There are two main ways to mirror your iPhone to a smart TV: wirelessly (using AirPlay or a casting app) or wired (using a cable/adapter). The best method depends on your TV brand and whether it supports AirPlay or not.

1. Using AirPlay (Best for Apple-compatible smart TVs)

If your smart TV supports AirPlay 2 (most newer Samsung, LG, Sony, and some other brands), you can mirror your iPhone screen directly over Wi‑Fi.

What you need:

  • An iPhone running iOS 12 or later.
  • A smart TV that supports AirPlay 2 (check your TV’s specs or settings).
  • Both devices connected to the same Wi‑Fi network.

Steps:

  1. Turn on AirPlay on your TV
    • On Samsung TV: Go to Settings → General → Apple AirPlay Settings → Turn AirPlay On.
 * On LG: Settings → Apple AirPlay → Turn AirPlay On.

 * On Sony: Settings → Apple AirPlay → Enable AirPlay.
  1. Start mirroring from your iPhone
    • Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center (on iPhone X or later).
 * Tap **Screen Mirroring** (two overlapping rectangles).

 * Select your TV from the list that appears.

 * If your TV shows a 4‑digit code, enter it on your iPhone. Your iPhone screen will now appear on the TV.
  1. Stop mirroring
    • Open Control Center again and tap Screen Mirroring → Stop Mirroring.

If AirPlay isn’t showing up, make sure both devices are on the same Wi‑Fi and that AirPlay is enabled in the TV settings.

2. Using a Casting App (For TVs without AirPlay)

If your TV doesn’t support AirPlay, you can use a screen mirroring app like Mirroring³ , EZCast , or Twocast to send your iPhone screen to the TV.

How it usually works:

  1. Install a mirroring app from the App Store on your iPhone, and install the matching app on your smart TV (if needed).
  1. Open the app on both devices and make sure they’re on the same Wi‑Fi network.
  1. Follow the on‑screen instructions to connect your iPhone to the TV (usually by tapping a “Start Mirroring” or “Screen Share” button).
  1. Your iPhone screen will be mirrored on the TV; tap “Stop” or “Disconnect” in the app when done.

Popular apps like Mirroring³ work with many brands (Samsung, LG, Android TVs, etc.) and don’t require an Apple TV.

3. Using a Cable (Wired mirroring – works with any TV)

If Wi‑Fi is slow or unreliable, or your TV doesn’t support mirroring, a wired connection is the most stable option.

What you need:

  • A Lightning Digital AV Adapter (for older iPhones) or a USB‑C to HDMI adapter (for iPhone 15 and newer).
  • An HDMI cable.

Steps:

  1. Plug the adapter into your iPhone’s charging port.
  1. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the adapter, and the other end to an HDMI input on your TV.
  1. Turn on your TV and switch to that HDMI input (e.g., HDMI 1, HDMI 2).
  1. Your iPhone screen will appear on the TV instantly.

This method gives you a full, lag‑free mirror of your iPhone and works with any TV that has an HDMI port.

4. Casting individual apps (not full screen mirror)

If you only want to send videos/music from apps like YouTube, Netflix, or Spotify, you don’t need full screen mirroring:

  • Open the app (YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play a video.
  • Tap the Cast icon (rectangle with a Wi‑Fi signal) and choose your TV.
  • Your iPhone then acts as a remote, and the video plays directly on the TV.

This uses less battery and is usually smoother than full screen mirroring.

Troubleshooting tips if it’s not working

  • Both devices on same Wi‑Fi : Make sure your iPhone and TV are connected to the same 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network.
  • Restart both devices : Sometimes a simple restart of the iPhone and TV fixes connection issues.
  • Check TV settings : Ensure screen mirroring/AirPlay is turned on in the TV’s network or connection settings.
  • Update software : Make sure your iPhone and smart TV have the latest software updates installed.
  • Try a different method : If AirPlay isn’t working, try a mirroring app or a wired connection.

Quick scoop from the forums:
“If your Samsung TV doesn’t see the iPhone, go to Settings > General > Apple AirPlay Settings and turn AirPlay On. Then open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and choose your TV. It’s that simple.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.