Casting lets you send compatible media from your phone or computer to a TV without duplicating your full screen. That makes it different from screen mirroring, which shows everything on your display in real time.

The right casting method depends on your source device and receiver. Roku, Firestick, LG TV, Chromecast, and AirPlay-compatible TVs each use slightly different steps.

Casting vs. screen mirroring

The difference matters before you choose a setup method:

  • Casting sends a video, photo, browser tab, or app stream to the TV.
  • Screen mirroring duplicates the entire phone or computer screen.
  • AirPlay can support both casting and mirroring on Apple-compatible devices.
  • Chromecast, DIAL, DLNA, and platform-native cast buttons are different transport paths, not all-purpose equivalents.

    • If you want to duplicate the full phone screen instead, screen mirroring is usually the right method.

    Can you cast to any TV?

    Not every TV supports the same cast protocol. The right method depends on whether the target device is:

  • Roku TV or Roku streaming player
  • Fire TV or Firestick
  • LG TV
  • Chromecast or Google TV
  • AirPlay-compatible smart TV

    • Choose the section below that matches the TV or streaming device you are using.

    How to cast from iPhone to TV

    For iPhone, the casting method depends on the receiver:

  • AirPlay for AirPlay-compatible TVs
  • Chromecast-friendly apps or Google Home for Chromecast targets
  • TV-brand apps or third-party casting tools for unsupported TVs

    • If the TV supports AirPlay, open Control Center and choose the TV from Screen Mirroring or the app's AirPlay menu. If the receiver is Chromecast-based, iPhone usually needs a Chromecast-compatible app or a third-party casting app rather than native AirPlay. The differences are explained in how to AirPlay to TV, AirPlay to Chromecast, and the broader phone-to-TV wireless connection guide.

    How to cast from Android to TV

    On Android, casting usually works through:

  • in-app cast buttons
  • Chromecast-compatible receivers
  • TV-brand apps
  • DIAL or DLNA on supported smart TVs

    • The exact setup depends heavily on the receiver platform. If the TV does not appear, confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, then check the device-specific section below.

    Brand-specific casting

    Roku

    Roku supports both app casting and screen mirroring, but they are not the same workflow. App casting sends supported content from apps such as YouTube or Netflix, while screen mirroring duplicates the phone or computer display. On Android or iPhone, open the app's cast icon when available; from a computer, casting from Chrome may work for browser content. If Roku does not appear, check Wi-Fi and whether the app supports Roku casting. The platform-specific steps are covered in how to cast to Roku.

    Firestick

    Firestick handles casting differently from Roku and often requires enabling screen mirroring or using app-based workarounds:

    On Firestick, hold the Home button and open Mirroring when you want Android screen mirroring. For app-based casting, use the app's built-in cast button when supported. iPhone casting usually needs an app workaround because Firestick does not behave like a native AirPlay receiver by default. The Fire TV-specific setup is detailed in how to cast to Firestick.

    LG TV

    LG TV casting can involve DIAL, DLNA, Chromecast, AirPlay, and Android casting features depending on model and source device. YouTube and Netflix may cast through DIAL, local media may use DLNA, iPhone may use AirPlay on supported LG TVs, and Android or Windows may use built-in casting features. If one protocol fails, try another supported path before assuming the TV cannot cast. How to cast to LG TV breaks those LG options down by protocol.

    Chromecast and Google TV

    Chromecast targets often work well for app-based casting, but iPhone and Android setup steps can differ. Android can usually cast through Google Home or an app's cast button. iPhone can cast from Chromecast-compatible apps, but native AirPlay will not connect directly to Chromecast. If you are trying to send iPhone content to Chromecast, use a Chromecast-compatible app or a casting app instead of looking for a native AirPlay receiver.

    Common casting problems

    The TV does not appear

    Likely causes:

  • the receiver does not support the app's cast protocol
  • the phone and TV are on different networks
  • the TV is not discoverable
  • the app supports mirroring but not casting, or vice versa

    • The video will not play after connection

    Likely causes:

  • DRM restrictions
  • app-specific playback limitation
  • weak network
  • outdated receiver firmware

    • You want to cast unsupported content

    At that point, a screen mirroring fallback is often the right answer:

    Screen mirroring duplicates the entire phone or computer display, so it can handle apps that do not expose a cast button. If casting fails because the app is unsupported, full-screen mirroring is the better next step.

    Cast specific apps or meetings

    If you want to cast a specific app or meeting, the setup is slightly different. TikTok may work through a built-in cast button, a casting app, or an HDMI adapter depending on the TV; how to cast TikTok to TV compares those options. Zoom is usually better through AirPlay, Chromecast, HDMI, or full screen mirroring because meeting controls and audio behavior matter; how to cast Zoom meetings to TV covers those cases.

    Bottom line

    Casting works best when the app, phone, and TV support the same protocol. Start with your receiver type, confirm both devices are on the right network, and switch to screen mirroring if the content cannot be cast directly.