’t see the AirPlay button? Some video apps don’t support AirPlay. Apple suggests checking whether the same app is available on your Apple TV or smart TV instead. You can also try screen mirroring, but some apps block video from being mirrored.
Show photos on the TV
To show photos and videos from your camera roll, use the Photos app. In Apple’s iOS 27 iPhone User Guide, the steps are:
- Open the Photos app and tap a photo.
- Tap the Share button.
- Swipe up, tap AirPlay, then choose your TV.
- If an AirPlay passcode appears on the TV, enter it on your iPhone.
To show a different photo, swipe to it on your iPhone. To stop, tap the AirPlay icon near the top of the iPhone screen, then tap Turn off AirPlay.
Mirror your whole iPhone screen
Screen mirroring copies everything on your iPhone to the TV, including the Home Screen, games, apps, and notifications. Use it for apps without an AirPlay button, for presentations, or to show someone a website.
- Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as the TV.
- Open Control Center. On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. On an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge.
- Tap Screen Mirroring. The icon shows two overlapping rectangles.
- Choose your TV from the list.
- If an AirPlay passcode appears on the TV, enter it on your iPhone.
Your iPhone screen now appears on the TV. Turn your iPhone sideways to fill more of a widescreen TV with videos and photos.
Notifications show too. Everything on your screen appears on the TV, including messages that arrive. Turn on a Focus, such as Do Not Disturb, in Control Center before mirroring if others are watching.
To stop, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring.
Cast to a Chromecast or Google TV
An iPhone doesn’t have Google Cast built in, so you cast from inside apps that support it. Many video and music apps include a Cast button, which looks like a rectangle with Wi-Fi waves in the bottom-left corner. Google’s steps for casting from Google Cast-enabled apps are:
- Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast, Google TV device, or Google Cast TV.
- Open an app that supports Google Cast. Install the latest version from the App Store.
- Tap the Cast button. Where it appears depends on the app.
- Tap the device you want to cast to. When it connects, the Cast button turns solid.
- Play your video. It appears on the TV.
- To stop, tap the Cast button and choose Disconnect.
Allow Local Network access. Google says iPhones with iOS 14 or later must allow Local Network access for the app to find Cast devices. If the TV doesn’t appear, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and turn on the app. Some apps also ask for location permission, and Google notes that they may not be able to cast if you decline.
Google’s page covers casting from apps. It doesn’t describe mirroring your whole iPhone screen to a Google Cast device. If you need full screen mirroring, use an AirPlay-compatible TV or the cable method.
Connect your iPhone to a TV with a cable
A cable works with almost any TV that has an HDMI port, and it doesn’t need Wi-Fi. Apple’s guide to connecting iPhone to a display with a cable lists these steps:
- Plug the right adapter into your iPhone’s charging port. iPhones with a Lightning port use the Lightning Digital AV Adapter. iPhones with a USB-C port use the USB-C Display AV Adapter. For a projector or monitor with only a VGA port, Apple lists the Lightning to VGA Adapter and the USB-C VGA Multi-port Adapter.
- Connect an HDMI cable (or VGA cable) to the adapter.
- Connect the other end of the cable to the TV.
- Use the TV remote to switch to the matching input, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.
Your iPhone screen appears on the TV. Apple notes the adapters have an extra port, so you can charge your iPhone while it’s connected.
Which port does your iPhone have? iPhone 15 and later models use USB-C. Earlier models use Lightning. Look at the charging port or check your model in Settings > General > About.
Stop casting or turn off automatic AirPlay
- Stop AirPlay streaming: In the app, tap the AirPlay button and choose your iPhone from the list.
- Stop screen mirroring: Open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring. If you’re using an Apple TV, Apple says you can also press the Menu button on the Apple TV Remote.
- Stop Google Cast: Tap the Cast button and choose Disconnect.
Your iPhone can connect to a TV you use often without asking. To control this, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Automatically AirPlay and pick one:
- Never: You always choose the TV yourself.
- Ask: Your iPhone suggests a TV with a notification.
- Automatic: Your iPhone may connect on its own. Apple says you can tap the undo button to disconnect.
For more detail, see our guide on turning off AirPlay on iPhone.
Troubleshooting
Apple’s page for when screen mirroring or streaming isn’t working recommends these checks, in order:
- Turn both devices on and keep them near each other.
- Update the software and check the Wi-Fi network. Both must be on the same network. A guest network or a second network name on the same router counts as a different network.
- Check AirPlay receiving. On iPhone, check Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity. On the TV, make sure AirPlay is turned on.
- Restart both devices.
- Check Home app settings. If the TV is set up in the Home app, open Home, tap More, choose Home Settings, then Speakers & TV, and make sure AirPlay isn’t restricted.
Video plays but there’s no sound. Apple says to check that the volume is up and not muted on both the iPhone and the TV or receiver.
The TV asks for a password. On an Apple TV, check its content restrictions and AirPlay password settings. A passcode shown on the TV is different: type that code on your iPhone.
The video stutters or lags. Move the iPhone closer to the router, close other apps, or use the cable method. Wireless video depends on your Wi-Fi signal.
The cable shows nothing. Check the TV input, reseat both ends of the cable, and try another HDMI port. Make sure the adapter matches your iPhone’s port.
Black screen in a streaming app. Some apps block mirroring or cable output to protect their videos. Use the app’s own AirPlay or Cast button, or watch the app directly on the TV.
FAQ
Can I cast from my iPhone without Wi-Fi?
Yes, with a cable. The HDMI adapter method doesn’t use Wi-Fi at all. AirPlay and Google Cast normally need both devices on the same Wi-Fi network.
Can I cast my iPhone to a TV that isn’t a smart TV?
Yes. Connect an Apple TV or a Google Cast device to the TV’s HDMI port, or use the HDMI adapter method.
What’s the difference between casting and screen mirroring?
Casting (AirPlay streaming or Google Cast) sends one video or song to the TV, and you can keep using your phone. Screen mirroring copies your entire iPhone screen, so whatever you open on the phone also appears on the TV.
Does screen mirroring use my cellular data?
Mirroring itself runs over your Wi-Fi network. If the video you’re watching streams from the internet, it uses whatever connection the iPhone or TV is using to download it.
Can I mirror my iPhone to a computer instead?
AirPlay can mirror to a compatible Mac. For a Windows PC, see our guide to screen mirroring an iPhone to a Windows 11 laptop.
Next step
Check whether your TV supports AirPlay, Google Cast, or both. Then try the matching method above with a short video before your movie night.
Matthew Simpson has been creating online tutorial for computers and smartphones since 2010. His work has been read millions of times and helped people to solve a number of various tech problems. His specialties include Windows, iPhones, and Google apps.