6 Best Ways to Connect Your Phone to an LG TV

Connecting to a TV makes viewing videos and photos much more comfortable. In some cases, it becomes possible to use a larger screen to work with applications or run games or for other purposes. In order to use such features, you need to know what methods exist to connect between a smartphone and an LG TV.

• Why do you need to connect your phone to your TV?
• Connection via Wi-Fi Direct
• Using Miracast
• Smart Share
• Using an HDMI cable
• USB cable
• Via DLNA
• AirPlay
• Chromecast
• Which connection method to choose
• Features of connecting different models of phones to LG TVs

Why do you need to connect your phone to your TV?

A modern smartphone can be a video viewing tool. If you do it yourself, then its use is acceptable. However, if there are higher requirements for viewing quality, then it makes sense to transfer the image to a large screen. In addition, this option is more suitable for group viewing.

Another situation when this may be needed is if it is necessary that the image from the smartphone can be seen by other people at the same time.

In addition to watching video, the connection can be used for the following purposes:

• View photos stored on your phone on TV.
• It is possible to launch applications from the phone and see them on the TV
• Those who like to play on their phones can do this on the TV screen; large sizes and high image quality will help them get more pleasure. New sensations even from already known games.
• Surf the World Wide Web. Browsing pages on a large screen is more comfortable. In this case, a relatively larger amount of information will fit on the screen. Of course, the image repeats what is shown on the phone, but you can set a small font that will allow you to view text on the screen at a comfortable size.
• You can play games this way. In this case, it will be convenient to connect a joystick to the device.
• Read books or articles electronically.
• If there is such a need, you can conduct presentations prepared on a smartphone.
• Watching videos or pictures is much more convenient on a big screen. This is also possible on a smartphone, but it’s not nearly as spectacular.
• Using a special application, you can use your phone as a remote control to control your TV.

LG TVs allow you to organize high-quality viewing of the desired video content. To do this, it is enough to synchronize the image between the two devices. There are several ways to do this, each with its own characteristics.

We use a Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) cable to connect the smartphone to the TV

Most phones now support Mobile High-Definition Link wired connections. The principle itself is similar to the methods described above, but there is a certain advantage. Using a cable allows you not only to broadcast a picture from a gadget to a TV in FullHD format, but also to simultaneously charge your smartphone. This eliminates the need for a charger. The MHL cable combines the functions of an HDMI cable and a micro USB cable.

Connection via Wi-Fi Direct

The connection method is determined by the features of the model available in the house. If we are talking about the most modern one, then it must have a module for working with wireless connections and provide the Wi-Fi Direct function. In this case, there is no need to necessarily use a router. Although this version of work is considered more ancient, it is still of high quality and reliable.

To configure you need to do the following:

1. On your smartphone you need to go to the settings and go to the section dedicated to wireless networks.
2. After selecting the “Wi-Fi” line, you need to click on the three dots symbol in the upper right corner. An additional selection will appear. You need to follow the “Wi-Fi Direct” link.

3. As a result of these actions, the smartphone will go into the state of searching for available wireless networks of the specified type.

If the Wi-Fi Direct function is not activated at this moment, the smartphone will not do anything for now. Next, you need to configure the TV. To do this you need to do the following:

1. Take the remote control to control the TV.
2. Go to main menu.
3. You need to go to the section containing network settings.
4. Among the available options, find Wi-Fi Direct and click on this line. If there is no such command, then select “Advanced settings”.

5. Open the main menu on the remote control. Go to the "Network" section. As in the previous case, you need to click on the “Wi-Fi Direct” command.
6. A complete list of the various devices available for synchronization will appear on the screen. You need to select a smartphone from them and click on it.

After this, you need to look at the smartphone screen. There should be a request to connect. It needs to be approved.

As a result of the settings, the image and sound from the smartphone will be automatically transmitted to the LG TV.

One of the options that can be used for connection has been shown here. It has the following advantages:

1. In this case, there is no need to establish a wired connection.
2. There is no need to buy a router for this purpose.
3. It is possible to broadcast video content using various formats to the screen.
4. This method of operation does not use connectors. Therefore, nothing prevents, for example, putting your phone on charge during the broadcast.
5. It is possible to browse websites on the Internet in this mode.

Unfortunately, using this option also has some disadvantages:

1. The function in question is present in the latest models of LG TVs; earlier models may not have this feature.
2. When operating in this mode, the phone battery is intensively consumed. Therefore, it discharges quickly. When connecting to a TV, it is advisable to charge your smartphone in parallel.

With this connection method, you can not only view content. Noi launch various applications.

Using Miracast

For this connection method, you need to set the settings of your TV and smartphone. On the TV you need to do the following:

1. Turn on the device. Using the remote control you need to go to the main menu.
2. You need to go to the section dedicated to network settings. In this case, one of the menu items should be called Network. You need to click on it.
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3. Next, a window will appear in which you can activate this function.

Now you need to configure your smartphone:

1. First you need to lower the curtain on the display. Then you need to start the broadcast.

2. After activation, a list of devices available for communication will be shown. You will need to find and activate your TV.

After setting up your smartphone, you need to confirm activation on the TV.

Not every version of Android can work with this feature. Therefore, before using the option under consideration, you need to check whether the smartphone can use it. There is a special application (Miracast - Wifi Display) that will make it possible to activate Miralink. In some cases it can help in this situation.

It happens that the picture is not broadcast on the entire screen. In this situation, it is recommended to place the smartphone horizontally.

How to connect a TV to a phone wiredly

The set-top box can also be connected using wires. However, these methods are generally not the most convenient, since the cable can be easily lost. You can use these methods if wireless ones don't work.

USB

This method is suitable for those whose TV and smartphone have a USB adapter. It is necessary in good quality for such a connection:

• We connect the phone to the TV;

• Selecting the correct signal source. It should be USB;
• Now we confirm the connection on the phone;
• We look at the list of files that the system was able to recognize;
• We use the remote control to view and navigate.

HDMI

Another wire that is often used on Samsung. For it you need to have a special HDMI connector. It can be used as an adapter. The main thing is integrity so that the connection is correct. To connect you need:

• Connect the device and cable using an adapter;

• We use TV as a source, find the required adapter signal;
• The picture is transferred to the display automatically. If nothing happens, the resolution on the screen changes.

This method will allow a person to stream games, movies and other content on the screen. Almost everything is shown on the display.

Smart Share

This communication technology is provided by LG. In order to use it, you need to download the specialized Smart Share application for LG to your smartphone on your TV and phone.

After installing it, you need to launch it. As a result, media files on the phone are automatically shared (shared access is provided to them). They can be seen in the folders Pictures, Music, Videos.

Now you need to configure the TV:

1. On the remote control you need to press the button with the image of a house. As a result, you can see the home page on the screen.
2. Next, you need to go to the “My Applications” page.
3. You need to go to the page. It shows a list where connected devices are listed. You need to click on the line that corresponds to the smartphone.
4. The result will show three folders containing media files. By clicking on the one you need, you can see what content can be viewed in it.

By clicking on the desired file, you can start viewing it.

How to stream YouTube videos from Android to TV?

To watch any YouTube video on a modern TV, follow these simple instructions:

1. On your Android device, go to the YouTube application and its settings.
2. Find the “Watch on TV” tab.
3. Detailed instructions for connecting the device to Smart TV will appear on the screen of your mobile device, as well as a line for the connection code.
4. Launch the YouTube application on your TV and go to settings.
5. There, connect the TV to the phone and select the line where it says “connect manually.”
6. Get the connection code and enter it into your phone.
7. Click the “broadcast” button.

Then you need to select a TV from the list and you can enjoy watching it.

Using an HDMI cable

In this case, you will need to use a special cable. The TV must have an HDMI interface. To connect this cable to a smartphone, you need to use a miniUSB adapter.

• First, they set up the TV. First, the cable must be connected to the smartphone through an adapter, and the other end to the socket on the TV. There may be several of them. You need to remember the number of the one you connected to.

• Using the TV remote control, you need to select a tab in the settings in which you can select the signal source. You need to specify the HDMI input to which the cable was connected.

After this, the image adjustment on the screen will start automatically. As a result, you can see an image of the cell phone display.

The advantages of this option include:

1. The ability to charge your phone in parallel mode using a USB connector.
2. On the TV screen you can see the image from the display on your smartphone.

The disadvantages of this option include:

1. Not every TV model has an input
2. You need to purchase an adapter in order to connect the cable to your smartphone.

This method is considered the simplest and most convenient.

What is it for?

Let's start with the fact that the main advantage of synchronizing TV with a smartphone is the significant enrichment of the functionality of modern electronics. Visualization of the desktop of a mobile gadget is projected onto the TV screen, thereby transforming the smartphone into an original projector. A function such as controlling a TV receiver using your smartphone is a convenient means of operation. In this connection, users have such opportunities.

• Visualization of films, videos, photos and other media resources played from the phone on the TV screen. They can be watched on the big screen.
• You can display your favorite games and other mobile applications on a widescreen TV screen.
• You can watch all kinds of websites, which is a big plus for Internet surfers.
• Conducting all kinds of presentations, displaying documents, photographs and other mobile resources on a large TV screen.
• Another advantage is that a familiar device can easily replace a non-working remote control; using a certain downloaded program, you can easily control the TV without disturbing basic functions.

Controlling the TV receiver when using a mobile gadget is very convenient, but for video game lovers, the best choice would still be to connect a joystick. When using a Wi-Fi connection, communication between devices occurs over the air. In other cases, it is necessary to use special cables and interfaces.

USB cable

The peculiarity of this option is that the image from the smartphone will not be duplicated. In this case, the phone will act as a flash drive. However, you will not be able to play games or run any applications.

To make a connection you need to do the following:

1. You will need to take a cable with USB connectors on both ends. They need to be connected to the smartphone and to the TV, into the port located on the back of the device.
2. Using the TV remote control you need to open the main menu. In it you need to go to the signal source selection screen. Among the possible options, you need to specify a USB cable. If there are several such connectors, then you need to select the one you need among them.
3. Once connected, the TV display will allow you to manage files on your phone. The program in appearance and functionality resembles Explorer in the operating system. You can control its operation using the remote control

In some cases, immediately after connection, files located on the smartphone are scanned. This searches for media files. Once they are detected, you can give a command to play.

This option for communication between devices has the following advantages:

1. This method has universal application. The USB cable is used almost everywhere and can be used without any difficulties.
2. This cord is usually part of the basic phone package, so there is no need to purchase it additionally.
3. When you connect a mobile phone, charging will occur in parallel with its use. This is especially important due to the fact that such connections consume the battery intensively.

However, this simple way of working has a number of significant disadvantages:

1. You can't surf the World Wide Web this way.
2. There is no way to launch games and applications this way.
3. You cannot play online content.

This connection option is optimal in cases where the phone is a place to store photos and videos, and you want to view them using the TV.

Important points when transferring video

Of course, the most important aspect is the availability of Smart TV functionality. For example, if you plan to synchronize your smartphone and smart TV, then in this case you can set up a wireless Internet connection. Regular models do not have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter. Therefore, the mobile device is connected using special wires.

The second point is the quality of the video that the user plans to send to the big screen. Before you turn on the video, first check whether your TV supports this format. For example, today even budget models allow you to play video in Full HD, and 4K is the direction for more expensive devices.

The video format also affects the chosen method of displaying the content on the screen. For example, if you have configured a connection via HDMI version 1.4, then you will absolutely not be able to turn on a 4K video.

The type of cell phone connection to TV determines the format of content playback. For example, if you want to start a broadcast on your smartphone and watch it online on a big screen, then use an HDMI cable or Wi-Fi, because USB provides that the phone only acts as a memory storage device.

Thus, to determine how to display video on the large screen of a TV device, you need to take into account your capabilities and the specifics of the task at hand.

Via DLNA

In order to connect using this method, you must have a wireless router at home. In this case, you will need to connect each of the devices to the router.

To complete the work of connecting a mobile phone and a TV, you will need to do the following:

1. You need to connect your phone wirelessly to the router. At the same time, go to its network settings and select the desired one from the list of available wireless networks, then log in.
2. The LG TV also needs to be connected to your home router. To do this, you can, for example, use a network cable.
3. After both connected devices are included in the home network, it is necessary to activate the connection. It is activated on the TV.
4. You need to launch the gallery on your smartphone. Then you need to find and run the required file. When a menu appears allowing you to select the desired player, you need to find the TV in it and click on this line.

If there is a need for advanced configuration, you can use a specialized application for this. There are several options available for this. For example, you can use the BubbleUPnP program.

How to sync devices via Bluetooth?

This is another connection option that does not require wires. But this is only if Bluetooth is present in the TV equipment itself. Otherwise, you will have to buy an additional adapter with wires.

Installation instructions:

1. Install the adapter into the connector on the back of the TV.
2. Download the control app on your smartphone.
3. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and connect to the TV.

This way it will be possible to control television from your mobile phone, as well as view various files from it on the television screen.

AirPlay

To use this option, you need to have an iPhone and an Apple TV set-top box. You need to connect both of these devices to your home router or another network.

• On your smartphone you need to select “Control Center”.
• Next, click on “Screen repeat”.
• Next, a menu will be shown in which you need to select Apple TV.

• After this, what is happening on the iPhone display will be duplicated on the LG TV. At the same time, you can view media files, play games, run applications or surf the Internet.

Chromecast

To organize such a connection, you need an iPhone or Android phone. The TV must be equipped with a Chromecast set-top box.

This set-top box connects to an LG TV via HDMI. To do this, the cable is connected to one of the connectors on the back wall of the device. Using the remote control, you open a screen that displays a list of devices for receiving the input signal. On it, select the desired HDMI input (there may be several of them).

The set-top box must be connected to your home wireless network. Next you need to take the following steps:

• You need to download and install a special application on your smartphone: Google Home for Android or iOS. You need to select the option that is designed for the operating system on your phone.
• After launching the program, you need to configure it. To do this, you need to use your existing account. You must enter your username and password to log in.
• Through this program, a device for broadcasting is selected.
• After connecting, you can select suitable media files and start viewing.

Which connection method to choose

The table shows some features of the connection methods used.

USB, DLNA and Wi-Fi Direct are easy to use, but they are considered obsolete. Connecting via an HDMI cable or wirelessly via Miracast, Chromecast or AirPlay is considered to be of better quality.

In most cases, Android is installed on the smartphone. If you have a Smart TV, using Miracast is a good choice. If the TV is a regular model, it is recommended to supplement it by purchasing a Miracast adapter, Chromecast bkb HDMI cable in order to be able to use the corresponding option.

Smartphone owners can opt for AirPlay or purchase a Miracast adapter. And view media files from your phone or online using them. In this case, a Lightning to HDMI adapter is also suitable.

You can use outdated methods; they are almost always available, but you need to remember their inherent limitations.

Peculiarities

To stream video from your phone to your TV, you need to carefully study the features of the devices. There are two main ways to transfer data: via cable – wired, or “cloud connection” – via the Internet through a common access point. Both of these options are simple and straightforward, do not require complex network settings, and if you follow the instructions correctly, transferring information to the TV screen will take only a few seconds.

First, it’s worth defining a few points: all the proposed options below are suitable for all mobile operating systems (all versions of Android and iOs) and TVs of any brand, not just LG. You can send videos and photos from both iOS and Android, and the principle of operation will be no different.

Regarding hardware and equipment, in most cases, except for special USB or HDMI cables that are inserted into connectors on the TV panel, no additional components are needed. You may have to additionally buy a portable adapter for your phone (the so-called OTG adapter). It is inexpensive - around two hundred rubles. Although, if the procedure is performed by a user of advanced gadgets, there will be no need for such a purchase. Most modern phone models are already equipped with built-in mobile switches.

There are more “sophisticated” and advanced technologies, such as WIDI, which requires a special part from Intel for cloud-based information transfer. But it is considered outdated at the moment and is not recommended for use.

A wide variety of ways to transfer a picture from a smartphone to TV can confuse a novice user. In this case, the choice of technology lies entirely on the user’s shoulders. It is advisable to try all the options and decide for yourself which method is the most convenient and easiest.

Now let's look at each method in more detail.

Features of connecting different models of phones to LG TVs

The large number of smartphones from different brands raises questions about how much difference there is between them when connected to LG TVs. Most of the methods listed in the article can be used on phones running any operating system:

• Well-known brands of smartphones (Lenovo, Asus, Honor, Huawei, Samsung or others) can work together with TVs as indicated in the instructions related to the specific methods indicated in the text.
• However, differences still exist. The use of AirPlay technology is only permissible if you have an iPhone and an Apple TV set-top box.
• Most mobile devices use the Android operating system. Almost all of the proposed options can be used for such smartphones.

You can use various methods to connect devices. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. In each specific case, when choosing, you need to proceed from the available opportunities and problems that need to be solved.

Useful tips

Before connecting your mobile phone to the TV, read the advice of experts:

1. 1Any connection option has advantages and disadvantages.
2. 2Much depends on the smartphone and TV model.
3. 3Wireless connection in most cases is the most convenient for users, since there is no need to buy additional cables.

In my opinion, Chromecast technology is the most convenient today. Its distinctive feature is that it is cross-platform. That is, the TV must have only one HDMI connector. The phone can be connected through the application, and on the computer it is enough to have the Google Chrome browser.