How to Connect Your Phone to an LG Smart TV via Wi-Fi: 3 Working Methods

Wirelessly broadcast your smartphone screen to a big screen LG Smart TV Opens up new possibilities: from viewing high-resolution photos to streaming videos without the hassle of wires. However, many users encounter difficulties when first connecting—the TV doesn't detect the device, there are image delays, or the sound disappears. This article will help you understand all the nuances of the connection. via Wi-Fi, including alternative methods for different models LG (from WebOS 3.0 to WebOS 23).

We will look at three main connection methods: via the built-in Wi-Fi Direct, technology Miracast (for Android) and a proprietary application LG TV PlusWe will pay special attention to typical mistakes - for example, why iPhone doesn't support Miracast and how to bypass this limitation. At the end of the article, you'll find a comparison table of methods and answers to frequently asked questions.

1. Preparing your LG TV for wireless connection

Before connecting devices, make sure that your LG Smart TV Ready to receive a signal. Most problems arise due to outdated software or incorrect network settings. Here's what to check:

• 📺 Update your TV firmware: go to Settings → Support → Software Update and install the latest version. On models with WebOS 5.0+ Updates are downloaded automatically, but it is better to check manually.
• 📶 Activate Wi-Fi: TV and phone must be connected to one network (if you use a router) or to a direct connection Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🔄 Reset network settings, if there were failures before: Settings → Network → Network ResetThis will delete saved passwords, but will solve most connection problems.
• 🔒 Disable VPN on the phone - some broadcasting applications (for example, YouTube) may block data transmission via VPN.

On models LG OLED C1/C2 and newer ones have an additional option LG Connect Apps on the menu Settings → GeneralIt needs to be enabled for stable operation with mobile devices. If your TV was released before 2018, you may need an external adapter. Miracast (For example, Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter).

2. Method 1: Connecting via Wi-Fi Direct (universal method)

Wi-Fi Direct — is a technology for directly connecting devices without a router. It works on all LG Smart TV With WebOS 3.0 and newer, and is also supported by most smartphones on Android 4.4+ And iOS 12+ (with limitations). The main advantage of the method is minimal delays when streaming videos and games, since the data is transmitted directly, without intermediaries.

Instructions for Android:

1. On TV: Open Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct and enable the function. Write down the network name (for example, DIRECT-LG-YourTVModel).
2. On your phone: go to Settings → Wi-Fi, find the TV's network and connect. A password is usually not required, but on some models it is 0000 or 1234.
3. Once connected, a confirmation request will appear on the TV - click Confirm.
4. Now you can broadcast your screen via Settings → Connected devices → Screen mirroring (on the phone) or Screen Share (on TV).

For iPhone the process is more complicated: Wi-Fi Direct is not supported at the iOS level, but you can use a workaround via AirPlay (if the TV supports it) or apps like ApowerMirrorFor more information, see the section on alternative methods.

The TV and phone are charged to more than 30% | The TV is in "Visible to all devices" mode | The phone is in power saving mode | The distance between the devices is no more than 5 meters -->

⚠️ Attention: On TVs LG With WebOS 4.0 and older, you may experience a "Failed to connect" error when using Wi-Fi Direct with some models. Samsung GalaxyIn this case, try the method Miracast or update your TV firmware.

3. Method 2: Using Miracast (for Android)

Miracast — a wireless broadcast standard built into most modern Android-devices (starting with version 4.2). It allows you to mirror your smartphone's screen to your TV with minimal latency, ideal for gaming or presentations. LG Smart TV support Miracast starting from WebOS 3.0, but in practice it works most stably on 2019 and newer models.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. On TV: Go to Settings → Connection → Screen Share and select Miracast.
2. On your phone: open Settings → Connected devices → Screen mirroring (on Samsung this can be called Smart View, on Xiaomi — Wireless Display).
3. From the list of available devices, select yours LG TVConnection will take 10–30 seconds.
4. Once successfully connected, your phone's screen will be mirrored on your TV. To disable it, pull down the notification bar and press Disable mirroring.

If Miracast doesn't work:

• 🔄 Restart both devices.
• 📱 On your phone, enable developer mode and activate the option Debugging over Wi-Fi (sometimes this solves connection problems).
• 🖥️ Reset Miracast settings on your TV: Settings → General → Reset display settings.

4. Method 3: LG TV Plus app (for Android and iOS)

Branded application LG TV Plus (available in Google Play And App Store) offers advanced TV control features, including screen mirroring, remote control, and file access. Unlike Wi-Fi Direct and Miracast, it doesn't require a direct connection—both devices simply need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

How to connect:

1. Install the application LG TV Plus on the phone.
2. Run it and click Add a TV.
3. The application will automatically find available ones. LG TV online. Select your model.
4. A confirmation code will appear on your TV – enter it in the app.
5. After synchronization, select the function Screen Share or Mirror to broadcast the screen.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎮 Powered by iPhone (unlike Miracast).
• 📂 Allows you to transfer files (photos, videos) directly to TV.
• 🎛️ Built-in remote control with voice control.

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone from iOS 14+ broadcast via LG TV Plus may be limited by Apple protection. For full mirroring, use AirPlay (if the TV supports it) or external adapters, for example Apple TV 4K.

How to speed up streaming via LG TV Plus?

In the application settings (⚙️ → Broadcast quality) select High (1080p) instead of AutoAlso, disable background apps on your phone—they can slow down data transfer.

5. Alternative methods for iPhone and older LG models

If your LG Smart TV released before 2017 or you are using iPhone, standard connection methods may not work. In this case, the following will help:

• 📱 AirPlay (for models LG With WebOS 5.0+): turn on the function in Settings → General → Apple AirPlay and select the TV in the control center iPhone.
• 🔌 HDMI adapters: For example, Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV StickThey connect to the HDMI port and allow you to stream your screen via Wi-Fi.
• 🌐 DLNA servers: apps like BubbleUPnP (Android) or Infuse (iOS) can stream media files to TV without mirroring.

For old TVs LG (for example, series LB650V or 43LH604V) may be required external Miracast adapter, which connects to the HDMI port. These devices cost from 1,500 rubles, but they guarantee compatibility even with iOS.

6. Solving common errors

Even with a proper connection, problems can still occur. Here are the most common issues and their solutions:

• 🔴 "Unable to connect to device": Check that the TV is in the "On" mode. Screen Share (Settings → Connection). On some models, you need to manually allow the connection for each device.
• 🔊 Sound is transmitted, but video is not.: this is typical for iPhone when using Wi-Fi Direct. Try it LG TV Plus or AirPlay.
• 📶 Constant connection breaks: switch the router to a frequency 5 GHz (less busy than 2.4 GHz). Also, turn off the function on your phone. Adaptive Wi-Fi (on Samsung) or Wi-Fi Assist (on iPhone).
• 🖼️ Black screen during broadcast: on your phone, in the mirroring settings, select Optimize for gaming (if available) or reduce the resolution to 720p.

If nothing helps, do network reset on TV (Settings → Network → Network Reset) and reboot the router. On models LG OLED It's also worth checking the settings HDMI-CEC (Settings → Sound → HDMI ARC), as they can block external connections.

7. Comparison of connection methods: which one to choose?

Each method has its pros and cons. Below is a comparison table to help you choose:

For games And high definition video best suited Wi-Fi Direct or Miracast (if the TV supports it). For iPhone the best option is AirPlay (on supported models) or LG TV PlusIf you only need to show photos or presentations, the app is enough. LG TV Plus.

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to connect an iPhone to an LG Smart TV without additional devices?

Yes, but with restrictions. On models LG With WebOS 5.0+ supported AirPlay - turn it on in the TV settings (Settings → General → Apple AirPlay and HomeKit) and select the TV in the control center iPhoneOlder TVs will require an adapter (e.g. Apple TV or Roku).

Why is there no sound when connecting via Miracast?

This is a typical problem when broadcasting protected content (for example, from Netflix or Disney+). Solutions:

• Use your TV's built-in apps instead of mirroring.
• On your phone, in the sound settings, select HDMI or External speaker.
• Update your TV firmware - in new versions WebOS This error has been fixed.

How to reduce lag when streaming games?

The delay depends on the connection method:

• For Wi-Fi Direct: Use a router that supports Wi-Fi 6 and the channel 5 GHz.
• For Miracast: turn it on in your phone settings Gamer mode (on Samsung) or High performance (on Xiaomi).
• For LG TV Plus: Reduce the broadcast resolution to 720p.

Minimal lag (20–30 ms) ensures wired connection via HDMI adapter (For example, USB-C to HDMI).

Is it possible to broadcast my phone screen to an LG TV via mobile internet?

No, all methods (Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast, LG TV Plus) require local area network — either through a router or a direct connection. However, you can use modem mode:

1. Turn on your phone Wi-Fi hotspot.
2. Connect the TV to this point.
3. Use LG TV Plus or DLNA for streaming files (but not screen!).

Full mirroring is only possible via Wi-Fi.

Why doesn't my LG TV see my phone in the list of devices to connect to?

Reasons and solutions:

• Different Wi-Fi networks: Both devices must be connected to the same network (or a Wi-Fi Direct connection).
• Outdated firmware: Update the software on your TV and phone.
• Blocked by firewall: Temporarily disable antivirus or VPN on your phone.
• Protocol incompatibility: on TVs LG may not be supported before 2016 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Switch the router to the mode 802.11n.