Want to view content from your Samsung Galaxy device on your television? There are several easy methods to connect your phone to a compatible TV wirelessly or with a cable.
In this guide, I‘ll cover the major options for screen mirroring and media streaming from a Samsung phone to a TV, including step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting advice.
Why Connect Your Samsung Phone to a TV?
Here are some of the benefits of connecting your Samsung smartphone to your television:
- View content on a bigger screen – Get more immersive viewing of videos, movies, photos, games, and more by mirroring your phone‘s display to a TV.
- Share with others – Easily showcase videos, slideshows, and other media from your phone by displaying it on the TV for gathered family and friends.
- Turn your TV smart – Connecting gives "dumb" non-smart TVs streaming and screen mirror functionalities via your phone.
- Use phone apps on TV – Access your phone‘s apps and interfaces on the big screen. For example, you can browse the web, access media apps like Netflix, or play mobile games.
Methods for Connecting Samsung Phones to TVs
There are several options for linking your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to a TV, depending on your devices‘ capabilities and your needs:
Screen Mirroring with Smart View
Smart View is Samsung‘s built-in wireless screen mirroring technology, previously called Quick Connect. It mirrors your phone‘s display in real-time and lets you control playback and apps from your phone while viewing on the TV.
Here‘s how to use Smart View:
Requirements:
- Samsung Galaxy smartphone
- Compatible smart TV (preferably a 2012 or newer Samsung TV, or any Miracast-enabled smart TV)
- Phone and TV connected to same WiFi network
Steps:
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Pull down the notification shade on your Samsung phone and tap Smart View.
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Under Available Devices, select your TV.
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Allow any connection prompts on phone and TV. Your Samsung phone‘s display should now show on your TV screen.
That‘s all there is to it! To stop casting, simply swipe down and tap Smart View > Disconnect next to your TV.
Pros: Simple native wireless casting; works with wide variety of TVs; handles video, games, and apps well; portable.
Cons: Can have minor lag; lower quality on non-Samsung TVs; both devices need WiFi connection.
Media Streaming with Wi-Fi Direct
Alternatively, you can use Wi-Fi Direct to wirelessly stream videos, photos, and music from your Samsung phone to TVs with less lag.
Follow these instructions to stream media through Wi-Fi Direct:
Requirements:
- Samsung Galaxy smartphone
- Smart TV with Wi-Fi Direct support
- Media files saved locally on your phone (videos, songs, photos etc.)
Steps:
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On your phone, open Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi
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Tap Wi-Fi Direct
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Select your TV from the list of available devices.
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Allow the connection on both devices and select options for media streaming.
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Open the Gallery or Music app on your phone and tap the Cast icon to stream to TV.
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Select files and play media with on-screen controls.
This uses Wi-Fi Direct instead of your WiFi network for faster, more stable connections between a Samsung device and the TV. Great for streaming lots of local media.
Pros: Lower latency than Smart View; supports many file types; portable like Chromecast.
Cons: TV needs Wi-Fi Direct; only streams media files from phone.
HDMI Connection
For the highest quality and most reliable connection, use an HDMI cable to directly tether your Samsung Galaxy phone to the TV.
Here‘s how to connect over HDMI:
Requirements
- Samsung Galaxy device
- TV with HDMI port
- Compatible USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable
Steps:
- Acquire a Samsung DeX HDMI adapter or third party USB-C to HDMI cable compatible with your Galaxy device.
- Connect the HDMI end to an open HDMI port on your TV.
- Connect the USB-C end to your Samsung phone.
- Allow any connection prompts on your devices.
- Set TV input to matched HDMI port. Your phone screen should now display in a desktop-style interface on the TV.
- Interact with your apps, files, and settings as you would on a PC.
This provides a wired connection for minimal lag and maximum quality. It essentially turns your phone into a desktop computer on the TV screen.
Pros: Reliable hardwired link; charges phone while connected; DeX desktop-style interface
Cons: Requires cables and adapters; not as portable; no screen mirroring
Samsung DeX interface enables desktop-style experience on TV screen
Third-Party Casting & Streaming Apps
Alternatively, you can use third-party apps on your Samsung device to wirelessly stream or cast content to televisions.
Apps like VLC, Google Home, Roku, YouTube, and Cast to TV allow you to connect and project media over WiFi onto compatible smart TVs.
For example, here is how you‘d use VLC to stream locally stored videos from your phone to a Chromecast-enabled TV:
Requirements:
- Samsung Galaxy device
- Smart TV with casting capabilities
- Video files saved locally on your phone
- VLC media player app
Steps:
- Connect phone and TV to same WiFi network
- Open VLC app on phone, tap the Chromecast icon in the upper right > select your TV
- Select the video you want to cast and tap the Play button
- Video streams directly from phone to TV
This takes advantage of mature third-party apps with tons of useful features for media management and casting.
Pros: Leverages existing popular apps; widely compatible; often free
Cons: Quality depends on the app; can be more complex to setup
Comparing Connection Methods
| Method | Latency | Quality | Cables | Hardware | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart View | Medium | Good | No | Samsung phone + smart TV required | Simple screen mirroring |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Low | Great | No | Samsung phone + smart TV required | Streams media; less flexible |
| HDMI | Very Low | Superb | Yes | HDMI adapter required | Turns phone into desktop; charges phone |
| Apps like VLC/Cast | Low | Good | No | Smart TV required | Streams media; leverages popular apps |
As you can see, there are excellent options to suit different needs and TV setups!
For older or "dumb" TVs without smart software, the wired HDMI method is likely your best bet.
However, for most modern smart TVs, wireless Smart View screen mirroring provides the optimal overall blend of convenience and performance. Media streaming apps are also good for smart TVs focusing strictly on video and music playback.
Troubleshooting Connection Issues
Here are some common problems and fixes when linking your Samsung phone to a TV:
- Can‘t connect wirelessly? Ensure devices are on same WiFi network; move closer to router; connect wired if needed.
- Poor quality? Restart phone and TV; ensure hardware is HDMI/1080p capable.
- Latency or freezing? Close other apps on phone; check WiFi signal strength.
- No available devices? Enable screen mirroring/Smart View options on TV using remote.
- Black screen? Change TV input to matched HDMI port after connecting.
Additionally, check that the smartphone and TV are compatible, update software/firmware on both devices, reposition WiFi router, and disable battery optimization on phone if using Smart View frequently.
Still having issues? Consult phone and TV model support documentation or contact manufacturer.
Conclusion: It‘s Easy to Connect Samsung Phones to TVs
As you can see, mirroring or casting your Samsung Galaxy device to your television is fairly straightforward. Wireless options like Smart View provide an easy yet effective solution for most. But cables or Wi-Fi Direct give you more performance when needed.
Just choose the method that best fits your devices, priorities, and viewing environment. With the instructions above, seamlessly connecting phones to TVs takes just a few minutes. Then you can sit back and enjoy your Samsung Galaxy‘s apps, videos, games and more on the big screen!
I hope this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about connecting your Samsung phone to your television. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
