Whether you want to show holiday photos to the family, watch a video on a bigger screen, or play something from your phone through the television, connecting a device to your TV is much simpler than it used to be. You usually have two options: a cable or wireless.
Option 1: Using a Cable (the Simple, Reliable Way)
A physical cable gives you a reliable, lag-free connection. The most common cable for this is HDMI.
- Laptop to TV: Many laptops have an HDMI port — it looks like a flattened trapezoid. Plug one end into your laptop and the other into a spare HDMI port on the back or side of your TV. Then press the Input or Source button on your TV remote and select the correct HDMI number.
- Newer laptops with USB-C: If your laptop only has USB-C ports, you need a small USB-C to HDMI adapter (available for a few pounds online or in tech shops). Plug the adapter into your laptop, then connect an HDMI cable from the adapter to the TV.
- iPhone to TV: You need a Lightning to HDMI adapter (sometimes called a Lightning Digital AV Adapter). Plug it into the bottom of your iPhone, connect an HDMI cable from the adapter to the TV, and your screen will appear on the television.
- Android phone to TV: Many newer Android phones support USB-C to HDMI. The same small adapter works — plug into your phone and then into the TV with an HDMI cable.
Option 2: Casting Wirelessly (No Cables Needed)
If your TV is a Smart TV or has a Chromecast or Amazon Fire Stick plugged in, you can often cast your screen wirelessly.
- On Android: Look for “Cast” or “Screen Mirror” in your phone’s quick settings (pull down from the top of the screen). Your TV should appear as an option if it is on the same Wi-Fi network.
- On iPhone: Swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Centre and tap Screen Mirroring. If you have an Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV, it will appear in the list.
- On a laptop: In Windows, press the Windows key + K to open the Connect panel and look for your TV. On a Mac, look for the AirPlay icon in the menu bar.
Your TV Needs to Be On the Right Input
Whichever method you use, remember to switch your TV to the correct input using the Input or Source button on the remote. The TV will not automatically know you have connected something — you have to tell it where to look.
Once you have done this once, it will feel straightforward every time. Big-screen viewing is only a cable or tap away.