Have there been times when you’re watching videos on your phone that are so good you wish you had a larger screen? Or when you can’t be bothered with settling down with a laptop on your thighs? What you really crave is to lie down on your sofa and watch TV like the good old days. But sadly, even your fancy Contour TV can’t play what you really want to watch. Such are the times when owning an Android smartphone comes in handy. Lucky for you, there are many ways to simply connect your phone to your TV. By doing this, you can scroll around on your phone, pick whatever you feel like watching, and enjoy it on a big screen.

This can also be useful for attending video calls and webinars.  Also, if your speakers are giving a virtual address to a large audience, a TV screen is ideal. This is especially useful in the age of online events like graduation ceremonies. As COVID-19 has limited in-person interactions, screens are the way to go. Since smartphones are always at hand, they are perfect for screening.

Here are five easy ways you can connect your Android smartphone to your TV.

#1 HDMI Cable

A simple way to connect any smartphone to your TV is with an HDMI cable. If you bought your devices a couple of years ago, they are likely to have Micro HDMI ports. You can then use a Micro HDMI cable to connect with your TV’s HDMI cable. These cables are cheap to buy and available at all electronic stores. Before you get the cable, find out what type of port your phone supports. If you have a Micro USB port, then get a Micro USB to HDMI cable (MHL cable). If your phone has a Type-C port, then buy a Type-C to HDMI cable.

After connecting the wires, you need to follow a few simple steps. First, change the source on your TV through the source button on your TV remote. Switch it to the HDMI port. When you do this, you will see the contents of your phone screen displayed on your TV. For the best viewing experience, make sure to switch your phone to landscape mode.

Since this method does not allow you to easily use your phone, it is best for watching a long video or movie on your TV.

#2 Google Chromecast

If you don’t have a Micro USB or Type-C portal on your smartphone, using Google Chromecast is your next best bet. It is cheap, convenient, and easy to use. You don’t even need a smart TV for it!

Google Chromecast is available on most Android phones. Using this, you can cast your smartphone’s screen directly onto your TV. For this, you simply need to attach a Google Chromecast dongle to your TV device. This will make it compatible with your smartphone. After this, you simply open whatever you want to watch—be it a YouTube video or a movie—and press the Chromecast icon on your smartphone.

Once you connect your smartphone to your TV device, you simply need to press play. The best part? You can do this on your phone. Therefore, while you enjoy the images on your big TV screen, you can keep using the control of your smartphone. So easy!

#3 Samsung Smartview

This is the ideal method for Samsung fans. If you own a Samsung smartphone and a Samsung smart TV, your life couldn’t be easier. Using the Smart View feature on your Samsung smartphone, you can wirelessly connect to your TV.

This works similarly to Chromecast. To cast any video to your TV, simply pull down the menu on your phone. There, you will find the Smart View icon. Once you click that, you will be shown an option of devices near you. Select your Samsung smart TV, and you’re done. You can now watch anything from your phone on your TV screen.

#4 Roku App

Roku is a media streaming app you can download on your Android smartphone. Using this, you can create a wireless connection between your smartphone and your TV. Using Roku, you can do this in two ways: screen mirroring and casting.

To use this, go to your smartphone settings. Thereafter, open your display settings. Here will find an option that says ‘Cast’. Click this, and instantly cast your phone screen onto your TV screen!

However, for this to work you need to make sure your smartphone and Roku device are connected to the same wi-fi.

#5 DLNA Apps

In case your phone does not support Samsung-to-Samsung connections, you can use DLNA applications. For this, your TV needs to be compatible with DLNA. Most smart TVs can use DLNA.

Also, you will require an internet connection to stream media from your smartphone on your TV screen. With this method, you can connect various devices to your TV. For instance, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles. Some examples of DLNA apps you can find in your Android app store are LocalCasts and AllCast.

With this method, you can watch most things on your TV screen. Although, apps that are protected through Digital Rights Management (DRM), such as Netflix, cannot be used on your TV through DLNA.