How to Cast Your Phone to Your TV in Australia: Chromecast, AirPlay and Screen Mirroring Explained

Watching a video on a small phone screen is fine for a quick clip, but a movie, a photo slideshow or a video call belongs on the big screen. Casting sends what is on your phone to your television over your home Wi-Fi, usually in a few taps. This guide covers the three main ways Australians cast from a phone: Chromecast and Google Cast on Android, AirPlay on iPhone, and plain screen mirroring for everything else.

Before you start: check your setup

Casting works best when your phone and your TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your phone is on mobile data or a guest network while the TV is on the main network, they will not find each other. Connect both to the same network and the same band if your router splits 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

Next, work out what your TV supports. Most smart TVs sold in Australia in the past few years have Chromecast built in, which usually appears as Google Cast in the TV settings. Samsung TVs use Smart View, LG TVs use their own casting, and Apple TV boxes support AirPlay. If your TV has none of these, a Chromecast dongle plugs into an HDMI port and adds casting for a modest price.

Cast from Android with Chromecast or Google Cast

This works with most apps that carry a cast button, including YouTube, Netflix, Stan, ABC iview and Spotify.

Open the app you want to cast from and look for the cast icon, a small rectangle with curved lines in one corner. Tap it, then pick your TV from the list of nearby devices. The video will start playing on the television while your phone becomes the remote. You can pause, skip and change the volume from the phone, and you can use other apps while the video keeps playing on the TV.

To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and choose Disconnect. If your TV does not appear in the list, check that it is switched on and on the same Wi-Fi network, then try again.

Mirror your whole Android screen

Sometimes you want to show something with no cast button, such as a web page or a game. Screen mirroring copies your entire phone display to the TV in real time.

On most Android phones, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings, then look for Smart View, Screen Cast or Cast, depending on the brand. Samsung phones call it Smart View. Tap it and choose your TV. Your phone screen will appear on the television, with a small delay of a second or less.

Screen mirroring drains the battery faster than app casting, because the phone keeps rendering and sending its whole display. Plug the phone into a charger if you plan to mirror for a while, and turn on Do Not Disturb first, since notifications will appear on the TV.

Cast from iPhone with AirPlay

AirPlay is Apple’s version of casting, and it works with Apple TV boxes and with many recent smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense sold in Australia.

Open the app you want to watch, such as YouTube, Netflix or the Photos app, and tap the AirPlay icon, a rectangle with a triangle below it, or the cast icon if the app shows one. Choose your TV or Apple TV from the list. For a video, the TV takes over playback and your phone becomes the remote, just like Chromecast.

To mirror your whole iPhone screen, open Control Centre by swiping down from the top right corner, tap Screen Mirroring, and pick your TV. To stop, open Control Centre again and choose Stop Mirroring.

If your TV asks for an AirPlay code, it will show a four digit number on screen. Type it into your phone once, and the two devices will remember each other. If your TV does not appear at all, check that AirPlay is switched on in the TV settings and that both devices share the same Wi-Fi network.

Use a cable when Wi-Fi lets you down

Wireless casting is convenient, but a cable is the most reliable option, especially in homes with weak Wi-Fi or thick walls. For iPhone, a Lightning or USB-C to HDMI adapter connects the phone to any spare HDMI port on the TV. For Android, many newer phones support USB-C to HDMI directly, while older models need an adapter or a dock. Plug the cable in, switch the TV to the right HDMI input, and the phone screen appears with no setup at all.

Fix the most common casting problems

If the TV does not show up, restart both devices and the router, and check that your TV’s software is up to date, since older firmware can break casting with newer phones.

If the video stutters or drops out, move the phone closer to the router or switch the TV to the 5 GHz band if it is close to the router. Video casting uses a lot of bandwidth, and a weak signal is the usual cause of buffering. Closing other apps that are downloading or streaming on the same network also helps. If an app refuses to cast at all, try mirroring the whole screen instead, which works with almost any app.

Which method should you use?

For everyday video watching, use the cast button inside the app. It gives the best quality, lets you keep using your phone, and uses the least battery. For showing photos, a browser or an app with no cast button, use screen mirroring or AirPlay mirroring. For a presentation, a game or a flaky Wi-Fi connection, use a cable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Chromecast dongle to cast from my phone?

Not usually. Most smart TVs sold in Australia in recent years have Chromecast or Google Cast built in, and many also support AirPlay. You only need a dongle if your TV is older or has no casting support.

Why can my phone not find my TV?

The most common cause is that the phone and the TV are on different Wi-Fi networks, or the phone is on mobile data. Put both on the same network and the same band, then restart both devices. Also check that casting or AirPlay is switched on in the TV settings.

Can I cast Netflix or Stan from my phone to any TV?

Yes, as long as the app supports casting and the TV supports Chromecast, AirPlay or screen mirroring. You will need to be signed in to the streaming service on the phone. If the cast button does not appear, try mirroring your whole screen instead.